About 400 students and 100 teachers from Cahul and Ungheni created STEAM projects using generative artificial intelligence

With the support of the European Union, a digital course has been launched to strengthen teachers’ knowledge in the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence. More than 100 students and teachers from 12 schools in Ungheni and Cahul participated in an event to present the results of the project «Strengthening innovative student-centered teaching-learning practices in schools in key regions: Ungheni and Cahul through the use of digital technologies and STEAM projects», funded by the European Union and implemented by UNICEF.

During the event, teenagers and teachers presented the STEAM school projects they have been working on over the past months to create innovative solutions that contribute to solving real problems in the community. 385 students and 83 teachers from the two districts were involved in the initiatives.  

STEAM project «Women in Science: Inspiration for the future,» realized by «Gheorghe Asachi» Gymnasium, from Cucoara village, Cahul district, aimed to address the problem of insufficient representation of women’s achievements in science reflected in the school curriculum, which contributes to the maintenance of gender stereotypes among students. The project aimed to raise awareness and understanding of women’s significant contributions to science, highlighting their impact on scientific progress and emphasizing the importance of gender equality in science.

The STEAM project «EcoRevista Agro-Tur Sculeni,» developed by Sculeni Theoretical High School, Sculeni district, aimed to educate students about the importance of agritourism in the sustainable development of the local community. The project explored the concepts and practices of agrotourism through a STEAM approach. The project’s final product is an interactive digital magazine created by the students, featuring articles and reports on local agrotourism experiences.

The STEAM project «Planting trees for the future,» realized by the «Elada» Theoretical High School from Măcărești village, Ungheni district, addressed the problem of air quality degradation in the locality. The students have become aware of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which are significant challenges. Planting trees provided a natural solution by absorbing carbon dioxide and improving the microclimate, an observation highlighted by the 7th-grade students, who proposed a series of activities that would make the STEAM project a viable solution for Măcărești village.

To celebrate the achievements of the schools participating in the project, a book was published highlighting the best practices and successes achieved by students and teachers during the implementation of STEAM projects. The book includes a detailed description of the activities undertaken in each subject, highlighting the development of the projects through an interdisciplinary approach. It is a valuable inspirational resource for all teachers in Moldova interested in STEAM education through innovative methods and digital technologies.

Thanks to new information technologies, teachers have successfully developed their digital skills and gained the confidence to use generative artificial intelligence tools in their teaching. By applying their acquired knowledge in practical situations in STEAM projects, students have strengthened essential future skills such as problem-solving, team collaboration, and critical thinking.

A new digital course for teachers in Moldova was launched during the event. The course «Generative Artificial Intelligence in STEAM Education and Student-Centredness» aims to train teachers to adopt innovative teaching and learning methods using digital technologies, including Generative Artificial Intelligence, to increase students’ interest in learning.

Through the interactive elements, the course contents will be possible to explore: text information with examples aligned to the specific educational needs of the Republic of Moldova, video tutorials, practical tasks, assessment tests, and outlines of teaching and STEAM projects. The new course can be accessed free of charge on the www.tekwill.online platform.

«We thank our partners UNICEF, UNDP, Ministry of Education and Research, and ATIC for promoting innovative educational practices. The European Union will continue to support digitization and educational transformation in the Republic of Moldova, providing numerous opportunities for students and teachers. We encourage teachers in Moldova to actively explore the newly created digital course and develop their digital skills in Generative Artificial Intelligence», said Jan Demitovits-Mekelainen, Programme Officer, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

«The participation of students and teachers in these STEAM projects is an example of how education can become a real driver of positive change in the community. It is essential to provide teachers with the necessary tools to integrate digital technologies and innovation into the educational process, thus contributing to developing future generations’ skills», said Irina Gîncu, Education Programme Officer UNICEF Moldova.

«Increasing the quality of the educational process is a key objective of the Ministry of Education and Research. We want a quality, relevant, and digitized education, thus contributing to building a prosperous future for our country within the European Union. We thank our partners, the European Union, UNICEF, UNDP, and ATIC, for their support in promoting educational policies and teachers, for their professionalism, dedication, and the beautiful results achieved in the project», added Angela Prisăcaru, Senior Consultant of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova.

«Equipping teachers in the Republic of Moldova with modern skills, resources, and tools remains a priority for ATIC and Tekwill projects in the context of digital transformation of education and adaptation to the demands and needs of contemporary society. We are happy to join efforts with project partners to develop high-quality interactive digital resources to empower teachers and students in the Republic of Moldova with the latest technological innovations, such as Generative Artificial Intelligence», said Ana Chirița, ATIC Strategic Projects Director.

The EU-funded project «Strengthening innovative learner-centered teaching-learning practices in schools in key regions: Ungheni and Cahul through the use of digital technologies and STEAM projects», implemented by UNICEF, was developed under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Research, within the «EU4Moldova: Focal Regions» Programme. The project activities have been implemented in partnership with the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC) from 15 September 2023 to 30 June 2024.