Mini STEM Garden 2/3: Indoor Microgreens – Light Control Technology

Science Through Practice

In the first part, you will independently plant microgreens in special pots, using seeds, soil, and appropriate containers, while learning about proper care, light, and moisture. In the second part, you’ll work with an Arduino system and a light sensor, collecting environmental data and using it to turn lighting on or off to extend the microgreens’ light exposure period.

Why Sign Up?

Through a hands-on project, you’ll see how technology solves real problems in sustainable food production. The workshop gives you practical skills you can apply at home, in school, or in future STEM projects.

What You’ll Learn

• How to properly plant, care for, and harvest microgreens
• The impact of light and moisture on plant growth
• How Arduino collects data using sensors
• Programming a system for automatic light control
• How extended lighting positively affects microgreen growth

About the Instructors

Tamara Đorić Šparović is a geography teacher with 25 years of experience in education. She works at Matematička gimnazija in Belgrade, where she actively participates in the development and implementation of domestic and international projects connecting science, technology, and sustainable development.

She is the author and coordinator of the successfully completed Erasmus+ K2 project “Smart School Garden,” as well as the coordinator of the ongoing K2 project “Rural Tourism – A Step into the Future.” As a team member in the “Digital Challenge” project, she gained additional experience in planning and implementing European educational projects, and as the author of the Erasmus+ KA121 mobility program application, she contributed to the improvement and digitalization of project processes.

She is the founder and leader of the Sustainable Development Section, through which she encourages students to develop environmental awareness and an understanding of sustainability principles. Her work focuses on connecting STEM fields, ecology, and innovative teaching methods, with a strong belief that environmental responsibility is most effectively developed through practical activities, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Jovica Milisavljević is a physics teacher and head of the Applied Physics and Electronics section, with many years of experience in developing modern, experimentally-oriented teaching. He is the author and co-author of professional papers dealing with the application of computers and information technologies in school laboratories, with particular emphasis on improving demonstration experiments and laboratory exercises in primary and secondary schools.

In his publications, he elaborates on the use of digital measurement systems, sensor subsystems, and software for data collection and processing, as well as the integration of interactive technologies such as SmartBoard systems, simulations, and computer models in physics teaching. He advocates for the concept of “learning by doing,” in which students actively participate in experiments, independently measure, analyze results, and connect theory with real physical phenomena. His teaching approach is focused on making modern technologies make teaching more precise, efficient, and motivating, while developing analytical thinking and interest in STEM fields.

Have a question?