Sharing heritage: fostering sensitivity for the past, the present and the future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Sharing heritage: fostering sensitivity for the past, the present and the future

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Social entrepreneurship / social innovation; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

The partnership formed by Donau-Gymnasium Kelheim (Germany), Vastbergaskolan AB (Stockholm, Sweden), Escola Básica e Secundária da Calheta (Madeira, Portugal) and IES Selgas as general coordinator (Asturias, Spain), taking into account the needs detected at each school, such as:

a. Need to improve the students’ language skills in a foreign language (English).
b. Need to improve basic competences: civic, active citizenship, communication skills, entrepreneurship, ICT, etc.
c. Need to promote sensitivity for our heritage and for working at a European/transnational level.
d. Need to offer students (especially those in less fortunate circumstances) and teachers the possibility to work at a European/transnational level.
e. Need to offer students facing educational obstacles or difficult personal situations the possibility to take part in a project outside the official curriculum, using a new methodological approach.

created this project that was based on these priorities: foster sensitivity for heritage by using the Learning Through Service methodological approach (LTS), which would give the partnership the possibility to offer a real service to the communities and allow students (including those in less fortunate circumstances) to learn during its development in a new way, different to the traditional used in the classroom.

During its implementation, the following objectives, among others, were achieved:
1. The European dimension in the participating schools was strengthened by knowing other schools and spending working and leisure time with students and staff from other countries in the EU
2. The values of inclusion and tolerance were promoted by organising mobility activities for students.
3. All the learning activities planned, which aimed at enhancing the skills and competences as well as offering a service were carried out.
4. Everyone involved, teachers and students, gained a deeper understanding of our common heritage as European citizens and of the diversity of European cultures and languages.
5. A sense of belonging to the community was promoted.
6. A proactive-solving attitude in young people regarding the problems of their communities was fostered.
7. Students’ engagement (especially of the most reluctant) in learning activities was promoted by applying the Learning Through Service approach as a new teaching and learning methodology.
8. The participation of young people in democratic life was encouraged.
9. Cooperation and opportunities among students and staff from different countries, cultures and backgrounds was offered.
10. Multilingualism and Multiculturalism was fostered.

The achievement of those objectives can be seen in the following results:

a. The services offered to the communities:
• Spain: an awareness campaign about plastic pollution of our seas that resulted in a beach clean-up.
• Germany: an experience map for young people for the city of Regensburg as well as a guided tour of the city in the app Action Bound.
• Sweden: a website of the area around the Swedish school, Hägersten.
• Portugal: a virtual guided visit to the Mudas Museum in Calheta. The original idea was to offer real guided visits, but COVID-19 made it impossible.

b. The different videos, presentations, brochures, maps, websites, etc. made by students, which allowed them to develop their basic competences.

c. Other activities carried out at the same time that the main ones: artworks about the most important heritage sites in each country; showcases about the partnership in each school to make everyone aware of the work being carried out; Christmas postcards based on the heritage of each country/region, etc.

The Project is finished but each school will use all the things learnt to keep working in the same direction: make students learn but help others at the same time. Besides, all the main results will remain in time for others to use.

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/63648/home

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 93130,2 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES SELGAS & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Donau-Gymnasium Kelheim
• Escola Básica e Secundária com P/E da Calheta
• Västbergaskolan AB