International Projects: Tracing the Journey From Design to Community Use

Abstract

Nowadays, we are witnessing a gender gap in ICT caused by stereotypes and misconceptions that need to be reversed. To this end, a group of European partners has developed a two-year project to involve girls aged between 14 and 16 in STEM subjects. Empower Girls Creativity Through Use of Digital Technologies (SparkDigiGirls) is an ERASMUS+ project that culminated in the creation of an online course. This course consists of 16 challenges spread across different types of technologies (Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, Online Security). Students are challenged to learn about technology, apply it to real everyday situations or needs and present evidence. At a later stage, the course was converted into a MOOC for mentors and integrated into the Chair4Future platform, specifically designed to disseminate knowledge to IPT students and teachers, partner institutions and the community in general. This platform includes courses that can promote the main competences identified as lacking in the IPT's target population. As an institution with courses in the ICT area, capturing the interest of the female gender is increasingly important. In this article we will present how the work produced within the scope of SparkDigiGirls and its main results were integrated into the Chair4Future platform, in order to allow the community to access the knowledge developed. This resulted in the original materials being made available in Portuguese and English and a MOOC for mentors in Portuguese.

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Author Information
Inês Araújo, Polytechnic University of Tomar, Portugal
Célio Gonçalo Marques, Polytechnic University of Tomar, Portugal
Hélder Pestana, Polytechnic University of Tomar, Portugal