Are you connected? Erasmus Project

Project Title

Are you connected?

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social dialogue; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

Are you connected? The impact of mobile technology in society is big. Also at our schools, we notice the psychological and social impact of social media. Social media play an important role in the changing attitude towards human life and life in general. Besides the change in attitude and increasing stress levels, fewer young people contribute in team sports and are facing health problems.
In general, social media and mobile technology require attention almost constantly, causing increasing stress levels in school, work and private life and leading to devaluation of the authentic experience in a social relationship. Also, mobile technology causes distraction, which reduces the need for physical activity and participation in team sports.
This project aims to help our students to become more conscious, expand their bubbles, exchange ideas with and learn from students from abroad. The project allows our students to learn the benefits of sports in a social environment, while using mobile technology consciously.
Our students will explore how to prevent the negative impact of mobile technology by ‘rediscovering’ the impact of ‘real’ communication. They will investigate the impact of modern technology at our schools as well as the differences between both schools. They will become aware of the possible negative effects of using mobile technology, i.e; eyestrain (nearsightedness), lack of sleep, (social) stress, being less active. Through conversations and working with others, they will learn to know themselves.
Besides the negative aspects, we want to investigate if internet and mobile technology can help to prevent the problems mentioned above. What can teachers learn from students at this point? At the end of the project, our students will have learned that it is important to be a team player in real life and how internet can be of help.
We want to achieve this by allowing the students to participate in team sports, drama and dance. The students will be working independently, but will also do group work, developing various (sports) activities for each other and for other students. During the process, they will get to know each other better.
The project is voluntary for students and teachers. At least 22 students, 15 to 17 years old, will participate.
At the start of the project, we will inform students about the project. To join, student will send in an application form. Selection will be based on a students’ written motivation. The motivation will have to include interest in the project’s theme and in other people’s living schemes and the will to share one’s own. The selected students will have to be welcoming hosts and well-behaved guests during the exchanges.
Besides the coordinator and two or three accompanying teachers when traveling, interested teachers will be invited to join the project to teach classes or accompany excursions.
For some activities, especially during the exchanges, experts will be invited to assist. For example, someone who is specialized in sports, someone who teaches drama and someone who teaches dance.
Before and during the exchanges the students will investigate the impact of internet (mobile telephone; social media) at their school and in society via surveys and interviews among fellow students, teachers and the school management. Parents and grandparents will be interviewed regarding internet and mobile phones, now and in former years.
They will discuss the results and look for solutions that can be implemented in the schools. Topics of discussion will be, for example, school rules, fake news, new means of communication and health issues.
Also, the students will think about activities that can be done during their breaks without their mobile telephone. They will develop ideas with regard to the layout of de school yard and the break rooms and discuss these with the school management. They will investigate how behavior regarding mobile technology can be changed.
We try to involve the x, y and z generations in sports events to play together and learn from each other, avoiding marginalization and promoting active lifestyles.
The surveys and results will be shared on the eTwinning platform and the school websites, the ideas will be shared with direct participants of the project, teachers, students and their parents. Lessons and assignments will be shared on eTwinning, for other teachers to look into and to use.
The project’s goal is to allow students to learn about the pros and cons of the use of internet and mobile technology and to make them aware of their habits. This will enable them to make the right choices regarding physical activity and social behavior. We hope that our students will expand their ‘bubbles’ and be more active in ‘real’ life. Refurnishing our schoolyard and break areas will make it possible for all students to be more active together with other students and less dependent on their mobile devices. Let’s get connected!

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 65526 Eur

Project Coordinator

Petrus Canisius College & Country: NL

Project Partners

• LICEO GINNASIO ARISTOSSENO