Digital STEAM: Teaching Integrated Science, Arts, and Mathematics with Digital Devices

Our Digital STEAM course focuses on the pedagogical use of tablets in STEAM lessons, applicable in classrooms, science museums, and outdoor settings. The course is ideal for pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational, adult, and special needs teachers, as well as anyone interested in using digital devices in education.

Course Highlights:

Digital Tools and Best Practices

Explore educational apps to enhance learning, communication, and self-assessment. Learn practical examples and successful approaches for integrating mobile devices from international case studies. Master responsible and safe use of digital devices, promoting digital citizenship. Develop skills to create engaging, interactive classroom materials. Acquire techniques for designing innovative and effective lesson plans with digital tools.

School Visit

Experience firsthand the application of digital tools in a real school setting. Visit STEM lessons in primary and lower-secondary levels, observing and interacting with teachers and students to see best practices in action.

City Tour

Enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful medieval Old Town of Tallinn. Explore the cultural and historical landmarks of this vibrant city.

The course addresses essential topics for schools to consider when implementing or updating their digitalization strategies:

• Apps for Learning and Self-Assessment: Discover various apps to support learning, communication, and self-assessment, including collaborative writing, digital photography, video, audio usability, presentation apps, assessment, evaluation, and gamification.
• Best Practices: Learn practical examples and approaches for using iPads, tablets, and other mobile devices in lessons across different countries.
• Digital Safety: Understand responsible and safe use of digital devices and new media.
• Interactive Materials: Create and deliver engaging, interactive classroom materials.
• Digital Applications: Identify and review practical tablet applications for educators and students, including text creation, video clips, podcasts, presentations, screencasting, images, PDFs, e-books, mind maps, and more.
• Lesson Planning: Design and plan effective lesson units that incorporate iPads, tablets, and other digital devices.
• Integrating Digital Technologies: Effectively integrate strategies and digital technologies into the curriculum.
• Mobile Devices in Class: Utilize various mobile devices in connection with TVs and other display devices.

Mart Laanpere, Professor at Tallinn University, Estonia

• Position: Head of the R&D Centre for Educational Technology at Tallinn University
• Background: Former mathematics and physics teacher and school principal
• Affiliation: Member of the board of course provider Euneos, Finland

With over 20 years of experience in teacher education and educational technology research, Mart has transitioned from his roles as a mathematics and physics teacher and school principal to focus on advancing digital education. He has significantly contributed to international research projects on mobile technology and social software in education. Currently, he coordinates the training of school teams in the project “Digital Turn towards 1:1 Computing,” funded by Samsung (www.samsungdigipoore.ee), and is recognized as an expert in school digital innovation and change.

Jüri Kurvits, PhD candidate and lecturer of mathematics didactics at Tallinn University.

Jüri Kurvits leads the innovative STEM teacher education curriculum. He is an advocate for modern teaching methods, including the flipped classroom model, Google Apps for Education, active learning techniques, and discovery learning with tablets in STEM lessons. Jüri has extensive experience conducting science and mathematics teacher education courses throughout Estonia and Russia.

Katrin Soika

• PhD candidate 
• Chemistry teacher in G. Adolf Gymnasium (www.gag.ee), PhD student in Tallinn University
•  The Teacher of the Year 2016 (the main prize from the Ministry of Education and Research)

Aare Baumer, MSc, Head of Research and Development at the Energia Avastuskeskus Science Museum in Tallinn, Estonia.

Recognized as one of the leading promoters of science education in Estonia, Aare is a dynamic and inspiring performer who has designed over 20 interactive shows and exhibitions, such as “Virtual Planetarium,” “Discover Electricity!,” “Turn Me into a Robot!,” “Discover the Sea of Bubbles!,” and “Discover the Island of Energy!.” As a pioneer of science theatre in Estonia, his captivating onstage science shows attract thousands of students each year.