The 'Volunteens Researchers in Stemland' project aimed to integrate STEM education in schools across Europe, enhancing learning through engaging, practical activities rather than traditional theories. Participants investigated various STEM issues, developing problem-solving and teamwork skills while also creating digital content and promoting safe internet practices. The project culminated in collaborative activities and presentations, with students receiving awards for their innovative approaches to scientific concepts and technology safety.

1. Volunteens Researchers in STEMLand
Etwinning Project: Volunteens Researchers in STEMLand
by Eleni Rossiou, M.Sc., M.Ed., M.A., Ph.D
ICT and Maths Teacher in Experimental School of the University of
Thessaloniki, Greece
Scientix Ambassador, eTwinning Ambassador, T4E Ambassador
The term STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is an acronym that is used
mainly with fields related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All European
countries focus on developing technologically, trying to embed STEM method in education. Since
2009, the European Schoolnet Network, (authorities in Brussels) focus on this direction so as the
schools to start developing (in pilot) new educational activities of learning and technology in the
class via researching the exploitation of new pedagogical tools for STEM teaching. The STEM
method provides opportunities for skills-development by encouraging students to answer in
questions and get involved in game-based activities related to Science, Mathematics, Engineering
and Technology.
The project “Volunteens Reasearchers in…STEMLand” aimed to introduce STEM activities in
the educational praxis by enhancing learning via Science, Technology, Mathematics and
Engineering (STEM) without theories and unnecessary terminology, and through analytical and
problem-solving methods. At the same time, this project enabled the development of innovation
skills, algorithmic & programming standards and team spirit demonstration. In parallel with
language skills development, participants researched how STEM implementation may help
everyday life and discovered how they can support in volunteering based actions. Teens as
Researchers observed, designed and delivered questionnaires related to issues of the project and
took interviews in order to triangulate the results of their research and evaluate their process.
The founders of the project were: Peiramatiko Scholeio Panepistimiou Thessalonikis, Greece
(Experimental School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE) And ISIS "M.
Rapisardi", ITALY and the partners” IISS PERTINI ANELLI, Bari, ITALY & BAŞKENT ÜNİVERSİTESİ
ÖZEL BAŞKENT LİSESİ, TURKEY & 2nd Lyceum School of Chania, Greece
By the end of the project we managed with collaborative STEM activities our students to be able
to: a) build problem solving skills b) discover how things work, c) explore engineering as a career
option d) learn math and sciences while having fun e) engage in real world engineering problems.
Digital teens researched how STEM implementation may help everyday life and discovered how
they can support in volunteering based actions. The STEMLand project achieved to promote
participants to discover, investigate, research, evaluate, become aware on environmental issues,
develop their skills on linguacy, economy, technology, collaboration, socialization and increase
their creativity and fantasy by creating artifacts.
Partner schools created national groups according to De Bono 6 Thinking Hats and focused on
STEM issues according to their choice. Transnational Groups, with ICT as supporter, shared
material, compared, recorded cultural differences and co-produced digital artifacts. The Calendar
of activities in the six months period of the eTwinning STEMLand project included: i) Educational
contract of Students’ National Groups and Trasnational Teachers’ group ii) To Know us better as
teams, as schools, as cities, as countries/teleconference and educational contract between
transnational groups, iii) Research STEM issues per Group, negotiate, vote, decide and logo
competition iv) TAKE ACTION plan, create, Implement and share (formative evaluation) v) TAKE
ACTION and SHARE vi) Preparing the final Product, Project Dissemination (summative
evaluation).

2. Volunteens Researchers in STEMLand
After research in STEM students focused on the four issues of the project.
In the issue of Science students engaged in embodied
learning activities, intended to promote and externalize
conceptual understanding in science. So, they described
any physical idea / phenomenon / theory using their
bodies and chose to start with the physical states of
matter. They presented depicted solids, liquids and gases
through dancing and particularly in Greece they
participated in the National Competition “Physics in Arts”
and they were awarded with the first prize.
In the issue of Technology participants implemented activities on SaferInternet and they created
comics for giving advices to kids, teens, teachers and parents about how they should behave to be
safe in web and protect themselves. The Greek School was awarded with the silver label of the
eSafety project. Also, they navigated themselves to Foretell in which they played and learned the
need to promote a culture of safety in Europe against natural calamities, such as floods and fires.
They also tried to discover the Social media effect on dopping in the context of the Dopout project.
In Engineering issue all partners were informed end
expressed what Scientix is. Collaboration was achieved after
uploading ppts or one short video, with comments on which
part they think is
interesting. They also
did scratch for arduino
with gigo s4
programming bricks .
Also, the the Greek school was
selected to be one of the five schools
in Greece which will implement Umi-
Sci-Ed as a pilot implementation and
they shared their experience.
Furthermore, a week summer school
was organised in the School for UMI
technologies.
In Mathematics issue Volunteens were able to get an insight
into geometry, calculus, analysis and logic while observing
changes over a period of time, e.g. changes in the currency values , the inflation rates, or company
profits. While discussing about a pie chart created by themselves, they learned at a glance how a
total amount is divided up such as a budget, their expenses, etc.

3. Volunteens Researchers in STEMLand
Eleni Rossiou, PhD in Applied Informatics, M.Sc. in Computer Science, M.Ed. in
Adults Education, M.A. Science of Education Studies concentrated to Educational
Leadership and Policy, Postgraduate Certification in Open and Distance
Education, BSc in Mathematics. She is eTwinning Ambassador, Scientix
Ambassador and ambassador in Teachers4Europe project. She is Vice Principal
and a professor of Mathematics and ICT in Experimental School of Aristotle
University, certified teachers’ trainer and member of various scientific Association.
Her research focuses in blended learning and game-based learning in Secondary,
Education, in Higher Education and in Adults’ Education.