About the project

Project number: 2016-1-SK01-KA201-022549
Erasmus+ Programme, KA2, Strategic Partnerships in School Education

Skills in science are becoming increasingly important part of basic literacy in today´s knowledge economy. To keep Europe growing, there is a strong need of science-aware citizens who can make informed decisions and develop critical thinking.

As confirmed by numerous EU education policy strategies and research analysis, motivation should be fostered among young people in early education, as missing this opportunity leads to many interrelated challenges occurring at later stage of life, such as: underachievement in basic skills, low interest towards science-related further education and career choices, gap between the current technology-based labour market and existing competencies.

On the 1st of October 2016, the publishing house Dr. Josef Raabe Slovakia, based in Bratislava started implementing the transnational project I – S.K.Y.P.E. which is entirely focused on the support of the science-related subjects´ teachers in primary education. The I – S.K.Y.P.E. project has been funded with the support of the EU Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport – Erasmus+.

Teacher as the key factor

The teacher is regarded as the key factor to impact current needs and system reform and strengthening the profile of the profession involves constant and continuous development.

Reportedly, most teachers lack confidence to deliver science-related subjects at primary school level due to lack of resources, ideas on how to motivate learners, as well as specifics of the curriculum and syllabus of these subjects.

The aim of the project I – S.K.Y.P.E. is to fundamentally influence the education system, both at national and European level, through the exchange of knowledge and experiences between schools, universities, science associations and the business companies.

Project Aims

to support primary education teachers in science-related subjects through innovative materials, tools fostering interactive learning, opportunity to share practice with European peers
to increase achievement in the basic skills of science through more effective, innovative teaching methods to foster open and innovative education, embedded in the digital era
to promote science at primary school level, in order to contribute for raising Europe´s competitiveness and employability of young people

Target groups

The target groups of the I – S.K.Y.P.E. project are mainly primary school teachers teaching science-related subjects, but also pupils in primary education (age 6-10) and high-level policy makers responsible for introducing reforms and curricula design at primary education level. The I – S.K.Y.P.E. project foresees involving directly in project activities, more than 5500 primary teachers, pupils, school education stakeholders, high-level policy makers and academics.

Project Objectives and Activities

to design, develop, test and validate Methodical Handbook for primary school teachers of science-related subjects
to develop the structure of Workshops offering to teachers alternative and innovative ways of teaching science at primary school level and successfully implement them into practice
to design and launch the I – S.K.Y.P.E. Online Platform which is an OER serving two-fold as platform for sharing ideas and best-practice, as well as on line free-access interactive resource of project´s materials, demo videos from workshops, testimonials of target group from testing and piloting phases
to design, develop and present the Concept for Policy Reform and Curricula Update in teaching science-related subjects in primary education
to organise an international conference in order to disseminate the project results

This project has been funded with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme, KA2, Strategic Partnerships in School Education.

This publication (communication) reflects only the author's view and neither the Slovak National Agency, nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Project Outputs

I – S.K.Y.P.E. Methodical Handbook
I – S.K.Y.P.E. Workshops
I – S.K.Y.P.E. Platform
I – S.K.Y.P.E. Concept for Policy Reform and Curricula Update

I - S.K.Y.P.E