INSPIRATION, JOY, AND SUPPORT OF STEM FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEACHERS THROUGH THE INNOVATIVE LUMA COLLABORATION

Abstract

The collaborative LUMA ecosystem encourages universities, schools, teachers, students, guardians, and the industry to collaborate and engage children and young people from age 3 to 19 in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and teachers at all levels in life-long professional development. LUMA Center Finland, the coordinating body, is a highly valued partner for schools and other groups. Its model for collaboration is internationally regarded as innovative, bringing together schools, guardians, the scientific community, teacher education, and the business sector. This chapter presents (i) a background of the LUMA collaboration, (ii) some successful LUMA activities, and (iii) some teachers’ inservice training models, such as using ICT to increase interest, foster collaboration, and strengthen teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge.