an exciting meeting held in Kuressaare, Estonia, educators and project leaders from Botosani (Romania), Potenza (Italy), Vilnius (Lithuania), and Kuressaare Youth School came together to share their progress on teaching a groundbreaking new curriculum that integrates STEM subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The focal point of the meeting was the impressive research drone boat, which the teams had designed, built, and tested over just a few days.
Building the Boat Despite the tight schedule, the teams collaborated efficiently, constructing a fully functioning drone boat capable of collecting water samples and data essential for environmental analysis. The boat’s development highlighted the practical application of lessons across disciplines, preparing students to engage in hands-on learning that mirrors real-world scientific research.
Testing the Drone Boat’s Performance To ensure the boat was capable of collecting accurate and reliable data, the teams conducted rigorous testing in both Kuressaare Lake and at the TAL-Tech University wave pool. Remarkably, the boat not only withstood challenging conditions, including rough waves, but also performed beyond expectations in gathering critical environmental data. The boat’s robust performance in rough seas surprised everyone, demonstrating its potential as a powerful educational tool for students.
Data-Driven Learning The drone boat will be used by students to collect real-world data, which they will analyze using tools like QGIS to uncover patterns and make scientific conclusions. This hands-on, interdisciplinary approach equips students with the technical skills to engage with environmental data, encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and deeper learning in multiple subject areas.
This meeting reinforced the value of international collaboration in creating dynamic, future-focused educational experiences, preparing students to tackle complex environmental challenges with innovative solutions.
