AI and STEAM: Changing Learning, Shaping Futures

The AI-STEAM Blended Intensive Programme combines online learning with five days of face-to-face activities to prepare students to use artificial intelligence creatively, critically and responsibly in STEAM education. 

Through workshops, seminars, simulations and microteaching, students examine how AI can support teaching, learning and assessment. Participants work in international, interdisciplinary teams to design, test and present AI-supported STEAM learning units, documenting their work in a digital portfolio. 

Ethical reflection addresses privacy, bias and fairness in educational applications of AI. Study visits and cultural activities provide opportunities for intercultural exchange and contact with education professionals. 

The programme, taught in English, is open to Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students and awards 6 ECTS credits. It combines online learning from 15 February to 31 May 2027 with physical mobility in Romania from 15 to 19 March 2027. Participation in both components is required. Course materials, assignments and feedback will be available on a single digital platform. Optional cultural and social activities are additional to the academic workload.

• AI in STEAM education: applications, opportunities and limitations
• AI-supported personalised learning and interdisciplinary learning design
• AI applications for sustainability and real-world problem-solving
• AI-supported formative and summative assessment, feedback and learning progress analysis
• Responsible use of AI in education: privacy, bias, fairness and human judgement

At the end of this course, the students will be able to:

• select and use AI tools for content creation, simulation and assessment in STEAM education;
• design and test interdisciplinary STEAM learning units that integrate AI tools in line with learning objectives;
• evaluate AI-generated content and educational applications for accuracy, pedagogical suitability, privacy, bias and fairness;
• apply AI-supported formative and summative assessment methods and critically interpret the resulting feedback;
• collaborate in international, interdisciplinary teams to develop and present educational projects;
• create a digital portfolio documenting project development, design decisions and reflection on the responsible use of AI in teaching and learning.

The physical part of the programme will take place between 15 – 19 March 2027 in Bucharest; Sinaia Zoological Station of Bucharest University; Buzău and Focșani (affiliated branches of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest) - Romania. 

The programme comprises 30 contact hours, combining seminars, practical workshops, a structured study visit, microteaching and collaborative project work. Students will work in international, interdisciplinary teams to develop, test and present AI-supported STEAM learning units, documenting their work and reflections in a digital portfolio.

Accommodation in Sinaia is planned at the University of Bucharest’s Sinaia Zoological Station (Stațiunea Zoologică Sinaia) for two nights - Tuesday, 16 March, and Wednesday, 17 March. Travel, breaks, and optional cultural and social activities are additional to the programme’s 30 contact hours.

Course Locations & Schedule

University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Science Education –  Monday, 15 March 2027

• opening session and lecture on AI in STEAM teaching;
• mapping AI tools to STEAM learning outcomes;
• analysis of AI applications in interdisciplinary education;
• team workshop: planning an AI-supported STEAM learning unit.

Optional evening activity: museum visits, subject to opening hours and availability, offering opportunities to engage with Romanian cultural heritage and exchange observations with fellow participants. 

University of Bucharest, Buzău branch –  Tuesday, 16 March 2027

• workshop on Adaptive learning and Content generation with AI;
• practical educational robotics activities connecting programming, computational thinking and problem-solving in STEAM;
• demonstrations of AI tools for scaffolding and differentiated instruction;
• collaborative design of a STEAM lesson incorporating educational robotics and AI-supported learning, followed by peer feedback.

University of Bucharest, Sinaia Zoological Station –  Wednesday,  17 March 2027

Morning: structured learning activities linked to cultural and social activities:

• academic briefing and guided observation tasks connecting architecture, geometry, engineering and decorative arts;
• study visit examining cultural heritage as a context for interdisciplinary STEAM learning;
• critical discussion of AI-generated descriptions of historical and cultural material, with attention to accuracy and source verification.

Afternoon: workshop and collaborative project development:

• design of AI-supported STEAM learning activities drawing on observations from the visit;
• discussion of sustainability and responsible AI use in cultural heritage education;
• peer feedback and documentation of teaching decisions in the digital portfolio.

Optional evening activity: networking dinner for students and teaching staff, providing an opportunity for informal academic discussion and intercultural exchange.

