Da-Gan Center – The National Center for Promoting STEM Education in Early Childhood

The Da-Gan Center is the National Center for the Development and Dissemination of Pedagogical Knowledge in STEM fields - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - and for leading the professional development of early childhood education teams (ages 3–6) in these domains. Established in 2007, the center is one of 11 national teachers' centers operating in these disciplines, and the only one exclusively dedicated to early childhood educators.

The uniqueness of the Da-Gan Center lies in its comprehensive specialization across all STEM fields, as well as the broad scope of its target audience - approximately 22,000 preschool teachers from all sectors and demographic groups in Israel.

The center is funded and supervised by the Ministry of Education (Innovation and Technology Administration, STEM Division A) and operates under the academic auspices of Bar-Ilan University. The center works in full collaboration with the Department of Early Childhood Education.

Mission

Establishing a STEM identity and competencies alongside fostering educational leadership among early childhood educators, through the development and dissemination of pedagogical knowledge and leading professional development processes.

Center Vision

As the National Center for Early Childhood STEM Education, the Da-Gan Center leads pedagogical content development and fosters strong educational leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics across Israeli preschools. We believe in high-quality, innovative, and equitable education that reaches every child and breaks glass ceilings from an early age.

As a professional hub of knowledge, we bridge cutting-edge academic research with field practice. We are dedicated to developing and disseminating learning resources and pedagogical knowledge, empowering educators, and cultivating essential STEM competencies alongside a grounded STEM identity — serving as a compass for leading meaningful teaching and learning in preschools, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing curious, proactive, and inquisitive children.

Center Objectives

• Development and Dissemination of Evidence-Based Knowledge: Developing and making accessible applied pedagogical knowledge grounded in current academic research, instructional materials, assessment tools, and innovative teaching strategies (for in-person and distance teaching and learning) in STEM fields.
• Leadership Training and Professional Development: Promoting, cultivating, and training pedagogical-educational leadership in early childhood STEM education.
• Developing STEM Competencies and Identity: Developing essential STEM competencies and cultivating a grounded STEM identity among educators as the foundation for leading meaningful and thinking-centered teaching and learning in preschools.
• Integration of STEM Spaces: Developing conceptual frameworks, providing guidance, and training staff to establish and operate STEM-promoting learning environments (inquiry and laboratory centers, construction and maker spaces).
• Strengthening Ties with Field Practitioners: Supporting and deepening connections with the community of educators across the country.
• Consolidating the Professional Community: Empowering and consolidating the professional community involved in early childhood STEM education.

Center Activities

• Development of Instructional Materials and Resource Repository: Developing tailored educational content and operating a comprehensive resource repository for early childhood STEM education.
• Leadership Courses and Training: Conducting courses for training leading STEM educational leadership alongside specialization courses in these disciplines for early childhood staff.
• Symposia and Conferences: Organizing professional symposia and convening the annual conference.
• Knowledge Dissemination and Communication Channels: Making instructional materials accessible to field practitioners via the Center's website, approximately 23 WhatsApp groups (comprising about 5,000 participants), Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
• "Da-Gan Journal": Publishing and issuing the professional journal addressing innovation, research, and practice in early childhood STEM education.
• Research and Knowledge Accessibility: Advancing research addressing STEM teaching and learning in early childhood and disseminating its findings to educators in the field.

The Center Team

• Center Director: Dr. Tali Schechter Maimon
• Academic Head: Dr. Ornit Spektor-Levy
• Content Director: Dr. Netta Perry
• Editor-in-Chief, "Da-Gan Journal": Dr. Vered Bernholtz Paniri
• Lead Team: Dr. Netta Perry, Dr. Ronit Friedman, Ayelet Schlosser

Click here for the Da-Gan Center website