Broadening horizons by discovering unique cultures and seasons in European countries Erasmus Project

Project Title

Broadening horizons by discovering unique cultures and seasons in European countries

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Natural sciences; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

Most of our students’ families have little incomes, their main concern being to ensure the bare necessities of life. Our children do not have the proper material conditions for travelling abroad, to other European countries, and they are not encouraged to develop their knowledge on a cultural side, either. This is the reason why the interest for the school activities , especially science activities, is rather low and early leaving school rate is increased.

Objectives:

O1: develop linguistic competences for 250 pupils of six participant schools for 2 years

O2: Develop the interest for scientific and cultural activities for 250 pupils of six participant schools for 2 years

O3: Promote the national identity, values and traditions, tolerance, cultural and social differences

O4: Develop cooperating skills

O5: develop ICT competences

O6: Develop the collaboration with foreign schools

O7: Develop competences in different educational systems

Participants: 250 students, aged 11- 15 (100 with economical and learning difficulties) and 50 teachers

Activities:

– Cooperation and collaboration on line via chat, forum, Skype, on Freedcamp platform, during project’ s transnational meetings (working language- English)

-Organization of videoconferences on-line using socialization platforms as Skype in order to organize the transnational meetings

– Learning activities in school, Language Club and Science Club, with weather, season, customs theme

Starting with seasons and weather topics (Natural Sciencies) and traditions (culture), the activities propose tasks from different curricular areas- Mathematics and natural sciences, Man and society, Language and communication. Tasks are to use modern techniques- portfolio, journal of activity, map minding, brainstorming, learning by doing and oudoor activities.

Students and teachers will search for and use websites, email, Skype, Freedcamp platform, online dictionaries, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Paint or Photoshop, they will post materials on different websites (ScienceTube, Project’s site)

– Organization of videoconferences on-line using socialization platforms as Skype in order to organize the transnational meetings

– Organization of seminars and workshops during 5 transnational meetings, where teachers and students learn about other educational systems, culture of European countries, improve language skills

– Social and cultural activities during transnational meetings

-Organization of producing material results – weather, season, customs theme

-Organize presentations of national educational systems

-Elaboration of one guide with examples of good practices observed during the 2 years of implementation of the project

Methodology:

– Establish the objectives and desired impact

– Establish the activities and their schedule

– Organization of partners- responsibilities

– Organize publicity and promote the project (conferences, local meetings with teachers, mass-media)

– Management of time and budget (time sheets, budgeting each activity, reports, responsibilities of partners)

-Monitor and evaluate the quality of the activities (reports, potofolios, activity journals, direct and indirect feedback of involved persons)

– Organize transnational meetings (seminars, workshops, exhibition of students’ results)

– Dissemination activities (mass-media, methodological meetings, distribute project’s materials to other teachers)

– Sustainability: Language Club, Science Club, website

Results: 2 conferences, project’s magazine, project’s website, 2 project’s calendars, 2 DVD, 1 booklet, 1 wikipage, portofolios, brief dictionaries, drama, photos, videos, drawings, maps, esssays

Impact on pupils:

– stronger awareness and appreciation of sciences in lifelong learning

– developed linguistic competences in English

– aware of cultural and linguistic diversity, raised intercultural understanding and avoiding prejudices and stereotyping

– better interest and motivation to study school subjects such as cross -curricular topics

– improved ICT abilities

– developed “soft skills” in terms of social communication, problem solving, critical thinking, team working, group dynamics, work ethic, responsibility

-improved creativity skills, sense of acceptation and self- confidence ( especially for students with special educational needs)

– improved social positive attitudes

– increase the capability of been employable

Impact on teachers:

– improved teaching knowledges and quality of their teaching practice

– improved ICT competences and increase the occasions of using them in scholar activities

– openness to European culture and European organizations

– improved linguistic abilities in English

Impact on institution

– improved educational process

– improved rate of early leaving students and of absenteeism

– improved rate of students’ attendance to high school level

– raised profile of the school, better image in local and regional educational community

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 132120 Eur

Project Coordinator

Scoala Gimnaziala Nicolae Balcescu Pitesti & Country: RO

Project Partners

• ERZURUMLU IBRAHIM HAKKI ORTAOKULU
• Sakiu rajono Sintautu pagrindine mokykla
• Zespol Szkol w Bialce
• PALEKASTRO PRIMARY SCHOOL
• SU “Otec Paisii”