STEM Leadership: Innovative Lessons from Micro:bit

On March 24-25, the Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University held a training for teachers «STEM leadership: innovative lessons with Micro:bit», which brought together motivated educators ready to introduce modern technologies into the educational process.

The Rector of the University Viktor Greshta addressed the participants with a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of supporting pedagogical initiatives in the development of engineering thinking and STEM education.

The training was attended by teachers of educational institutions of Zaporizhzhia and the region, in particular Zaporizhzhia gymnasiums #84, #89, #100, #106, #59, lyceums #23, #31, #15, #107, as well as the Technical Lyceum and Petropolis Lyceum. Such a wide geography of participants once again confirms the high interest of educators in the development of the STEM field and the introduction of innovations in education.

The training program was developed and conducted by assistant professors of the Department of Electric Drive and Automation of Industrial Installations — Olena Nazarova, Alina Kazurova, and Volodymyr Osadchiy, providing a combination of theoretical approaches with practical cases.

For two days, the participants learned practical programming using the BBC Micro:bit; created their own STEM cases for lessons; developed mini-projects for students of grades 5-11; explored the possibilities of Micro:bit integration into interdisciplinary projects; discussed effective methodical approaches to STEM education.

The training ended with interactive sessions on automation and mechatronics, the participants gained initial skills in controlling quadcopters, discussed the prospects of creating joint STEM activities in the field of green energy, and visited the educational and scientific experiment center Quantum.

The solemn part of the training was attended by Holly Tann and Adam McQuire – volunteers, founders of the British non-profit organization «Casus Pax», thanks to whose support it became possible to distribute BBC Micro:bit basic sets among general secondary education institutions of the Zaporizhzhia region.

According to the results of the training, Rector Viktor Hreshta presented training participants with certificates of advanced training, BBC Micro:bit equipment sets for the implementation of STEM solutions in their educational institutions.

Photos from the event can be found at the link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NtfMUCFKNAYeEDgomYiDJS8Xe-F6A0H_?usp=sharing

Thank you to all participants for their activity, openness to innovation and desire to change education today!

Together we are forming a new generation of thinking, creative and technologically prepared students!