The RoboSteamSen project (2023-1-ES01-KA220-SCH-000155379) is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Teacher Training Package

A series of online courses is available through the Community of Practice, addressing the needs of school teachers who support students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in learning core STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). In addition, a specialized course focuses on disability management. Each course is presented in two levels: basic and advanced.

Basic Programming Course for Simple Robots
This course introduces teachers to the fundamentals of programming using visual, block-based environments like Scratch or Blockly. Participants will learn how to create basic algorithms and control simple virtual robots through simulations. The course is designed for educators working with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it emphasizes accessible, self-paced learning. By the end of the course, teachers will be able to apply basic programming concepts to help their students understand how robots execute simple tasks.

Advanced Programming and Robotics Course
This advanced course is aimed at teachers who already have foundational knowledge in programming and robotics. Participants will explore more complex programming concepts, including decision-making with sensors and advanced control structures. Using online simulations, teachers will learn how to create sophisticated routines for virtual robots. The course also focuses on adapting these concepts for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring that advanced robotics projects remain accessible and engaging for all learners.

ASD Disability (Basic Level)
The content of this course combines theoretical-academic knowledge together with a practical-pedagogical application of AAC systems for communication and their application as a method of access to Steam methodologies with these students. It combines knowledge of the etiology of ASD students and, at the same time, the application of communicators.

Augmentative and Alternative for students with ASD
Augmentative and Alternative communication is a necessity when it comes to the access of students with ASD to the use of STEAM technologies due to the difficulties they present in the communicative-linguistic area. In this course we will learn how to use the Asterics Grid communicator to configure it effectively and customarily for each of the users.

Science Basic Level
The basic Level course will be devoted to Electricity, Sensors, Actuators, Mechanics and computer science being an introductory course, that covers the main science topics that are applied in the robotics field, not giving a special focus on computer science, despite being a crucial topic, since it is inherent to many of the teaching aid tools that will be used to support this course.

Science Advanced Level
The basic Level course will be devoted to Electricity, Sensors, Actuators, Mechanics and computer science being an introductory course, that covers the main science topics that are applied in the robotics field, not giving a special focus on computer science, despite being a crucial topic, since it is inherent to many of the teaching aid tools that will be used to support this course.

Basic Engineering Course
At this level, the aim of the units is to introduce the person on the main features of the components of a robot and recognize the foremost characteristics to consider in the structure of a robot. This course introduces the fundamentals of robotics through practical learning. Explore essential robot components, battery solutions, chassis materials, movement systems, and 3D printing techniques. By the end, participants will design and assemble a functional robot capable of performing simple tasks, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience.

Advanced Engineering Course
This level pretends to enable the making of electrical connections and allow the selection of the best solutions that exist on the market depending on the robot you intend to create. It is also intended to enable people to design 3D parts for the robot's structure. For this, the course explores the core components and strategies for building a high-performing robot. Topics include motor control and driver integration, microcontroller platforms, object transport mechanisms, and the design and fabrication of custom 3D-printed parts.

Arts Basic Level
In this introductory course, we will present robotics and technological resources alongside educational strategies and tools that enhance the arts learning journey for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The integration of robotics and technology will aid in personalizing the educational experience, promoting engagement, and nurturing essential skills such as computational thinking, problem-solving, and motor coordination.

Arts Advanced Level
The Advanced Level course enhances the core concepts introduced in the Basic Level, providing SEN teachers with a more profound understanding of incorporating arts education for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This course highlights sophisticated artistic methods, interdisciplinary projects, and the smooth integration of arts with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) disciplines.

Mathematics Basic Course
In-service teachers could incorporate these mathematics concepts into robotics projects, helping students gain both computational and mathematical skills in an integrated learning environment. The use of educational robotics may help the teachers (and eventually IDD students) to understand complex and abstract topics.

Mathematics Advanced Level
This advanced-level course is designed for secondary and upper secondary (high school) teachers seeking to integrate educational robotics into the teaching of higher-level mathematics concepts. Participants will explore three key topics—trigonometry, calculus, and linear algebra—using robotics-based activities that connect theoretical math with real-world applications. Teachers will learn to guide students in applying trigonometric functions to control robot movements and angles, exploring calculus through the analysis of rates of change and numerical integration of a robot’s motion, and using matrices and transformations in linear algebra to model and manipulate robotic paths.