Deutsche Telekom Stiftung launches new round of applications for universities

Project to improve STEM teacher training - Foundation asks universities to develop effective strategies for using digital tools in the classroom

What could be more inspiring and fascinating for students and teachers than watching biochemical reactions unfold in virtual reality or recording biological phenomena in computer programs? Traditional classes on science, technology, engineering and mathematics - also known as STEM subjects - are disparaged as dry and theoretical, but can quickly come to life with modern technology, provided teachers know how to use it in a didactically meaningful way. A new Deutsche Telekom Stiftung project entitled "The Future of STEM Learning" aims to identify key principles for teaching STEM subjects in the digital world and best practices for preparing STEM educators to teach in tomorrow's classrooms.

Starting in 2018, the foundation will help Germany's leading teacher training institutions develop, test and integrate best practices for digital media-based STEM teaching in a development network. The universities in the network collaborate with international experts in media education, teaching and learning research and STEM subject matter specialization, among other fields. The collaboration is structured like a think tank. It aims to develop joint positions and introduce them into the public discourse. Interested universities can start submitting applications today.

"As digitization progresses, schools and teachers are having to meet rapidly changing expectations. STEM teachers in particular have to be proficient at using digital tools to teach their specialized subjects," said Dr. Ekkehard Winter, Executive Director of Deutsche Telekom Stiftung. "I am confident that the new development network will find the answers to a question we all want answered: what should STEM teaching and learning look like in our increasingly digital world?"

All the information on the project and the application and selection process is available online at www.telekom-stiftung.de/entwicklungsverbuende. The new network is expected to start work in May 2018 for a period of three years.