Home 2022 June

The winners of the International LUMA StarT 2022 -Awards were announced in the International StarT Gala

The LUMA Centre Finland network awarded the best science and technology projects for children, and young people and teaching practices for learning communities on Monday 13th of June at the International StarT Gala.

The International LUMA Start Awards were presented for the sixth time this year. This year, we finally had the opportunity to gather together after a two-year brake at the Aalto University. It was also possible to watch the gala as a virtual live broadcast. In the gala, the International LUMA Start Award 2022 was presented to the three best natural sciences, math or technology related projects done by children and young people around the world. The International LUMA Start Education Award 2022 was presented to three learning communities for best educational practice in relation to the implementation of interdisciplinary, research-based and phenom-based teaching. Winners were awarded in addition to prizes a trip to Finland.

The International LUMA StarT Awards went to:

The StarT honorary jury consisting of Prof. Maija Aksela (University of Helsinki, Finland; Head of LUMA Centre Finland), Distinguished Prof. Joseph Krajcik (Michigan State University, USA; Director, CREATE for STEM Institute), and Prof. Marina Milner-Bolotin (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CA; Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy Graduate Advisory Committee) found the choice incredibly challenging due to the high level of practices and projects. The winning projects took off from real questions and thoughts of children and young people. The projects included cooperation both within their own learning community and also with outsiders. The videos and learning diaries of the projects were first-rate and carefully done.

The International LUMA Start Education Awards went to:

The creators of these practices, Korean teachers for STEAM education, Elina Viro, Niina Pahkamäki, Juuso Linnusmäki, Omar Basem Moeen Shaheen, Tamara Ibrahim Suliman Abu Sowaid, Hiba Ehlal Mohammad Bani Domi and Marah Jehad Abdal Razak Alsife had demonstrated interdisciplinary and innovative work in their practices. The StarT honorary jury described the practices as pragmatic, inventive and versatile. The jury valued interdisciplinarity, collaboration, and the active inclusion of children and young people in the winning practices.

The public’s favourites were also rewarded in the gala. Public’s favourites were Disaster Search and Rescue UAV Project – the Servator by Vinschool Education System from Vietnam and Learning based on crisis and disaster management skills by Elementary School Bani Aouf from Tunisia. You can read more about the public’s favourites from our earlier post.

In the 2021-2022 season a total of 847 project work and 750 educational practices took part in StarT. The joy of learning was shared by 1, 486 learning communities, 6, 912 teachers and 325, 126 children and young people. This season has reached it’s end but luckily the new season starts right away! Let’s StarT again and remember that learning is sharing!

The Results of the International Public Voting

The public voting of the International StarT Competition has ended and the votes have been counted. This year, the voting was carried out via a questionnaire based on the project and practice videos. We hope that these videos have been inspiration towards project based learning all around the world.

In this season of StarT there were about 1500 learning communities from 33 different countries from all around the world. In the public voting we had 10 projects and 10 practices. Just to be nominated in the public voting is a great achievement itself. You can watch the videos of the projects and practices here. Based on the number of votes the videos received by the 31th of May we have made the decision of public’s favourites.

The favourite project of the public

Public’s favourite projects was by the incredible amount of votes, 61 685, Disaster Search and Rescue UAV Project – the Servator by Vinschool Education System, Vietnam. Congratulations to the public’s favourite project!

The favourite best practice of the public

The most liked educational practice got an impressive amount of votes, 6 110. The public’s favourite educational practice is Learning based on crisis and disaster management skills by Elementary School Bani Aouf, Tunisia. Congratulations on your designation as a public’s favourite!

Welcome to the StarT Gala and get ready for the next season

Congratulations to the public’s favourites! Do not forget to join us at the StarT Gala on 13th of June at 4 PM to 5.15 PM (EEST: UTC+3). Everyone is welcome to participate in the Gala via internet. Learning is sharing so see you soon!

At the StarT Gala, there will be announced this year’s winners of the International StarT Competition. After the Gala, StarT will have a summer break. We will be back on business again in autumn.