STEAM LabNet

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

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) methods combine STEM with art and are becoming increasingly popular in education. The STEAM research group at the JKU, Linz School of Education, has set itself the goal of establishing its own mobile innovation and research lab as well as a makerspace network in order to improve and advance research into STEAM pedagogy. The mobile innovation lab will also be used to pass on knowledge about STEAM methods to educators throughout Germany.

    Research services

    The research lab offers a space for a wide range of research activities in the field of education, which can be carried out by arrangement. The initiators and the project team are open to all innovative ideas that can contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field of education and educational technology.

    The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and offers researchers access to high-quality video and audio recording services and advanced eye-tracking technology, among other things. Researchers have all the resources they need to collect detailed and meaningful data. These services are accessible both on-site and in mobile settings, enabling researchers to carry out complex projects efficiently and accurately. The recordings are stored in a secure private cloud network. This guarantees easy access to the stored data and compliance with strict data protection and security standards.

      Methods and expertise for research infrastructures

      The research infrastructure provided is characterised by a wide range of methods and expertise that have been specially conceptualised to support innovative educational research. In addition, the technological possibilities are continuously being expanded in order to improve services and respond to the emerging needs of the educational research community. The expertise of the project team goes beyond technical implementation and also includes methodological advice and support in the development and implementation of research projects. The team works closely with partner institutions and offers customised workshops and support for the implementation of research projects in schools. An important focus is on ensuring data integrity and security in order to guarantee the confidentiality of research results. The continuous expansion of the infrastructure and the commitment to integrating new technologies underline the endeavour to create a first-class research environment that meets the requirements of modern educational research.

        Summarised: Offers within the framework of the project

        •     Workshops for teachers and schools
        •     Collaborations with partner schools for research implementation
        •     Technical resources for 3D printing, electronics, educational games, AR/VR and eye tracking

        Hero: STEAM LabNet, University of Linz