STEAM Innovation Research Lab & Maker Space Network for Austrian Teacher Education and Society

The interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics, i.e. MINT in conjunction with Art) methods in the field of education is increasing worldwide. Our research group at the JKU, Linz School of Education (LSEd), is a leader in the field of STEAM pedagogy. Our goal is to establish a STEAM Innovation Laboratory (Innovation and Research Laboratory and Makerspace Network), which can be used for the training of Austrian educators, and to support, promote, improve and accelerate research in the field of STEAM pedagogy in an innovative way. With the help of the new equipment, further research projects are to be initiated, including in the field of additional manufacturing (e.g. 3D modelling and 3D printing), augmented reality, virtual reality, and computer science (e.g. robotics and computational thinking). With the mobile STEAM innovation laboratory, we would like to introduce STEAM methods to teachers throughout Austria. The resources are shared with schools and our partners - the Kunstuniversität Linz, the Ars Electronica Centre and the Grand Garage (GG) in the Tabakfabrik in Linz.