PANDA 7 project completed!
“PANDA 7 – Project-Based Learning for Gifted Children” is a project run by the Bioteka association for the seventh consecutive year, offering innovative, project-based STEM education for primary school students. During the 2023/2024 school year, 32 children participated in the project from two partner schools in Zagreb—Središće Primary School and Trnsko Primary School. Additionally, participants of Bioteka’s STEM workshops joined the program.
The project is based on research-driven and project-based learning methodologies, allowing students to explore diverse STEM topics with the guidance of mentors, including volunteers, scientists, and experts from various STEM fields. This year, the project engaged 28 volunteers—scientists, students, and professionals—from five faculties: the Faculty of Agriculture, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology. Participants also came from the Radiona association, the Rewilding Velebit Foundation, the video game development company Gamechuck, as well as the Croatian Veterinary Institute and the Ruđer Bošković Institute.
Children were encouraged to think critically, explore independently, and solve assigned problems while mentors provided guidance and support, maintaining a “secondary role” in the learning process. In true Harry Potter style, students investigated the effects of abiotic factors on plant growth and development, applied mechanical stress to stimulate secondary metabolism in plants, and used analytical laboratory methods to determine vitamin C concentrations in plants. They explored food waste processing methods, studied insects as the most numerous animal group on Earth, examined ants as a superorganism, learned about forest health assessment from the air, investigated microclimatic conditions in Maksimir Park, and even designed their own video game. One of their favorite workshops was researching freshwater crayfish in a stream on Mount Medvednica! They waded through the stream, set traps for crayfish, measured and weighed them, and had a fantastic time while learning.
Participant evaluations once again confirmed that children enjoy these programs and want to continue engaging in similar STEM activities. This highlights the need for more high-quality extracurricular STEM opportunities, and we are committed to further developing them!
The project also involved the Vjetar u Leđa association, whose psychologists specialize in the education of gifted children. They shared their expertise with parents of gifted children as well as interested teachers, helping them understand the unique educational and developmental needs of gifted students so they can respond to them appropriately.
At the conclusion of another successful PANDA project, we would like to thank the children and parents for their collaboration throughout this innovative and special program. A special thank you goes to all the volunteers who dedicated their free time to creating engaging and high-quality educational programs!
“PANDA 7 – Project-Based Learning for Gifted Children” was co-funded by the Ministry of Science and Education.
