91�鶹������Ʒ����

The Foundation has been providing a continuing professional development programme for pedagogical staff at early childhood education and care centres, after-school centres, and primary schools. The Foundation provides different learning opportunities: on-site training courses, online courses/webinars, educational events, and pedagogic material (e.g., brochures and sets of cards). The initiative also offers certification. The workshops cover a wide range of topics that are being developed continuously. Topics relate to science and technology (e.g., as ´investigating water´, ´energy and electricity´, ´sounds and noises´, and ´magnetism´), and may also focus on how to implement Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). *Pedagogical resources, such as brochures and sets of cards for pedagogical staff, teachers, and children, are provided for each topic. The programme is now firmly established in regions all over Germany – and is still expanding.

Pedagogical staff at early childhood education and care centres, after-school centres, and primary schools nationwide. Local network partners include municipalities and early childhood education and care providers, trade associations, science centres, museums, companies, foundations, and associations. Funding partners include Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Siemens Stiftung, the Dietmar Hopp Stiftung, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, and the Friede Springer Stiftung.

85,000 educators and teachers from more than 34,800 institutions have already participated in the Foundation´s advanced trainings. Almost 6,000 institutions have been certified as a “Haus der kleinen Forscher” (Little Scientists’ House). Around 500 trainers provide professional development trainings to educators and teachers. About 2.9 million children attend the participating institutions. 6000 early childcare centres are now a “Haus der kleinen Forscher” (Little Scientist’s House) and are actively and regularly taking part in our programme.

Achieving success in early STEM education requires Convincing Stakeholders, Networking for Awareness, and Political Support

Biggest success factor was to convince a wide range of stakeholders of this view and to gain them as active partners throughout Germany. That made it possible to have programme of early STEM Education for Sustainable Development implemented in many early education centres and thus to reach many children. Networking was not only key for rolling out the programme, but also for generating awareness regarding the importance of good education in general and good STEM education in particular (e.g., the foundation is part of “Nationales MINT-Forum” and similar networks). To convince political stakeholders also was a key – today the Foundation is even mentioned as an important player in the current coalition agreement signed by the government-forming parties of Germany.

The challenge to the programme are the general conditions and restrictions of early education and care centres such as adequate staffing and resource allocation. Unfortunately, the general conditions are hardest to change and do not fall in the foundation´s scope. Nonetheless, they address the changes that are needed in podium discussions, press releases, interviews and (joint) papers.