Weaving Interdisciplinary Strands through Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Weaving Interdisciplinary Strands through Europe

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Pedagogy and didactics; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Context of the project: In this project 6 schools from Spain, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany and Latvia were involved. Each country experienced in international projects and having profound expertise in art. As for interdisciplinary learning and teaching, some partners had little experience. By working together we learned from each other and now spread our experiences in and outside our schools. Art played a central role (in connection with the Sciences and Social Studies) in interdisciplinary learning.
Objectives: Acquisition of new skills and competences for both teachers and students. It was our goal to focus on interdisciplinary teaching and learning in connection with Art. The activities developed by each partner to prepare the groups before the meeting and during the exchange meetings, implemented in a European context, synthesized many competences (awareness of meaningful connections between disciplines, creative and critical thinking, communication in foreign languages, digital competence, learning to learn, interpersonal and intercultural competence, sense of initiative, cultural awareness and expression).
Number and type of participants. We can divide this in different groups that took part.
Teachers, at least 100, directly or indirectly involved in the project. Developing teaching material, coaching the students, accompanying them during the exchange, discussing school related issues when joining colleagues from abroad for lunch or in the stafroom. Hosting colleagues and giving workshops.
Students: We travelled with a lot more students than the maximum amount of 100 mobilities. Only Germany and Sweden travelled with 3 students to most countries. All the other countries travelled between 6 and 10 students. The total amount of mobilities is therefore around 150. During the exchanges around120 extra students were involved to take part in the activities or for hosting.
Parents: During each exchange at least 25 to 45 families were involved in the project as host families, and for activities like joined buffet for all participants, presentations of final products and evaluation.
Experts: Around 20. Some countries organized workshops in and/or outside the school for which experts were hired (Spain, Latvia). Some countries had organized guided tours in museums. (Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Spain)
Description of undertaken activities: Each partner had to develop assignments on interdisciplinary learning in connection with art and send them to the other partner schools prior to the exchange meeting as preparation for the meeting. Students then had to give a presentation on the work prepared at school. Teaching material was also made by the hosting school to work on the topics in mixed groups coached by teachers. Each country had chosen a specific school subject in connection with art. Excursions were always part of the program. Related to the topic dealt with and one cultural activity.
Results and impact attained on different levels:
For students:
Knowledge: Understanding that school subjects are not independent disciplines but are intertwined.
New knowledge in various disciplines, Increased language skills (English), Being able to develop research questions
Attitude: Personal growth, Being more open-minded towards people of different cultures
Becoming aware of different economical, political and social problems, Motivating for international study and working possibilities in Europe. Improve relationships among youngsters of different origin at home and abroad. Becoming more self-assured in speaking foreign languages, taking initiative and public speaking
Students were given questions (learner report) to reflect on their gained experiences. Students from Germany, Netherlands, Italy travelled on their own to their host family during the summer holidays.
Skills: Improved performance skills (in English) with PP presentations, improving ICT skills , More creative/critical thinking,
For parents after evaluation: Better cooperation between parents, school, language skills,
Stimulating children to become involved in international contacts ( for study and employment in the futur).
Results for local community and institutions: Increased involvement/communication between school, local authorities and institutions.
For teachers: Improved language skills and improved intercultural skills, More international experiences (also to be used for internationalisation ‘ at home’), Exchange of best practises/learning interdisciplinary teaching, in short widening their horizon in teaching methods,increasing skills in groupwork and cooperative learning;
increasing skills in “content and language integrated learning” (CLIL)
Long term benefits: international projects influence students in different ways: from choosing for an international study, increased language skill to improved understanding of different cultures. In this specific project students learned to see that topics are always linked and never limited.n

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 69525 Eur

Project Coordinator

Gooise Scholen Federatie Huizermaat & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Marks gymnasieskola
• Escola Pia de Sitges
• Istituto Magistrale Statale L. Pietrobono
• Ilmara Gaisa Kokneses vidusskola
• Copernicus-Gymnasium Löningen