2024-03-14 00:06:34
With the participation of over 30 teams and 150 Primary and Secondary Education students from all prefectures of Epirus, accompanied by their coaches, the Epirus Regional STEM Competition took place last Sunday at the Arsakeia Schools of Ioannina.
The theme of this year’s competition is “Mediterranean: Source of Life and Culture” and the students presented their proposals, winning the admiration of the audience. Younger students played robot soccer, while older students created autonomous robots that navigated the Mediterranean and performed maintenance and repair functions on lighthouses.
In addition to the competition part, the presentation of the projects of the “1821 – Small Revolution in Education” Action was held, a joint venture, among others, of STEM Education, the Municipality of Trikkaia, the Ministry of Education, OTE Academy and the Greece 2021 Committee. In Action this year, 1821 Primary and Secondary Schools were equipped with STEM and Robotics equipment and at least three teachers from each school were trained. The schools of Epirus presented their projects and shared their experiences in the context of the dissemination of the action. Although most of the students have only been involved in STEM for a few months, “their dedication to building their project is an inspiration to their peers and highlights the importance of fostering a culture of innovation and exploration in schools,” according to a press release.
The event was graced by the presence of the professor of the Pedagogical Department of Primary Education, Anastasios Mikropoulos, a pioneer of the inclusion of IT in education. Two soccer teams qualified for the final in Athens, three teams of the Open Category 3-6 Elementary School and four teams of Regular Beginners.
This year STEM Education celebrates ten years of the Panhellenic Competition, an effort that started to spread STEM and Educational Robotics in the Greek educational community and has now been embraced by it. The competitive level of the teams is particularly high and the students arouse the interest of the jury with their creativity. STEM Education also develops integrated curricula from Kindergarten to High School, and helps the children who attend it acquire the necessary skills to deal with the problems they will encounter, regardless of the studies and profession they choose.
The competition could not take place without the presence of judges and volunteers. In addition, thanks are expressed by the organizing committee to the teachers and executives of the STEM Education Ioannina and STEM Education Arta centers for the preparation of the competition and their continuous presence on the day of the event.
Also, the organizing committee warmly thanks the Arsakeia Schools of Ioannina for the perfect cooperation in organizing the event and looks forward to the organization of the 2nd STEM & Educational Robotics Festival for Preschool Education on Saturday, May 25, wishing good luck to all teams and good luck meet in the grand final on March 30 and 31.