The STEMMERSION Project is part/financed by the National STEM Community Fund of Esplora Interactive Science Centre (Malta Council for Science and Technology) on behalf of the National STEM Engagement Working Group.
The STEMMERSION project is an innovative educational initiative that recently celebrated the successful conclusion of its pilot phase with a dissemination event held on June 24th at Fort St. Angelo, Cospicua
This event marked a significant milestone for the project, which aims to assist primary school educators by providing innovative resources and strategies to effectively teach challenging aspects from the Primary Science syllabus from a local perspective. The Department for Curriculum Entitlement, within the Secretariat for Catholic Education, through the Digital and Transversal Skills and Science Education Heads of Department, played a pivotal role in developing these resources. The team ensured that these resources are tailored to the Maltese educational context and address the shortage of digital STEM resources that reflect the local environment.
During the event, participants were engaged in a morning of learning and inspiration. The program included an overview of the project’s progress and practical insights into how the resources have been applied in classrooms. Interactive workshops allowed educators to explore the materials firsthand, while testimonials from teachers and students—representing over 300 students and 30 educators from St. Joseph Mater Boni Consilii School and St. Paul’s Missionary College—highlighted the transformative potential of STEMMERSION in STEM education.
The resources developed through STEMMERSION, including 360-degree virtual tours of local STEM environments, interviews with Maltese professionals offering insights into STEM careers, and hands-on activities such as experiments, Augmented Reality, robotics, and podcast production, were particularly praised for making STEM subjects more engaging and relatable for students. These activities were designed to foster a deeper appreciation for local environments and STEM-related careers while promoting cross-curricular learning and the development of scientific, digital, and transversal skills.
With the pilot phase now complete, STEMMERSION enters an exciting new chapter. All resources evaluated during the pilot are now publicly available, free of charge, through the project’s official website: www.csm.edu.mt/stemmersion . This open-access approach ensures that educators and students across the Maltese Islands, and beyond, can benefit from these innovative materials, whether in formal educational settings or through independent learning.
As the project continues to evolve, it remains dedicated to supporting educators and inspiring the next generation of students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. The success of STEMMERSION has been made possible through the collaboration of many individuals, including educators, researchers, students, and professionals. The project team—Roberta Trapani Maggi and Natalie Calleja Lombardi, Heads of the Department for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills, along with Alexia Micallef Gatt, Head of the Department for Science Education, together with their directors —express their heartfelt gratitude to all participants and stakeholders, involved in the development and pilot phase. Looking ahead, STEMMERSION will continue to empower educators, ensuring that students are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the future.