DiSTARS PEDAGOGICAL FRAMEWORK

DiSTARS will develop a Pedagogical Framework that builds on the essential features of Creative STEM Education and supports creativity as a generic element in the processional and communicative aspects of the pedagogy by integrating arts (virtual arts, performing arts, design, music). Emphasis will be given to storytelling as it can act as a catalyst for the implementation of the proposed framework in school settings while at the same time offers unique opportunities to assess students’ deeper learning competencies such as communication, collaboration and problem-solving.

DiSTARS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

The consortium will create a step by step practical guide which will describe what the teacher has to do in the classroom to realize the framework proposed above. How he/she is going to introduce the activities in the classroom. Thus, it will be delivered as a practical guide for implementation.

DiSTARS STORYTELLING PLATFORM

The DiSTARS platform supports Mars Colonization and will be upgraded to host more planets and celestial objects. The architecture of the authoring tools (e-book, 3D rocket development and 3D colony building) allows for the creations of the students (paintings, models, dioramas and constructions, 3D objects and landscapes, animations, science videos and science theatre plays) to be captured according to their scenarios and be integrated in storylines.

DiSTARS EDUCATIONAL TOOLKIT

As part of the support offered to the schools the project team will identify and develop a collection of guidelines and support materials in a form of a toolkit. The DiSTARS toolkit will provide support that covers the following aspects that are crucial to enable successful piloting in schools:

• Background information on the planets and moons of our solar system and on the challenges in Space Exploration
• Ideas and help how to support classroom activities
• Guidelines to teachers for introducing storytelling techniques to their students
• A (technical) manual how to use the storytelling platform

DiSTARS ASSESSMENT TOOLKIT

DiSTARS’ ambition is to offer to the educational community insights about the effectiveness of the integration of arts in bringing digital storytelling and creative technology to the classroom as compared to other outreach methodologies regarding STEM, thus filling a major gap in the field of creative science education. The target groups of the project’s assessment activities will be mainly students and teachers. The assessment toolkit will include a series of instruments and evaluation tools that will introduce more effective and user-friendly assessment methods beyond the traditional ones to the teachers participating in the project.

GUIDE OF BEST PRACTICES

The project consortium will deliver a set of guidelines for the research and the educational policy communities to further explore and exploit the unique benefits of introducing digital storytelling in schools through STEAM. This output will summarize the “heritage” of the project, provide research findings of the project, provide the description of successful project implementation activities, provide material which has been evaluated and ready to use for every educator as well as policy guidelines for curriculum developers across Europe. The Guide of Best Practices will be created will be translated in all project countries’ languages.