Let’s make school our second home! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Let’s make school our second home!

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: Access for disadvantaged; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

LTCN implemented its first Erasmus + project so the first step was to design a project team. Sadly, the Portuguese partner didn’t signed the contract and we decided how to redistribute their tasks , LTCN deciding to also hold C2. Of all the needs the 4 schools involved, we tried to develop a motivational environment which could prevent bad school results and drop out among the disadvantaged. The direct causes of the need- the absence of modern teaching strategies, the low number of training courses for teachers, the unawareness of innovative methods and of good practices offered the specific objectives of the project: -acquisition of new competences to apply “4Cs” strategies in the teaching process by 14 teachers from the high schools involved in the project in order to improve their abilities to communicate, innovate and collaborate until the 20th month of the project;
-acquisition of new competence to incorporate and implement new technologies and ICT skills into a Four Cs infused curriculum by 60 teachers from the high schools involved in order to develop the students’ personal, social and professional abilities, by the 22nd month of the project;
-acquisition of new competences to promote in-depth collaborative work in lessons and extra-curricular activities and to create, develop and exercise competences such as solving problems, taking responsibility for finishing tasks and finding solutions by 200 students from the 5 high schools by the end of the 20th month of the project;
The indirect cause of the need-the lack of interest for both learning and teaching established the activities of the project short-term student and staff mobility; the short term effects: worsening of the school environment, a high number of students skipping classes and drop out determine the results of the project after it is carried out, and the long-term effects – the migration of the students to other high schools or other grades and the worsening of the image of the institution will give us the impact of the project-the same number of students, of grades of teachers, the growth of our institutions’ prestige,visibility and desire to innovate. Each partner received tasks within the project team: Turkey was in charge with communication during and after a meeting and the web page; Greece focused on dissemination and the FB page; Italy monitored the project and managed the eTwinning page and Romania wrote all the plans and records of the project. There were many more participants to the mobilities compared to the application. After Portugal rennounced to be a partner, there was money for more student mobilities, and C2, a virtual meeting organised by LTCN was the largest in Romania with more than 110 students involved and 25 teachers.Participants were selected by following a strict procedure discussed within the partnership which ensured equal access. There were 5 LTTs- each partner organised at least one-and activities which took place prior or after (preparation and dissemination).There were 298 direct participants and their activity appears in the minutes of the meetings, certificates and reflexive journals which will prove the competences acquired. According to the objectives of the project, within the 2-year implementation, the following were successfully achieved:
.1reduction of the level of ESL by 15% (found in at least 50% Ss coming from disadvantaged groups in all the 5 participating schools
2. Social inclusion was the key priority and 30% of the Ss coming from disadvantaged groups were primarily targeted in the PM sessions and PL activities on project level.
3. Reduction of negative social stereotypes were the core area of improvement. The project promoted respect for diversity and active citizenship within all the 5 schools and local communities through the involvement of all direct and indirect beneficiaries in the project activities (dissemination events, interactive workshops, PM sessions and simulations).
4. By organizing dissemination events the quality of education and the European dimension of the schools was greatly increased. The participating Ts, direct beneficiaries, developed personal and professional skills through the experience exchange during LTTs and during local activities with the Ss.The selected Ts shared their experience input by organizing the dissemination events and active workshops. 100 Ts improved personal and professional abilities.
5. An international network of resources centers and helpdesk was created with schools interested in developing similar programs.
A number of 812 Ss (312 who were categorized as being at risk of early school leaving and 500 who were interested in taking part in the volunteering activities on PL) were involved in the project activities as direct and indirect beneficiaries. Due to the pandemic situation all over Europe, travel restrictions made the actual C2 meeting impossible which led to the online development of the LTT.

Project Website

https://school2ndhome.wixsite.com/makeschool2ndhome

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 116176 Eur

Project Coordinator

Liceul Teoretic Constantin Noica & Country: RO

Project Partners

• Agrupamento de Escolas do Forte da Casa
• I.T.S.E.T. “Manlio Capitolo” TURSI
• Eskisehir Eti Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi
• 8o GENIKO LYKEIO TRIKALON