Every year, the Department of Preschool Education hosts a STEM Week as part of the “STEM Spring” festival, which brings together students of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy around modern educational ideas, innovations and practice-oriented learning.

As part of the All-Ukrainian Educational Festival “STEM Spring 2026”, a STEM Week took place at the Department of Preschool Education from 30 March to 3 April 2026. During this period, the department’s staff, led by its Head, Inna Nikolaiescu, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor, organised a series of educational STEM events aimed at developing modern thinking, digital skills and fostering an innovative approach to future professional activity.

Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to participate in a variety of practical classes, interactive discussions and project-based activities that addressed current issues in STEM education within the context of preschool education. All events were designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience, as well as to develop creativity, critical thinking and teamwork.

The STEM Week programme encompassed a wide range of topics, from the use of digital tools for effective communication between educational institutions and parents to the implementation of innovative approaches in working with children with special educational needs. Particular attention was paid to the integration of STEM technologies into the speech development of preschoolers, especially through speech therapy storytelling, as well as the use of game-based and activity-based methods in corrective and developmental work.

An important component of the week was the practical training of students. Future preschool teachers worked on creating their own educational projects, modelled pedagogical situations, developed interactive tasks and presented their own ideas. Sessions involving LEGO technologies and robotics generated considerable interest, as students learnt the basics of construction, algorithmisation and programming, adapting them for work with children of different ages. We sincerely thank Roman Bondar, founder and instructor of the RoboClub robotics school in Cherkasy, for fruitful cooperation, high professionalism and excellent organisation of the event.

Special attention was also given to the development of creativity and game-based approaches in learning. Practical workshops, including those using the “Six Bricks” methodology, demonstrated the effectiveness of combining play, exploration and creativity in developing key competencies in preschool children.

Overall, STEM Week served as an important platform for students’ professional growth, enabling them to gain hands-on experience with modern educational technologies, deepen their professional knowledge and prepare to implement innovations in their future teaching careers.

The Department of Preschool Education