Erasmus+ KA1 application pack: Hands-on STEAM in the Classroom: low-cost experiments, robotics and outdoor science ============================================================ TRAINING PROVIDER ------------------------------------------------------------ Training provider: RoboTech, mag. Oliver Buček (RoboTech STEM Center) Address: Čučkova ulica 5, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia Erasmus+ Organisation ID (OID): E10436304 Contact person: Oliver Buček, info@robotech.si, +386 70 390 664 Website: https://robotech.si/erasmus ACTIVITY DETAILS ------------------------------------------------------------ Course title: Hands-on STEAM in the Classroom: low-cost experiments, robotics and outdoor science Type of activity: structured course for school education staff (Erasmus+ KA1) Dates: 12–16 July 2027 Venue: RoboTech STEM Center, Čučkova ulica 5, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia Duration: 5 days, 30 hours of learning activities Language of instruction: English Course page: https://robotech.si/erasmus/hands-on-steam-in-the-classroom-low-cost-experiments-robotics-and-outdoor-science COURSE DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------ A five-day Erasmus+ course for primary and lower-secondary teachers: run hands-on STEAM lessons with low-cost experiments, virtual robotics and outdoor science, and take ready-to-use lessons back to your school. Target group: Teachers of primary and lower-secondary schools (roughly ages 8–14): science, maths, technology, computing and art teachers, class teachers, and anyone who wants to bring practical STEAM activities into their lessons. Methodology: The course is learning by doing: roughly two thirds of every day are practical work in pairs and small international groups, and one third is short input, demonstration and discussion. Every activity follows the same cycle: try it yourself, measure and reflect with peers, improve the result, then plan how to adapt it for your own students. Participants receive worksheets, example lessons and assessment rubrics they can use directly, and trainers give individual feedback during practical tasks. Digital tools: VEXCode VR for programming, digital tools for documenting field observations, and a shared online folder for materials and group work before, during and after the course. LEARNING OUTCOMES ------------------------------------------------------------ - Plan and lead hands-on STEAM lessons using the engineering design process and inquiry-based learning. - Run safe, low-cost experiments (balloon cars, water rockets, a sundial, a cardboard robotic arm) and link them to maths, science, technology and art objectives. - Use VEXCode VR to introduce coding and computational thinking in classes without robot hardware. - Organise outdoor and field learning, including biodiversity observation in a local habitat, and manage risks outdoors. - Assess practical student work with rubrics and feedback, and adapt activities for different ages, abilities and special educational needs. - Create a concrete implementation plan for their own school and share practice with colleagues from other European countries. PROGRAMME ------------------------------------------------------------ Monday 12 July 2027: Welcome, the hands-on STEAM approach and the cardboard robotic arm (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Introductions, tour of RoboTech STEM Center and a shared picture of what participants want to take home. The hands-on cycle that runs through the whole week: ask, imagine, plan, build, test, improve and reflect (engineering design process, inquiry-based learning). First project in teams: design, build and improve a robotic arm made of cardboard, then discuss how the same task works with different ages. Tuesday 13 July 2027: Forces and motion: balloon cars and water rockets (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Morning at the centre: balloon-powered cars. Teams change one variable at a time, measure and compare results, and link the activity to forces, friction and data handling. Afternoon outdoors in front of RoboTech STEM Center: water rockets. Safety briefing, launch rules, test flights and improvement rounds, and how to organise a safe launch with a whole class. In bad weather the rocket session moves to a prepared indoor alternative. Wednesday 14 July 2027: Virtual robotics: integrating STEAM with VEXCode VR (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Programming a virtual robot in the browser with VEXCode VR, with no hardware needed: block-based coding, sensors and navigation challenges in the VR playgrounds. How to combine virtual and hands-on activities, plan cross-curricular lessons (maths, science, art, computing) and prepare classes that have only computers. Thursday 15 July 2027: Learning outdoors: biodiversity at Ptuj Lake and the sundial (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Morning field session at Ptuj Lake, a short walk from the centre, with guest lecturer Jure Urekar: Biodiversity in practice, what does Ptuj Lake hide? Observing and identifying plants and animals, documenting findings with digital tools and turning a local habitat into classroom material. Afternoon outdoors at the centre: build and calibrate a sundial, and discuss how Earth, Sun and time connect to maths, geography and art. Risk assessment and organisation of outdoor learning with pupils. Friday 16 July 2027: Assessment, implementation plans and certificates (09:00–16:00 (lunch 12:30–13:30)) Assessing practical work: rubrics, observation and feedback, and adapting activities for different ages, abilities and special educational needs. Each participant presents a lesson idea from the week and prepares a personal implementation plan for their school. Evaluation, next steps, plans for future cooperation and certificates. EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND FOLLOW-UP ------------------------------------------------------------ The course brings together teachers from several European countries. Group work is deliberately mixed by country, and time is reserved to compare school systems, share practice and explore ideas for future Erasmus+ cooperation, such as school partnerships and eTwinning projects. The course supports Erasmus+ priorities of the green transition (nature and biodiversity, learning outdoors), digital transformation, inclusion and quality teaching. On the last day each participant prepares a personal implementation plan for their school. After the course you keep access to the shared materials and receive suggestions for next steps, such as extra online resources, ideas for outdoor and hands-on lessons, and ways to present the course to colleagues at your school. RECOGNITION ------------------------------------------------------------ Every participant receives a certificate of attendance with their name, a short description of the course and its learning outcomes, dates, venue, the name of the training provider and of the trainer. The learning outcomes are written so that the certificate can be used together with Europass. COSTS ------------------------------------------------------------ Fee: €400 per participant (5-day course). EU schools and organisations with a valid VAT ID: reverse charge applies pursuant to Article 44 of EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC (0% VAT); the amount is €400. Individuals and organisations without a VAT ID: the €400 includes 22% Slovenian VAT. Included in the fee: Training and teaching materials; All building and experiment materials for the hands-on activities; Free access to VEXCode VR (runs in the browser on your laptop); Training venue and field session at Ptuj Lake; Coffee breaks and refreshments; Certificate of attendance. Not included: Accommodation; Lunches and dinners; Travel to Ptuj and local transport; Travel and health insurance. Travel and accommodation are not part of the fee. Travel support is calculated from the travel distance with the European Commission distance calculator; ask your National Agency for the current rates. Payment: by invoice to the sending organisation after the course is confirmed (no online payment). Built from the live course data on 3 November 2026. Questions: info@robotech.si