The most contemporary educational institution in the region was the host of the first STEAM festival. The real science aficionados took part in a remarkable scientific event on 18 September. They had the chance to observe scientific performances, a musical program, and to witness the election of four Serbia representatives for the international science festival in Prague. Even though the competition was fierce, the project of Savremena primary students was ranked among the top 10.

Primary School Savremena, along with the Institute for Contemporary Education and Science on Stage Serbia, initiated and launched the STEAM festival, and the invitees were kindergarten teachers, primary and secondary teachers, as well as the teachers of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science from primary and secondary schools, together with parents and children.

The event sparked a great interest, and it was held on the modern premises of Primary School Savremena, which holds the reputation of the regional leader in education.

Besides the contest part, the festival also welcomed an accredited professional symposium on the topic “STEAM – new age education and science on stage”. All present colleagues employed in education received official certificates for professional development outside their institution from the Institute for Contemporary Education.

LEADING EDUCATION EXPERTS CHOSE THE WINNERS

At the festival, four teachers were chosen to attend the 12th international Science on Stage STEAM festival, which will be held in March 2022 in Prague.

The competition was really intense. The selection committee, consisting of the most eminent education experts of Serbia, chose 35 STEAM projects for the finals out of more than 80 projects. The chosen projects contained interesting inter-subject correlations, a proactive approach, and a scientific background.

The main criteria of committee members were that the projects should promote students’ interest in science, that they should be related to real life, have a sustainable effect, be feasible in everyday school life, have a reasonable cost, but also promote learning based on exploration.

After several selection rounds, a thorough analysis, the review of competition materials, as well as conversations with all festival participants, the following contestants were chosen as winners:

• Tanja Olear Gojić, Primary school “Dragan Lukić”, with the project “The magical world of magnets”;
• Lana Nikolić, Primary school “Slobodan Penezić Krcun”, Secondary school “Gimnazija Lazarevac”, with the project “Technologies and patents ‘borrowed’ from the living beings”;
• Milica Aleksić, Savremena Gimnazija, with the project “DRIVE SAFELY – an interdisciplinary project on safe driving”;
• Biljana Uskoković Brković, Primary school “Milica Pavlović”, with the project “Visual perception”.

Savremena primary students once again showed what they can do when it comes to science. Their project was among the 10 best projects, competing with 34 other projects which arrived from all across the country. We congratulate all students, finalists, and chosen national representatives.

PRIMARY SCHOOL SAVREMENA PRESENTED EXCELLENT PROJECTS

Sixth place went to teacher Danica Nikolić’s project called “STEAM Clock: Travelling Through Time Using Science”. The idea behind the project was to introduce students to the importance and use of time through different activities. This project combines several areas: mathematics, engineering, the Serbian language, computer science, history, art, the world around us, and physics.

Given that children learn about the concept of time from an early age, this project included different activities designed to introduce them to the importance of time keeping and time management in an interesting fashion.

The second project, “Economic and Social Benefits of Recycling”, was designed by teacher Ira Aurora Tuba. The project, created for Earth Day for the purpose of promoting recycling, was registered for a STE(A)M IT competition organized by European Schoolnet. Year 5 students of Primary School Savremena contributed to the project which combined a series of subjects: biology, ecology, computer science, the arts, and information engineering.

Well done, students and teachers.

IT IS NICE WHEN WE EXPERIMENT TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE OUR STEAM LAB FOR THAT PURPOSE

Science on Stage was a great opportunity for all science enthusiasts to enjoy chemical experiments, explore and discover new fields of science. All that was free of charge for them. We are certain that the goal was worthwhile for everyone: they had a chance to see STEAM in the most interesting possible way.

Savremena primary students already know very well what STEAM is about. They have their STEAM Lab – a unique workshop, research center and a lab where they acquire 21st-century competencies, play, have fun, and learn from the earliest school age.

This interactive studio was made according to the most contemporary education trends, with the aim of preparing young primary students to apply their knowledge in the real world through practical examples and project lessons.

STEAM Lab puts the student in the center of the educational process by stimulating their self-initiative and encouraging them to reach knowledge by conducting research and realizing the tasks that they chose on their own. In this way, children become more satisfied and perceive school as something fun and useful, not as an overburdening experience. Students thus become young scientists, explorers; they become resourceful, active participants of the teaching process.

The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as laptops, iPads, VR devices, 3D printers, robots and interactive whiteboards and desks, while the special benefit of this system are LEGO STEAM lesson sets by means of which they acquire knowledge in the key fields – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. By using LEGO sets, young primary students have a chance to understand the functions of gears, levers, wheels, axles and many other elements and, in that way, they can step into the world of science and engineering.

We believe that the first STEAM festival in the region will help science become the center of our interests, and that truly different learning will become the ticket to the future for younger generations, for which we have great expectations. We are looking forward to making new friends, experimenting, learning and exploring!