Enhancing Literacy basIc skills and fighting dropOut with cross-curricular Theatrical experiential learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Enhancing Literacy basIc skills and fighting dropOut with cross-curricular Theatrical experiential learning

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

The project E.L.I.O.T. – Enhancing Literacy and Basic Skills fighting dropout with cross-curricular Theatrical experiential learning is joins 7 schools from Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, UK, Hungary, Greece and Italy (applicant) in several activities, for a period of 26 months (01/09/2016 – 31/10/2018). ELIOT is based on the need, shared by all the partners, to innovate teaching/learning methods in order to improve basic skills of literacy and reading and minimize early drop out through the systematic integration of the techniques of Drama in Education (DiE) and the Forum Theatre in the educational curriculum. In the most updated joint report of EC and Council (26.08.2015) on the state of implementation of ET2020, it appears that in EU28 the 20% of 15 year old students still record very low scores in reading and literacy skills (much higher percentage in the students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds) and still more than 5 million early school leavers that are related to systemic unemployment (41% of those missing is unemployed, EC data) have been registered. On the assumption that low levels of basic skills hinder economic progress and limit individuals in professional personal and social achievement, partners have considered that, in order to increase employability and active citizenship, improved literacy skills should be conjugated with acquisition of key competences (creativity, initiative, language skills, critical thinking, dialogue and ability to work in teams, also multicultural) by all pupils, including those coming from a disadvantaged background).These learning objectives can be efficiently achieved thanks to the theatrical techniques of active and experiential learning. The sharing of this strategy is based on a common and deep needs analysis, carried out by all partners in the planning phase of the application, which shows that in all partner schools there is a need to establish an effective and efficient approach to motivate pupils to learn and attend by challenging the same educational choices of teachers.E.L.I.O.T. meets the following E+ priorities:- Supporting schools to face effectively the challenge of early school leaving- Coping with unsatisfactory results in the basic skills of literacy through innovative and effective teaching methods- Implementing an inclusive education, sharing good practices to reduce the learning disparities in pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.The general objectives are:- Developing literacy basic skills and key competences (i.e. multilingualism, learning to learn, social and civic competences, cultural awareness and expression) in pupils, using innovative and multidisciplinary pedagogical approaches- Fighting drop out and reducing disparities in learning outcomes that affect learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and with fewer opportunities- Strengthening the professional profile of teachers, helping them to adopt new methods and toolsThe specific objectives are:- Supporting the effectiveness of learning and motivation to attend lessons through the identification, involvement and experience of Drama in Education- Developing interdisciplinary teaching units that use the DiE as an innovative and experiential methodology- Developing teachers’ skills, investing in joint training and exchange of good methodological innovation practicesE.L.I.O.T. directly involves 20 students (target ages 14/15 years old) and 3 teachers per partner. The latter will be protagonists of a joint staff training, leaded and organized by the British partner, on using the Drama in Education method in teaching; later on, they will develop 7 learning units with the integration of Drama in Education method in 7 different curricular disciplines, about topics included in the ordinary curriculum. These will be our main outputs produced, made available as OER with open license on the several dissemination channels included in the dissemination plan; they will be applied in local venues during open classes, and applied to the international class during the first two blended mobilities (3 students and 2 teachers per partner), held in Holland and Greece. By February 2018 pupils and teachers will work on “If I were a MEP”, an application of the Forum Theatre methodology in civic and social skills, implemented during the last blended mobility in Italy.E.L.I.O.T. generates sustainable positive effects as it:- Invests in teachers’ skills, by enhancing internal organization with the provision of appropriate managing roles for the international cooperation- Creates innovative educational tools that can be implemented outside the partnership and replicated whenever it is considered necessary- Involves stakeholders, sensitizing them to invest in projects aimed at reducing early school drop out and enhancing basic literacy/reading skills

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 160780 Eur

Project Coordinator

IIS” Vincenzo Cardarelli” Tarquinia & Country: IT

Project Partners

• FURNESS ACADEMIES TRUST
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Montemor-o-Velho
• Délegyházi Hunyadi János Általános Iskola
• 4th General Lyceum of Chania
• Vereniging voor Christelijk Voortgezet onderwijs Rotterdam en omgeving, Christelijke Scholengemeenschap Comenius College
• Zespol Szkol Miejskich nr 3, Szkola Podstawowa nr 12 w Jasle