Project result Nr.3: Toolkit T.E.S.T

The Toolkit developed by the T.E.S.T. project, under the title “The STEAM Teacher Toolbox”, published and licensed under a Creative Commons license and developed with co-financing from the European Union, is the result of the joint work of the T.E.S.T project partners from seven countries. Specifically, the Universita Degli Studi di Siena, the Accademia Delle Belle Arti di Napoli and CONFORM from Italy; the Rovira I Virgili University and ECO Digital Learning of Spain; Panepistimius Patron of Greece; the University for Continuing Education Krems in Austria; the Sveuciliste u Zagrebu of Croatia; the Université Côte D’Azure of France; and EFMD AISBL of Belgium. The Toolkit is distributed in three large blocks. In the first, a Methodological Guide is offered that serves as a pedagogical basis and foundation for the proposed technologies. The Toolkit is based on an interdisciplinary approach aimed at promoting active learning through practical and multisensory activities, IBSE (Inquiry Based Science Education) methods. Digital technologies support educational innovation and can be the catalyst for change in educational models of which virtual laboratories are an essential digital tool. The toolkit contains methodological approaches to implement technologically augmented STEAM-labs and the appropriate tools to support inquiry-based learning in these settings. In the second block of contents, the Toolkit offers a detailed technical description on how to design the e-lab. Under the concept of “What do we need?”, we explore and present in a detailed and reasoned way the different components that we must consider when developing and implementing a virtual laboratory for STEAM. We analyze Interaction Devices, Application Software and Information Transmission Devices, explaining why they should be used, analyzing the different types of solutions currently available on the market, and proposing our own solutions. We believe that this technical guide can be very useful for teachers who want to get started in these techniques, and a valuable update for those teachers with experience in creating virtual laboratories. Last but not least, the ToolKit includes a total of nine case studies on the successful implementation of projects that have the proposed technologies, and that can serve as a reference for those teachers who wish to implement similar projects. The success stories presented include a wide range of specialties, including artistic disciplines, humanities, engineering, chemistry, computer applications and computer networks. All of them are developed and presented by Universities and highly prestigious entities that participate in the T.E.S.T project.