With her company Speel je wijs Irma is cooperating in three  Erasmus+ Projects: SPACE (2016-2019), CASE (2017-2020) and AMiE (2020-2024)Â
AMiE (Arts and Mindfulness in Education)
In rapidly evolving, hyper-connected and performance-oriented societies, the mental health of citizens increasingly requires priority attention and care. Indeed, research shows that about 20% of European adults suffer from mental health problems, a percentage that rises to about 50% if depression and anxiety are also taken into account. Research confirms that in the field of mental health care, in addition to curative measures aimed at adults, there is an increasing need for preventive measures aimed at children (Van der Gucht et al., 2016).
The Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership ‘AMiE’ helps to meet this need by providing European teachers with inspirational and supportive tools regarding the introduction of mindfulness in pre-primary and primary education (age group 3 to 12). AMiE is unique in that it uses the power of art and creative processes as a starting point for the introduction of mindfulness in a school context.
PARTNERS:
- Artesis Plantijn University College Antwerp, Belgium
- Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway
- Curso de MĂşsica Silva Monteiro, Portugal
- Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland
- Speel je wijs, the Netherlands
CASE (Creativity, Arts and Science in Education)
CASE is an EU Erasmus+ project in the focus area of school, creativity and innovation. This project will be realized within the European Commission’s ‘Strategic Partnership’ program, and will implement trainings, conferences and school-based activities in the field of art & science.Â
PARTNERS:
- Western Norway University of Applied Science, Norway
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
- Dublin City University, Ireland
- Ellinogermaniki Agogi, Greece
- Science View, Greece
- Klaipeda University, Lithuania
- Speel je Wijs, The Netherlands
Toolkit puppetry and STEAM
For CASE one of the main tasks of Speel je Wijs is designing a toolkit for puppetry and STEAM education. In this toolkit, inquiry based science education will be combined with puppetry. In every activity, a puppetry story will be played by the teacher. In this story the puppets have a problem or a question. This will arouse children’s curiosity, which instantly will stimulate them to discover. Children will help the puppets to find a solution or answer. All activities will be challenging tasks in the field of STEAM education and every process can have many different results. Children will research like scientists and design like artists. You can find the free download here.
SPACE (Strategic Partnership  Agents  of  Change  in  Education)
Website: SPACE
SPACE aims to establish an international student-run entrepreneurial organization: a network of in-training teachers trained in the delivery of innovative & interdisciplinary education models in which bridges are built between the worlds of Arts education and STEM education.
→ The widening from STEM tot STEAM emphasises the role of creativity and innovation in teaching and learning. STEAM also underlines the need to explore methods for making classrooms more energetic and engaging places of learning and experiencing.
PARTNERS:
- Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen, Belgium
- Hogskolen Stord Haugesund, Norway
- Curso de MĂşsica Silva Monteiro, Portugal
- Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland
- RESEO – European Network for Opera and Dance Education, Belgium
- Speel je wijs, the NetherlandsÂ
The Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad published this article about SPACE. (In Flemish language)Â
