On the 10th-12th October 2016 EPI*STEM, National Centre for STEM Education, School of Education, hosted a STEM Colloquium with a team of twelve academics affiliated to the Swedish National Centre for School Technology Education (CETIS). The visit was coordinated by Dr Keelin Leahy, University of Limerick, with Dr Thomas Ginner, Senior adviser, and Dr Claes Klasander, Director of CETIS.
The STEM Colloquium served the purpose of collaboration under the themes of ‘An overview of the Irish school system’, ‘Technology education in Ireland’, and ‘The role of the cross curricular STEM, ICT and programming’. Key leaders from the University of Limerick led presentations, workshops, and panel discussions. ‘An overview of the Irish school system’ was led by Professor Paul Conway, Professor of Teacher Education at UL and Director of the Ministry of education, and Dr Ruth Richards, Inspectorate with the Department of Education and Skills. ‘Technology education in Ireland’ was led by Dr Diarmaid Lane, lecturer in Initial Technology Teacher Education, and Course Director for Professional Master in Education (Technological Education). ‘The role of the cross curricular STEM’ was led by EPI*STEM Chair, Professor Sibel Erduran. ‘The role of ICT and programming’ was led by Dr Clare McInerney, Education and Outreach Manager in Lero, and supported by Michael Carey, Team Leader for Short Courses within Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) support service, and Conor Power, ICT Coordinator and teacher at Coláiste Chiaráin, Limerick, and an associate with Junior Cycle for Teachers on the coding short course. Two workshops took place; Doctoral student Onur Imren facilitated a Science and Video games workshop, and Dr Keelin Leahy facilitated a Design Heuristics for ideation workshop. On the final day, a Second Level school visit to Castletroy College took place and a Technology Education specialist laboratory tour at the University of Limerick. The visit to Castletroy College provided an excellent insight into the integration of ICT into Second Level education, and the current practices, processes and progress of Technology Education in a second level school setting. This school visit was coordinated and facilitated by Castletroy College teachers Joe Shortt, Conor Keyes, Padraig Flannery and Orla Fleming.
The STEM Colloquium was concluded with a contextual presentation by Dr Ginner and Dr Klasander, which was followed by a panel discussion led by panellists, Dr Ginner, Dr Klasander, Dr Geraldine Mooney-Simme, Dr Oliver McGarr and Dr Raymond Lynch focusing on comparisons between Tech ed. in Ireland and Sweden.