STEAM Extracurricular Program will be Implemented in 200 schools of Georgia by the end of 2024
The I2Q Project envisages the implementation of a STEAM extracurricular program in schools, the purpose of which is to strengthen the interest of students, especially girls, in teaching STEAM subjects. The STEAM extracurricular program has already been successfully introduced and operates in 80 schools across Georgia. From the 2024-2025 academic year, an additional 120 schools will be involved in the activities (200 schools in total).
With the support of the World Bank, within the framework of the Innovation, Inclusion and Quality Project, all 120 pilot schools will be equipped with appropriate resources and equipment, and 10 schools will additionally be provided with a special work space. These 10 schools will be equipped several educational toolkits become available for the students, such as programming, robotics, STEAM, science, wind energy, green energy toolkits, 3D printers, drone, and computer equipment. Workspaces have a special burden: schools must ensure the implementation of extracurricular programs offered by the I2Q Project and share activities with other pilot schools, involve interested schools in the activities and events planned within the project. Special workspaces will be equipped with a video conferencing system, which will ensure online engagement with other schools and the implementation of various joint events and activities. Similar programs are already successfully running in Tbilisi 126 and Zugdidi 5 public schools, where students are actively engaged in creating and managing smart devices, presenting Arduino, showcasing renewable energy and robotics projects, and participating in various STEAM extracurricular activities.
To enhance the capabilities of STEAM teachers, training is scheduled for November 2024. More than 240 teachers from the 120 pilot schools will undergo orientation workshops on the use of resources and implementation in the classroom, led by international expert Jeffrey Novak. By the end of 2024, piloting of STEAM extracurricular programs will commence in all 120 schools, involving the students as well.