eCraft2Learn
Digital Fabrication and Maker Movement in Education - Making Computer-Supported Artefacts from Scratch
eCraft2Learn aims at reinforcing personalised learning and teaching in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education and to assist the development of 21st century skills that promote inclusion and employability for youth in the European Union.
The project’s team researches, designs, pilots and validates an ecosystem based on a digital fabrication and makes technologies for creating computer-supported artefacts.
Basic information
- The European Lab for Education Technology, Greece.
- Mälardalen University of Sweden, Sweden.
- Zentrum für Soziale Innovation GmbH, Austria.
- University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
- SYNYO GmbH, Austria.
- University of Dundee, United Kingdom.
- University of Padova, Italy.
- Technopolis City of Athens, Greece.
- Evothings, Sweden.
- Arduino, Sweden.
- Ultimaker, United Kingdom.
The eCraft2Learn project has a three-fold structure for its pedagogical, technical and business objectives. The distinction between the three categories is, therefore, meant to be a guiding structure for the project’s activities.
PEDAGOGICAL OBJECTIVES
eCraft2Learn focuses on the following techniques and strategies in pedagogy, namely: innovation management techniques, developing a different approach to education, enabling communication, ensuring a pedagogical practicability of learning designs and developing the integration of an eCraft2Learn method.
TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES
eCraft2Learn focuses on the following techniques and strategies in technology, namely: facilitating positive changes in attitudes towards education in science, technology etc., using breakthrough technologies for learning, i.e. 3D technologies and supporting teachers with real-time analytics systems.
BUSINESS OBJECTIVES
eCraft2Learn focuses on the following techniques and strategies in business, namely: enabling and making sustainable network of collaboration among industry, enabling learners while becoming project-solving, ambitiously thinking entrepreneurs, increasing awareness on the need for digital fabrication.
eCraft2Learn is based on learning principles through the act of making and the do-it-yourself (DIY) philosophy. DIY technologies emerge as unique making tools that can create a learning ecosystem for attracting and keeping learners interested and motivated. The ecosystem starts with students’ own ideas, gained by exploring the world (Stage 1). Then, a planning stage follows where the students explore the resources available and needed for the realisation of their idea (Stage 2). The students then engage in a making process that includes brainstorming, iterative designs, trial and errors and reflection upon designs (Stages 3 and 4) and finally share their finished projects with the open community (Stage 5).