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Portugal Disseminaiton Event Activity

Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, the LESTO Project arose from the urgency of tackling the educational challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. With schools closed all over the world, it became clear that the use of technology in education was not yet fully aligned with current needs.

In this context, the LESTO Project not only fills this gap, but also seeks to promote a hands-on, collaborative approach to science teaching. We recognise that hands-on learning, combined with digital tools, is crucial to boosting scientific development and preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.

With a strategic partnership between institutions in Turkey, Belgium, Portugal and Serbia, the LESTO Project represents an extraordinary international collaboration, bringing together a wealth of experience in hands-on science education, distance learning and equity in education.

Throughout the project’s development, a series of innovative products have been designed to transform the learning experience. Starting with the LESTO Online Platform, an interactive learning community designed for students aged 10 to 14. Here, students can explore and learn science on any device, at any time, sharing their own experiences and receiving feedback in real time.

In addition to the platform, we have developed the Practical Science Education Training Set, a comprehensive collection of experiential activities designed to support children’s practical and experiential learning. With an approach centered on skills and competences, our training set reduces curricular differences between the project’s partner countries, offering a consistent and enriching learning experience.

Finally, we developed the Educator and Student Guide to Using and Disseminating Practical Science Education, an essential tool to guide educators and students in the effective use of the project’s resources. With detailed guidelines and practical suggestions, our guide ensures that everyone can make the most of the opportunities offered by the LESTO Project.

As far as dissemination is concerned, the project’s dissemination event was held in Portugal on 10 January 2024. The session began with an introductory talk by Prof António Gonçalves, representing EDUGEP as a project partner. During his presentation, the project’s objectives were addressed, the results of the needs assessment were highlighted, and the participants were shown practical details of the LESTO online platform. Regarding classroom experiences, the participants shared their experiences of the impact of digital transformation in the school environment. The event also allowed feedback to be gathered on the products resulting from the project, with some teachers being asked to test them in their classrooms.