As a result of the crises we have experienced in recent years, there has been unprecedented technological development that has affected not only the economic, medical, and labor sectors, but also education. Science has become a dynamic and effective mechanism for overcoming the limitations of these crises, bringing education to those who could not attend school and serving as a growing asset for the employability of high school students.
However, this technological advancement has not reached all schools equally, and its implementation often fails to reach the schools that need it most: those in areas particularly affected by the social crisis.
In this context, seven technology companies and high schools in Europe, as part of the Erasmus+ “Didactech” project, have developed an innovative methodological strategy that promotes technology education and fosters an interest in science and technology among high school students facing barriers. This is achieved through the creation of Techlabs—technology fabrication workshops where students from underserved communities (especially girls, according to the White Paper on Women in Technology (2019), only 16% of STEM professionals are women, and very few teenage girls—0.7%—are interested in pursuing technology degrees) use state-of-the-art digital fabrication equipment (such as 3D printers) not only to acquire scientific and technological training, but also to create educational materials that help under-resourced elementary schools.
In this regard, technology companies can play a vital role. Their expertise in research, development, and innovation is key to collaborating with educational institutions and creating learning experiences that bring science and technology closer to elementary and secondary school students.
However, for the implementation of the Techlab methodology, we believe it is important for researchers and technical staff at technology companies to understand how these labs operate, what their role is within them, and key pedagogical concepts that will assist them both in the teacher training included in the Techlab methodology and in the design and creation of scientific activities.
With this goal in mind, as part of the Erasmus+ “Didactech” project, we have created the TRAINING PROGRAM FOR EXPERT RESEARCHERS IN TEACHING. This is an online training course designed for researchers and technical staff at technology companies to equip them to provide training in educational settings, so that schools can rely on the support of experts from the technology sector who have specific training in teaching.