Instituto Chamex and partners inaugurate an Innovation Space in a municipal school in Luiz Antônio (SP).

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Instituto Chamex and partners inaugurate a Space for Innovation in a school in the Municipality of Luiz Antônio (SP), promoting technology and quality education in the institution. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the school community, authorities, professionals, and teams involved.

On May 15th, 2024, at 6 p.m., Instituto Chamex inaugurated the “Innovation Space” in the Basic School “Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental Professora Zilda Apparecida Marinho Seixas”, located in Luiz Antônio (SP). The ceremony in the school was attended by the entire school community, public authorities, Sylvamo professionals, besides those from Instituto Chamex and the Grupo +Unidos. After the ceremony, the Space was opened for visitation, giving those present a chance to see the new installations. The project arose pursuant to a cooperation agreement in 2023, entered between Instituto Chamex and the Municipal Township – Prefeitura Municipal de Luiz Antônio (SP) and Grupo +Unidos, representing a milestone in the education of the municipality. By introducing leading-edge technologies and innovative educational methodologies, the project aims to increase the quality of basic education and prepare students for today’s challenges.

The first step to implement the project was to conduct a stringent selection of candidate schools, considering factors such as accessibility by the students, school infrastructure, requirements for additional furniture and suitability of existent equipment. The assessment of the existing conditions and detailed planning for renovation required several technical visits to the site. The improvements involved adapting the installations, renovating its infrastructure, defining a list of required items, materials, and equipment, purchasing furniture, acquiring, and installing technological equipment, working, and setting up meetings, arranging and finalizing the Innovation Space, and drafting documents and guidelines.

The Innovation Space was meticulously provided with a set of technical devices, including 3-D printers, a laser cutter, computers, tablets, robotic equipment, cameras, microphones and a wide variety of tools and material for manual activities. These resources were chosen to allow both students and teachers to create, experiment and explore novel technologies. This approach promotes interdisciplinary, collaborative, and practical learning, intricately linked to the STEAM philosophy – acronym for integration of five areas of knowledge: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. By fostering educational activities to integrate these disciplines, the Innovation Space helps in the development of a holistic and interconnected understanding of knowledge.

This project by Instituto Chamex also included teacher´s training as a priority. Specific training activities online and in-person were organized to ensure that the educators are well-prepared to utilize the new Space. These training programs approached topics such as: National Common Curriculum Base (BNCC); Computational BNCC; Curriculum for schools in São Paulo; Maker Education; Programming; Robotics; and Practical Learning. Through this training initiative, teachers were able to improve their skills and knowledge to maximize teaching experience in the Innovation Space. The space was designed to stimulate an engaging and interactive education, based on the pillars of Digital Information and Communication Technologies, Digital Culture and Computational Thinking. In this multifunctional environment, students will be able to carry out various practical activities involving robotics, programming, prototyping, digital fabrication, modeling, multimedia production, among others. With all these possibilities for educational activities, students will have the opportunity to develop diverse skills, including analytical thinking, teamwork, effective communication, and complex problem solving. Starting in June, other schools in the region will be able to schedule visits to explore this innovative environment.

The “Innovation Space for Basic Education in the Municipality of Luiz Antônio” is an example of the commitment by Instituto Chamex, the Township of the Municipality – Prefeitura Municipal de Luiz Antônio (SP) and Grupo +Unidos regarding promotion of an accessible quality education that prepares students for present and future challenges. The project highlights the relevance of integrating technology and innovation in education, offering students tools that encourage curiosity, creativity, and experimentation. With the use of 3D printers, laser cutters and robotics equipment for instance, students can make abstract ideas turn tangible projects. Besides being a valuable resource for students, this multi-functional space also represents a hub for continuous teachers´ training, ensuring that they are up to date with latest educational trends and technologies. In addition, the inauguration of this space will inspire other school communities to seek resources to invest in similar initiatives to foster transformative education. Through strategic partnerships and sharing of best practices, for example, the impact of this project can be expanded, benefiting an even greater number of students, educators, and school communities.

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