1. 1. I-STEAM Overall objective
ORT Israel is developing and implementing a new project based learning (PBL) curriculum based on Innovation,
Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (i-STEAM). This i-STEAM-PBL curriculum will empower young
students with essential knowledge, skills and values relevant to the 21st century. This project is a radical innovation
R&D incubator with a strong experimental field study component. During the life cycle of the program it will impact
and upgrade the Israeli education system towards the next generation of science, technology and engineering
curricula delivered in Israeli High schools. Graduates of the program will become Israel’s new hi-tech leaders,
academic high achievers and future entrepreneurs.
i-STEAM PBL is a unique integrative program introducing core science and technology subjects infused with genius
elements and utilizing:
1. Interdisciplinary approach and theme
2. Engineering and inventive thinking in the core of the curricula
3. Partnership with Israeli and leading global high-tech industry as a case study cultivating inspiration and
career development
4. Exploration of moral dilemmas (ELSA - Ethical Legal and Social Aspects)
The new i-STEAM program will build layer upon layer each student’s capabilities, start-up self-esteem and
competence based on ORT's deep success in PBL (Project Based Learning) pedagogical approach.
The program will challenge students to expand their intellect and skills in the areas of inquiry, research, critical
thinking, problem seeking and solving, team work, presentation, time & resource management, financial literacy and
much more.
ORT Israel anticipates moving in this multi-tiered approach to winning success and achieving
I-STEAM’s mission, vision, values and goals by establishing the I-Steam Academy in each ORT Israel campus. ORT
Israel hopes that the success of this pilot project will be adopted across the Israeli education system.
2. The needs addressed by this project
This project will answer the need to fill the gap between education and the real world. It will:
a) Greatly increase the number of students studying science, technology and engineering.
b) Greatly increase the number of girls studying technology and engineering.
c) Increase the number of students from the social periphery that will embark on a career path in engineering,
science and technology.
d) Strengthen meaningful partnerships between advanced and Hi-Tech industries and education
e) Train leading and innovative teachers and young trainers (school students) in the i-STEM PBL approach.
f) Create a school learning environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovativeness with emphasis
on PBL.
g) Develop a virtual campus to encourage autonomous learning alongside learning in communities of students
and teachers while grasping digital tools and platforms.
2. 3. Primary target populations and numbers of people affected by the program.
Three high schools will be carefully selected to be part of a three year pilot program. The focus will be on schools
from Israel’s social periphery but that have a strong management structure and a desire to be involved in the pilot
project and a drive to succeed. Annually 600 pupils and 30 teachers will be involved in the project with a development
team of 10 people at the ORT Israel R&D Centre.
Further stages (from the 4th
year) will include expanding to ORT Israel Network’s 200 + educational institutions and
other education systems in Israel and abroad.
4. Main Strategies and activities, geographic focus
A) The multi disciplinary project based learning (PBL) program will be developed and introduced first as a pilot
project and afterwards rolled out across the ORT Israel School Network. The project will break down the
school walls and the barriers between various disciplines. The learning process will be conducted across
multi age groups that will operate as learning teams. This model will lead students to teach each other and
learn together. Emphasis will also be placed on the involvement of partnerships with local industry,
academic institutions and the community. Each team will be assigned an educator that will learn together
with the team. The teachers will teach less both the students and teachers will learn more. It will be a
journey from the safe and the known towards the unknown; a journey of creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurship.
B) Content and tools to be developed in the project include:
a. Cross disciplinary studies creates a new vocabulary and way of thinking to make use of learning
management systems (LMS), e-learning courses and massive on line open courses (MOOC) in all the
STEAM disciplines.
b. The cross disciplinary studies will be based on research developed by Professor Catherine Snow, of
the Harvard Graduate School of Education for the US based Strategic Education Research
Partnership (SERP) designed to improve linguistic literacy skills and expanding the vocabulary of the
student. This approach will serve as the basis for projects and lead to improved skills and language.
c. Cooperative learning tools, PBL and specially designed learning platforms.
d. Methodology to develop entrepreneurial innovation skills in the engineering and science fields with
heavy involvement from industry start-ups and advanced hubs.
e. Various assessment and evaluation tools using advanced LMS technology.
f. Creating a virtual learning environment (campus) including a knowledge portal, VOD library, video
conference tools and mobile learning environment (m-learning).
g. Teacher training program that will include mentoring skills, partnering and collaboration methods,
and leadership and coaching capabilities.
C) Schools for the pilot will be selected from a wide range of areas. Implementation of the program after the
pilot stage will first emphasise schools from Israel’s social periphery.
