MISSION-MATHS Erasmus Project

Project Title

MISSION-MATHS

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The project was to enhance students’ practical maths knowledge to be applied in other fields of science and everyday situations and to develop teachers’ competence in innovative maths teaching. According to surveys conducted in 2015, students lacked basic maths skills, their mathematical knowledge gained at school was too theoretical to be applied in real life situations. At the same time teachers lacked innovative and effective teaching methods and found it difficult to show importance of practical Maths in a way which would appeal to young students. Partner schools are situated in areas where Maths education is of great importance – in some areas the unemployment rate is high and young people tend to leave the region because of poor employment perspectives, so the project activities were of special importance to young people from regions neglected economically. Participants in the project were 120 students directly involved in implementing activities, about 30 students from local communities who participated in local activities ,10 teachers from partner schools who participated in workshops in Germany and 5 teachers directly involved in project implementation; representatives of other schools; students’ parents.
The project objectives:
– to enhance students’ practical maths knowledge to be implemented in everyday life
– get students involved in practical maths tasks through innovative and effective approach (logical board games, SCRATCH language) and become more aware of knowledge they have
– to make students realize the importance of Maths or its influence on other scientific fields
– to help teachers gain competence and tools to teach practical Maths effectively through shared experience.
Teachers were to work out innovative and effective methods and lesson plans to meet demands of modern world and both teachers and students were to improve their scientific English language competence.
Main local activities involved logical board games and cards, learning Maths by cooking, out-of-classroom games with practical application of Maths, problem solving maths contests for local communities, innovative SOLVE IT! board games, P2P presentations, designing questionnaires and interpreting them, drawing up innovative lesson plans, dissemination conferences. Virtual activities included project logo contest , learning and using SCRATCH language to design maths computer games, online workshops for teachers by German partner on how to implement inquiry-based approach in Maths classrooms, exchanging videos prepared by kids showing how they solved a problem in a creative and innovative way, exchanging questionnaires and videos. Internationally, there were conducted workshops and seminars for teachers combined with study visits at scientific centres and observing lessons conducted by German teachers; there were organized City Game, survival and Maths Chef event and other field games; there were tested Maths board games. Students worked on MathManiac comic strip, improved their scientific English vocabulary and learned about other cultures.
The following results were achieved:
Logo, website, presentations showing creative ways of solving problems and practical application of maths knowledge, 3 Solve It! maths board games, MathManiac comic strip presenting maths in everyday situations, 24 innovative lesson plans; DVDs presenting project activities and events.
The following impact was attained: Innovative lesson plans were shared among teachers and within local communities, uploaded on project website and Erasmus+ dissemination platform. Maths board games and comic strip show that innovative method is effective and they could be used as new teaching aids for all stakeholders and the compilation of the said products extended the participants’ knowledge of practical application of Maths. Students learned and used SCTRATCH language to design maths computer games and thus acquired new IT skills, learned practical application of electronic gadgets and newest technologies and can use them more consciously and creatively. They also increased their problem solving skills through out-of-classroom games and developed competence in scientific English. Teachers gained new competence to teach Maths and science-oriented subjects in innovative way. Project enabled mutual exchange of good practices in education of pupils at primary school level, strengthened their position in regional education market and facilitated cooperation among countries and institutions taking part in the project.
Long-term benefits:
– schools’ curricula will be supplemented with innovative ways of teaching Maths and scientific subjects, emphasizing active forms of learning and practical application of knowledge
– students’ active involvement in project activities will lessen school failure possibility
– schools will continue their cooperation with local institutions and project partners
-project will be background for further international cooperation.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 140520 Eur

Project Coordinator

I Spoleczna Szkola Podstawowa im. Unii Europejskiej w Zamosciu & Country: PL

Project Partners

• 4th Primary School of Volos
• Evangelische Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik Schwäbisch Hall
• IESO SIERRA LA MESTA
• Istituto Comprensivo Rignano Incisa