At the end of April 2026, Experience Workshop organised a successful STEAM in School Education Erasmus+ Teacher Training course in Jyväskylä. The group consisted of teachers from Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Germany, and the Netherlands. This course was jointly led by trainers Jukka Lehtoranta and Samuel Madtha.
About the course
In this course, STEAM is presented both as a teaching tool and as a learning goal itself. Teachers explore how to move between subjects without losing depth in any single one. As a methodology, STEAM helps build collaborative and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Learners discover unexpected connections between different school subjects.
The main goal of this training was not to share information for its own sake. Instead, the course supported participants in adapting the content to their own educational systems, curricula, and daily teaching practices. Every teacher came from a different national context, and the course respected that. Methods from Finnish schools were shown, but the emphasis was always on how to adjust them for home use.
By the end of the six‑day training, each participant created their own STEAM portfolio and a complete STEAM lesson plan. This was not a theoretical exercise. The lesson plan was tested in peer discussions and adjusted based on feedback. Teachers also improved their communication skills in English, specifically for classroom use and lesson planning.
During the course, participants also visited professor Pasi Ikonen who shared insights into craft and technology education in Finland during a visit to the teacher training center of the University of Jyväskylä. The group was welcomed into his teaching environment to see his workshop and classroom setup. Pasi demonstrated practical examples from his lesson plans, showing how theoretical principles of Finnish craft education are applied in daily work.
Outside of the scheduled lessons, the visit was enriched by a cultural program. The group enjoyed an educational city tour of Jyväskylä, a peaceful nature trail, and a classic Finnish grill party by the lake.
Feedback from Participants
“I gained new knowledge and practical ideas on how to apply this in my work. The team tasks were an excellent way to reinforce what we learned through playful collaboration.”
“Every lesson can be a STEAM lesson!”
“I developed my skills in creative lesson planning, teamwork, and project-based learning.”
“I will apply the teamwork methods and Finnish experience gained during the training to promote interactive and student-centered teaching.”
Photo credits: Nora Somlyody, Tereza Pruknerová, Samuel Madtha, Charlotte Au Yong and participants of the course
The job shadowing mobility was realized in the frameworks of the Erasmus+ KA1 programme.
Would you like to participate in a similar educational program?
info@experienceworkshop.org
+358452560420
