Empowering teachers to inspire Earth Science and STEM learning: The HUI WORLD project

Earth Sciences should play a crucial role in the education of secondary school students. The subject provides understanding of physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate and govern the planet Earth as well as influence society. However, teachers often face constraints in time, resources and confidence when teaching interdisciplinary STEM topics.

HUI-WORLD is an Erasmus+ project designed to strengthen Earth science teaching by supporting teachers to deliver structured, inquiry-oriented STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning in secondary schools. The project is developing a set of 20 learning units (LUs) addressing themes such as sustainability and conservation, soil science, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, energy systems, environmental change, oceanography, astronomy, population and migration, economics, and geohazards (including earthquakes). Each LU is structured in three lessons of approximately one hour each, giving teachers the resources to deliver inquiry-based, interdisciplinary, and engaging STEM lessons.

The pedagogical aim of the project is to break down the traditional concept of direct teaching and to make learning time more interactive, turning lessons into an active space for students. This approach provides teachers with the opportunity to let students actively participate by sharing ideas, producing materials related to the lesson topic, and engaging in activities (e.g., games, presentations, quizzes). The LUs help teachers connect classroom learning to real-world environmental and societal challenges, fostering critical thinking and active citizenship in students in a fun and engaging way. Each LU is not constructed in isolation but also has links to other LUs, in order to encourage mental connections, systemic thinking, and highlight the interconnection between topics related to Earth Sciences and the impact on real life at all scales (from global crises to personal needs).

Finally, HUI WORLD aims to show students that STEM subjects can be the solution for many modern global problems. The project highlights how STEM pathways contribute to addressing contemporary challenges, helping students to see science and engineering as relevant to both society and future careers.