University of Bucharest, Focșani branch –  Thursday, 18 March 2027

• practical session on AI-supported formative and summative assessment.
• microteaching of selected lesson components.
• peer and instructor feedback on teaching decisions and AI use.

Optional evening activity (scheduled for 21:00 in Bucharest): networking dinner for students and teaching staff, providing an opportunity for informal academic discussion and intercultural exchange.  

University of Bucharest, Faculty of Psychology and Science Education –  Friday, 19 March 2027

• final preparation and team presentations of AI-supported STEAM learning units;
• project assessment focusing on content accuracy, pedagogical coherence, responsible AI use and assessment design;
• group reflection on applications to future teaching practice;
• closing discussion on incorporating the learning units into local curricula.

Optional evening activity: museum visits, subject to opening hours and availability, followed by an informal farewell gathering to mark the conclusion of the programme and discuss opportunities for future academic collaboration.

15 February - 31 May 2027

The virtual component comprises 140 hours of synchronous online sessions, guided asynchronous activities and independent study. Students will examine AI applications in STEAM education and work in international, interdisciplinary teams to develop a shared educational project. All materials, assignments and feedback will be available on a single digital platform.

Before the physical mobility on 15–19 March, online activities will introduce AI tools, establish team projects and prepare students for the practical workshops. After the mobility, students will revise their learning units in response to feedback, extend their analysis of ethical and pedagogical questions, and complete their digital portfolios.

Indicative online session schedule

• 15 February: programme introduction, team formation and project briefing;
• 22 February: AI foundations for educators: applications and limitations in STEAM teaching;
• 1 March: practical workshop on AI tools for content creation and interdisciplinary learning;
• 11 March: review of initial learning-unit designs and preparation for the physical mobility;
• 25 March: post-mobility reflection and ethical discussion on privacy, bias and educational decision-making;
• 8 April: seminar on AI-supported personalised learning and differentiated instruction;
• 22 April: peer review of revised projects and feedback from teaching staff;
• 6 May: project consultation on pedagogical coherence, assessment design and responsible AI use;
• 20 May: presentation of revised projects and guidance on completing the digital portfolio;
• 31 May: submission of final digital portfolios and programme evaluation.

Between live sessions, students will complete readings, critically evaluate AI-generated content, test educational tools and collaborate on their learning units. Each team will maintain a shared record of its design decisions and revisions. Individual reflections will document learning across the virtual and physical components.

Students will submit a digital portfolio documenting the development of an AI-supported interdisciplinary STEAM learning unit. The portfolio will include the learning objectives, teaching materials, assessment tasks, justification of AI use and revisions made in response to peer and instructor feedback. Individual reflections will address each student’s contribution and the pedagogical and ethical decisions made throughout the project.

Teams will present their projects during the physical component and submit revised portfolios by 31 May 2027. Teaching staff will evaluate the group work and individual reflections for accuracy, analytical depth, creativity, pedagogical coherence, responsible use of AI and clarity.

Motivation Letter

CV

Applications will be assessed on the basis of the motivation letter and CV, considering:

• motivation to participate and interest in AI applications in interdisciplinary education;
• relevance of the applicant’s academic background and interests to the programme;
• willingness to contribute to international, interdisciplinary teamwork;
• commitment to completing both the virtual and physical components.

University of Bucharest - Professor Ion Ovidiu Pânișoară, Head of the Teacher Training Department: communication in education; Professor Paulina Anastasiu: botany and botanical garden education; Associate Professor Iuliana Mihaela Lazăr: educational research; Senior Lecturer Delia Laura Popescu: chemistry education; Associate Professor Cristina Ghiță: psychology; Associate Professor Anca Popovici: project management; Associate Professor Silvia Făt & Associate Professor Ruxandra Chirca: information and communication technology (ICT) in education.

Sapienza University of Rome - Associate Prof. Mercurri Francesco, expert in Business Management, Digital Transformation, and Supply Chain Management.

Autonomous University of Madrid - Dr María Elena Cuenca Rodríguez: music education and the didactics of musical expression; Dr. Miren Pérez-Eizaguirre Head of the Interfaculty Department of Music, expert in music therapy intervention; Dr. Marta Martinez expert in Computer Networks and Communications Conservation Cultural Studies; 

Invited Professor - Prof. Gerrit Stols, Education Innovation Department Director, Pretoria University, South Africa.