The field tests will be carried out within the classrooms lessons in in the pilot schools.
The experimentation of the ATS STEM involves a large-scale pilot with 120 schools (in each of the participating pilot countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Ireland, Finland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden). The pilot includes upper primary and lower secondary schools.
The intervention is designed to integrate the ATS-STEM formative assessment learning tasks with the curricula being taught by participating teachers. In summary, teachers redesign their existing teaching plans to include the ATS STEM formative assessment in their teaching strategies and in line with the learning objectives of the curriculum being taught. From the point of view of the students, the pilot is part of their normal school work rather than being presented as extracurricular.
Until the end autumn 2019, the selection of the schools is carried out by the partners responsible for pilot implementation in each country in accordance with the procedures established in each country. Selected schools nominate teachers and classes for participation in the ATS STEM pilot from a mix of STEM related subjects.
The participating schools form a representative sample of the different types of schools existing in the pilot countries. A mix of selected schools (urban, rural, different regions, different socioeconomic etc.) or legal status (public, private) is included in the pilot.
Throughout the pilot implementation, a prolonged collaboration with participating schools and teachers is required. The actual pilot implementation in classrooms will take place during the second year of the project and involve a full school year. Some teachers will also participate in the design of the ATS STEM model and in the development of the tools during the first year of the project.
Each pilot country appoints a coordinator or coordination team responsible for the school pilots and pilot evaluation. Their main role is to provide support to participating schools and teachers and to ensure that the assessment tasks are being carried out. At the school level, corresponding responsibilities are assigned to one or more experts. It is recommended that the school coordinating team includes an ICT teacher.
