Connecting Woods Erasmus Project

Project Title

Connecting Woods

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The core question of this project was appreciation on European Natural Heritage, especially forestal areas. The partner schools are located near areas with Natural Heritage but until the launch of the project the schools (teachers, students and families) did not always value these assets. The project has changed this situation by opening up schools to their surroundings, by getting to know them better and by contributing to make them better known not only by local schools or locals agents but by the general public. This challenge at school level was going to be the opportunity to strengthen mother and foreign languages, digital and entrepreneurial competencies and to apply teamwork and active methodologies. Connecting Woods has involved upper-secondary education students (14-17 years old) in Northern and Southern Europe (Sweden, Spain and France) from different economic and social backgrounds and it has involved whole classes organised in stable teams. Teamwork has been the methodology chosen to carry out most of the activities combined with documentation techniques and ICT to develop problem-solving and autonomous learning.

The objectives of the project was develop teamwork and digital skills while working to become experts on European Natural Heritage.

The project was organised in two stages. In the first stage, the project basics were presented. As learners became familiar with digital tools (including etwinning and cooperative work tools such as padlet or google drive), they became experts in the local natural environment near them thanks to local activities. Most of these activities involved teamwork and participation of families, due to which took place outside school hours. The second stage was to be centered, firstly, on sharing these knowledge with other students inside the school (younger students) and with international students involved in the project (international teams) and, secondly, on producing digital products (itineraries). Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus pandemic this second aspect could be implemented only partially.

The project initially included three mobilities: a first mobility to Northern Europe (Norrbotten, Pitea) to experience boreal and mixed-deducious-boreal forest environment and relation with local communities, a second mobility to Southern Europe (Occitanie, Nîmes) to experience Mediterranean forest and Mediterranean wet-areas vegetation areas and their relation with local communitiies. The third and final mobility was intended to take place at the coordinator areas (Catalonia, Cassà de la Selva) and to present the final conclusions concerning features, challenges and protection of European natural heritage but it was cancelled due to Coronavirus.

Nevertheless, the project has had an internal impact in schools because it has introduced changes in teaching methodologies. STEAM-related skills and digital skills have been deleloped as well as language competencies. The project has also allowed to establish or to strengthen the schools relations with public and private Institutions (Regional Parks, Forestry Industries and Local Authorities). The project did not produce the online itineraries initially intended to be produced but it has documented species and proposed activities to be implemented in the areas.

Project Website

https://connectingwoods.org/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 64816,1 Eur

Project Coordinator

Institut de Cassà de la Selva & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Sjulnasskolan
• LYCEE PHILIPPE LAMOUR