The course will offer an immersive, hands-on learning experience in the technologically equipped facilities of Opificio Golinelli. Through workshops and practical labs, teachers will explore innovative strategies to teach science using a STEAM approach while rethinking their professional and school practices. The program focuses on designing student experiences that are transversal, inclusive, and challenge-based. Small group and bottom-up activities will help participants to strengthen both their technical skills—such as integrating educational technology into lessons—and their methodological skills, learning how to foster creativity, autonomy, and collaboration in students. The course covers key topics like making and tinkering, artificial intelligence in education, virtual and augmented reality, human-centered design, data literacy and storytelling, and scientific research in the lab.

Practical workshops and interactive sessions both provide a diverse range of concepts and methodologies to be integrated in the classroom and help participants enrich their abilities to design and manage active learning experiences for students. The course provides an opportunity for immersive training with an inquiry-based approach in laboratories, where teachers apply modern tools and scientific investigation techniques normally used in international research centers.
The underlying idea of the training is that doing and experimenting are the basis of fun and long-life learning. It encourages meaningful encounters and constructive dialogue between science, art, and technology, as well as between the research community and schools at the European level.

Contents and training are designed by Fondazione Golinelli, an Institution accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education for teacher training. The program is tailored to be fully funded by Erasmus+ KA1 funding and ensures the best quality within Erasmus quality standards.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Thanks to this course participants will develop knowledge and skills related to: 

• STEAM-based teaching strategies: design interdisciplinary, challenge-based learning experiences that foster inclusivity and transversal skills.
• Educational technologies: integrate AI, virtual reality, and other digital tools to enhance science teaching and student engagement.
• Hands-on learning methods: use making, tinkering, and experimentation to promote creativity, autonomy, and collaboration.
• Data literacy and storytelling skills: leverage data and narratives to support scientific inquiry and communication.
• Human-centered design in education: create student-centered learning experiences that bridge research, science, and technology with classroom practice.
• Active learning environments: design and facilitate interactive, challenge-based activities that encourage lifelong learning.
• Networking and best practices exchange: share experiences about innovative science and STEAM education with teachers coming throughout Europe, while netwroking thorough everyday teambuilding and cooperation activities.

COURSE DETAILS

When: 07/07/2025 > 11/07/2025 
Cost: 400€/person—including course fee, didactic material, certificate of attendance and coffee breaks. Participants with a Erasmus+ KA1 grant, will receive support in the validation of the Europass Mobility Document and a certificate in line with Erasmus+ quality standards
Location: Bologna, Opificio Golinelli 
Target: science educators working in secondary schools (Grade 6-12) 
N: min 8 - max 28 
Language: English

PRE-ENROLLMENT FORM (UNTIL JUNE 15^th)

PROGRAMME

Day 1 - COURSE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST STEPS INTO STEAM EDUCATION 
From 10 a.m to 1 p.m and from 2 p.m to 5 p.m

• Registration and welcome workshop 
• Making and Tinkering experiences 
• Visit to Fondazione Golinelli labs and facilities 
• Presentation of the Italian education system and the experience of Scuola delle Idee Marino Golinelli
• Workshop: structured discussion on the meaning and practices of STEAM 
• Retrospective of the day

Day 2 - DATA AND STORYTELLING WITH ARTISTIC AND HUMANISTIC APPROACH
From 9 a.m to 1 p.m and from 2 p.m to 5 p.m 

• The role of data in personal investigation and meaningful learning 
• Exploring data to connect planetary, local, and personal dimensions through artistic and design perspectives 
• Interactive STEAM city game to discover Bologna’s cultural traits 
• Retrospective of the day

Day 3 - TEACHING SCIENCE IN THE LAB LIKE RESEARCHERS 
From 9 a.m to 2 p.m 

• Hands-on activities in the equipped bioscience and genetic labs using modern tools and scientific techniques 
• Teaching Science in the Lab like researchers: workshop on how to integrate science, art, and ethical issues in education 
• Free afternoon for self-managed cultural activities

Day 4 - WORKING WITH AI AT SCHOOL: COLLABORATION AND MACHINE LEARNING 
From 9 a.m to 1 p.m and from 2 p.m to 5 p.m

• Machine learning workshop blending art and science
• Collaborative activities using AI tools
• Discussion on generative AI projects and experimentation
• Retrospective of the day

Day 5 - VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY AT SCHOOL
From 9 a.m to 2 p.m 

• Experimentation with virtual and augmented reality in science education 
• Science Lab in Golinelli LIVE: experience a virtual reality educational platform 
• Ideation Design Workshop: discussion and ideas for creating student activities
• Final evaluation and certification

ABOUT FONDAZIONE GOLINELLI

Fondazione Golinelli is a unique Italian example of a private and operative foundation, inspired by the model of the American philanthropic foundations. One of its strategic goals is to provide youngsters (especially school students) with guidelines and tools that enable them to grow responsibly, civically and socially, fostering the creation of ethical behavior for a more cohesive society. Fondazione Golinelli is organized in 4 different Areas: Art and Science, School, Enterprise, Research and higher education. With a focus on STEAM education, innovative methodology and entrepreneurial culture, the School Area provides scientific and technological activities at the national level. Among these, labs and workshops to students of all ages (from preschool to university ones), training experiences for teachers and school managers and learning activities for professionals and adults. 

The main training, educational and cultural activities of Fondazione Golinelli are hosted at Opificio Golinelli (Bologna, Italy). Due to the numeric dimensions (14.000SQM) and its cultural model, Opificio Golinelli is considered one of the largest experimental laboratories for teaching science and technology as well as a center of national and international importance. 

Fondazione Golinelli operates though G-Lab Srl Impresa Sociale, a social enterprise created in 2018 with the aim of enhancing and disseminating the expertise, that Fondazione Golinelli has developed during many years, especially targeting the School and Education sector. Both Fondazione Golinelli and G-Lab are recognized institution for teachers’ training by the Italian Ministry of Education and G-Lab holds accreditation by the Emilia Romagna Region for lifelong learning.

Fondazione Golinelli:

• designs and implements in-person and remote training courses for teachers on the innovation of teaching methodologies; 
• develops complex educational projects that can be customized according to the specific needs of the various schools and educational institutions; 
• carries out scientific and interdisciplinary laboratory activities for students and schools of all levels; 
• experiments digital innovation in education; 
• continuously supports the growth of educational, teachers and schools networks at a national level. 

Fondazione Golinelli has been developing applied research on relevant issues like STEAM approach to teaching and learning, digital tools and environments and active learning, on Artificial Intelligence and teaching practices. Since 2018 G-Lab includes an AR and VR Division, which is also in charge of the creation of Golinelli LiVE Live Virtual Experience, a virtual reality simulator for the creation of science laboratory experiences. 

Since 2022, through G-Lab, Fondazione Golinelli has managed a private school, recognized and accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education “Scuola delle idee Marino Golinelli”. It is a STEAM-oriented lower secondary school currently made up of a section and three classes with a staff of 13 teachers and educators and providing education to 48 students in 2025.