ABOUT THE PROJECT
ECO-STEAM4BASICS aims to strengthen the foundational skills of children aged 3 to 12 by integrating
outdoor, inclusive STEAM learning into primary school and early childhood curricula. Blending
experiential outdoor learning and STEAM exploration, the project develops skills in reading, writing,
numeracy, digital literacies, and an early interest in science, through co-designed pedagogy, large-scale
teacher professional development, and pilot implementation across 8 countries.
PARTNERSHIP
The project is coordinated by Frederick University (FredU) – Cyprus in partnership with:
SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education – Cyprus
Eco Logic – North Macedonia
Proodeftiki Kinisi Daskalon & Nipiagogon – Cyprus
Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Crete (RDPSEC) – Greece
Oloklirosi Single Member Private Company – Greece
Danish Nature Approach (DNA) – Denmark
Elderberry AB – Sweden
GoINNO Institute – Slovenia
ipcenter.at GmbH – Austria
UC Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) – Belgium
OBJECTIVES
ECO-STEAM4BASICS pursues four specific, measurable objectives that together address the full cycle of
change needed from pedagogical design to classroom practice, from teacher development to policy
influence.
Develop and test a replicable Outdoor STEAM Pedagogical Framework for enhancing literacy,
numeracy, and digital skills in early childhood and primary education
Build teacher capacity for inclusive outdoor STEAM education through targeted professional
development
Improve learner outcomes and engagement in basic skills through pilot implementation in
diverse and disadvantaged contexts
Promote systems-level change through policy guidance, stakeholder networks, and scaling
strategies
Developing the Framework
The project’s first and foundational output is a transnational Outdoor STEAM Pedagogical Framework,
co-designed with all partner countries and validated by at least five national and international education
experts. This framework forms the evidence base for all subsequent training, piloting, and advocacy
activities.
Building Teacher Capacity
At least 120 teachers across eight partner countries will be trained through workshops, mentoring, and
e-learning. Three multilingual teacher resources, a toolkit, a handbook, and an e-course, will be made
openly available, targeting at least 200 downloads or adoptions. At least 80% of trained teachers are
expected to report increased confidence in delivering outdoor STEAM content linked to literacy,
numeracy, and digital skills.
Improving Learner Outcomes
Through pilot implementation in diverse and disadvantaged settings, the project targets a minimum 15%
improvement in basic skill indicators among at least 300 learners. At least 25% of pilot participants will
come from vulnerable groups, and at least 100 families will be actively involved in home and community
STEAM learning.
Driving Policy Change
Eight national Living Labs will engage 100+ stakeholders across partner countries. A policy roadmap will
be developed and endorsed by at least three authorities or networks. Dissemination activities will reach
1,000+ stakeholders through events, publications, and media.
PROJECT STAGES
ECO-STEAM4BASICS produces a series of concrete outputs across its 36-month duration, each building
on the previous one to create a coherent and transferable body of knowledge, tools, and resources for
educators, schools, and policymakers across Europe.
Stage 1. Integrated Literature Review & Evidence Mapping
A systematic review of existing research and practice across partner countries, including surveys, focus
groups, and stakeholder consultations, identifying key gaps in outdoor STEAM pedagogy, teacher
professional development, and inclusion in early childhood and primary education.
Stage 2. ECO-STEAM4BASICS Pedagogical Framework
The core conceptual output of the project: a practical, evidence-based framework detailing the
approach, underlying principles, learning objectives, sample activities linking outdoor STEAM to literacy
and numeracy, inclusion guidelines, and implementation tips. Available in English with summaries
translated into all seven partner languages.
Stage 3. Online Training Curriculum & E-Learning Platform
A structured teacher training programme of approximately 20 hours, delivered through a Moodle-based
e-learning platform with five modules. Designed for blended delivery and made openly accessible to
educators across and beyond the consortium.
Stage 4. Mentor Handbook & Learning Resources Toolkit
A practical toolkit of outdoor STEAM activities and a dedicated mentor handbook to support the train-
the-mentor model. Resources are aligned with national curricula across partner countries and designed
to be adaptable to diverse classroom and outdoor settings.
Stage 5. Pilot Implementation & Impact Evaluation
Outdoor STEAM activities piloted in 15–20 classrooms per partner country, involving 300-400 children
aged 3–12. Pilot findings documented through narrative case studies from each country and a full
impact evaluation report measuring outcomes against baseline indicators.
Stage 6. Policy Recommendations & Stakeholder Roadmap
Eight national Living Labs and stakeholder roundtables translate pilot evidence into concrete policy
recommendations and a roadmap for systemic integration of outdoor STEAM pedagogy into national
education frameworks, targeting at least three authorities or networks.
Stage 7. Final European Conference & Sustainability Strategy
A European-level final conference hosted in Leuven, Belgium (Month 35), bringing together 60+
policymakers, academics, and educators to present project results, launch the policy recommendations,
and agree on a post-project sustainability plan. All final outputs uploaded to the Erasmus+ Project
Results Platform for long-term public access.
IMPACT
ECO-STEAM4BASICS is designed to deliver concrete, measurable impact at multiple levels, for individual
learners and teachers, for schools and families, and for education systems across Europe.
Children aged 3–12
The project aims to create more joyful and participative learning experiences, leading to measurable
improvements in foundational literacy, numeracy, science, and socio-emotional skills. At least 300
children across eight partner countries will take part in pilot activities, with at least 25% coming from
vulnerable groups.
Teachers and Educators
The project offers enhanced teaching tools, increased confidence, and practical support for inclusive
outdoor STEAM pedagogy. At least 120 teachers will be trained through workshops, mentoring, and e-
learning, with at least 80% expected to report increased confidence in delivering outdoor STEAM
content linked to literacy, numeracy, and digital skills.
Schools and ECEC Centres
Participation in the project supports a higher-quality educational offer, improved learner outcomes, and
stronger school-family cooperation. At least 100 families will be actively involved in home and
community STEAM learning activities.
Education Systems and Policymakers
ECO-STEAM4BASICS provides a tested, scalable model aligned with EU goals for basic skills, equity, and
pedagogical innovation. Eight national Living Labs will engage over 100 stakeholders across partner
countries, and a policy roadmap will be endorsed by at least three authorities or networks.
Beyond the funded period, partners will maintain public access to all project resources through the
project website and European dissemination platforms, and will continue to promote the pedagogical
framework and pilot findings through teacher training, educational networks, and EU education forums.
