Small step for a film, a big one for European citizenship Erasmus Project

Project Title

Small step for a film, a big one for European citizenship

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; EU Citizenship, EU awareness and Democracy

Project Summary

This partnership gathered schools (from Croatia, Italy, Spain and Poland and their students aged 12-15 ) experienced in school film production. The partnership was based on mutual attitude that films produced in schools were a resource not used enough in class and were mostly invisible after showcase on festivals or contests. The partners were connected through the idea of creating their own media content, especially film, as a great method of developing media literacy. We all agreed that media literacy was closely related to active engagement in democratic life, to citizenship and the ability to exercise judgment critically and independently as well as to reflect on one’s own actions, and could thereby enhance young people’s resilience in the face of extremist messages and disinformation.

Our goal was to encourage our schools to use the method of creating films as a successful teaching tool at school. We worked on popularising it and showing both teachers and students how effective it could be, especially in Civic Education classes.
Key results of our project were:
– 8 films on topic from civic education produced by students from our schools
– International repository of films on the subject from civic education (the Repository
contains films made during this project and also films from other schools in partner
countries)
– 17 workshops (in form of e-book) appropriate for using in civic education
– Film festival – during which we presented films made in this project and films from other
schools in our countries
– Project blog

To achieve planned results and objectives of the project, our activities were divided in 6 modules.
1. Learning about film (elements: film crew (camera operator, director, screenwriter….); filming (frame, plan, filming angle, camera movements, zooming, light); sound in film; synopsis, shooting script; film montage).
2. Time for school film (elements: watching films, analyzing film elements (genres, characteristics of the genres, content, and message of the film). launching and editing the film repository. Teaching the usage of different web2 tools to present their opinion on films.
3. Exploring topics for films (elements: learning about the topic from Civic Education handbook, getting information on the topic from media, discussing with film section mentor).
4. Film production (elements: script writing, working with actors, selecting collocutor (if documentary is filmed), filming and montage).
5. Preparation of workshops for our films (elements: creating workshops (teachers), practising some of the workshops in school, publishing workshops)
6. International short-term exchanges (elements: exchanging attitudes towards problems; practicing and analyzing workshops which are in the focus of the project; presentation of the films made during the project).
7. Dissemination of the repository, workshops, and films (elements: dissemination through visiting schools and presenting workshops in classes, via different media, through repository with films, printed and e-publications).

Planned activities were achieved through following methods:
– guided film watching
– film discussions
– presentation skills using web 2 tools
– methods of demonstration and practical independent work
– research methods
– creative expression
– information processing
– international exchange and dialogue
We believe that our project affirmed the use of the film in Civic Education classes and increasef vidibility of children films produced in school film sections. We also believe that students are now able to show better understanding for importance of EU Citizenship – civic activism, gender equality, discrimination, and migrants’ issues that will be in focus of this project. The structuring of the film concept for sure had an impact on students’ reception of the objective and manipulative media content which improved their critical thinking. The students and teachers have also improved their ICT and English language skills. This project has contributed to building their self-confidence and interest in collaborating with others as well as perception of themselves as European and world citizens.
The project has also influenced the empowering wish for innovation in teaching, comparison of educational systems and exchange of examples of good practice, especially in field of Civic and Media Education. The project had an impact on openness of teachers towards synergy with associations and organizations working in Media and Civic Education. It has improved teachers’ organizational skills especially in terms of conducting projects that will contribute to their careers.
Workshops and repository contents are available in all languages of project partners and in English as well. This enables an insight into mutual aspects of these films, culture they are coming from and their diversities. Our repository can serve as an example for making the similar repositories in other countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 105915 Eur

Project Coordinator

Osnovna skola Sveti Petar Orehovec & Country: HR

Project Partners

• Zespol Szkol im.ks.Pralata Stanislawa Sudola w Dzikowcu
• ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO SAVIO – MONTALCINI
• IES AZUER