Building Inclusion through New Learning Methodology Erasmus Project

Project Title

Building Inclusion through New Learning Methodology

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development); Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

A major problem in education systems across Europe is early school leaving, often due to poor performance and a lack of understanding of mathematics subjects. The main goal of Bi-NEW project was to create innovative methodologies for mental arithmetic using Abacus and supporting materials for different age groups. Modern educational programs and school curricula should focus on developing critical and analytical reasoning thinking as a part of the XXI century literacy skills. With the help of the Methodologies and the additional materials, by developing abilities activating the simultaneous work of both brain hemispheres, teachers and trainers will facilitate students’ personal and academic achievements due to the development of concentration, photographic and muscular memory, creative and analytical thinking, fine motorics, mastering different sources of information acceptance. By acquiring new skills through which they will significantly improve their success in school, their early school leaving will definitely be reduced. Must be mentioned that these type of skills are not only for school use, but universal, required by the modern life style. At the same time educators were empowered with modern, attractive and innovative methodology that can be used not only for school achievements but for personal development too.
The application of the Methodologies requires specific knowledge and skills, for which in the initial form of the project national trainings were provided, which unfortunately were not funded, but as an important part for the realization and sustainability of project results it was decided by the partnership to conduct them. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic situation, only 4 trainings were conducted – in Spain, Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria with a total of 57 participants, carefully selected according to pre-set criteria.
For those teachers who do not want or cannot benefit from the methodologies, but need innovative teaching materials, the second intellectual product Repository of Exercises was developed, containing more than 115 exercises for the three age groups. The Collection contains exercises developing various skills from physical – asymmetric gymnastics, coordination, simultaneous work with two arms and / or legs, agility, emphasis on working with the non-leading hand, to exercises requiring the construction of logical nets and analytical thinking for solving them, applying strategies to succeed. A third group of exercises focuses on visual and auditory perception and its correct reproduction. Each exercise has a theoretical part with the methodology used and the objectives sought, a selective explanation for implementation, tips for the trainers and a list of resources.
The third intellectual product Generator of Exercises – is an online application for testing and improving individual skills in various areas related to mathematics. Available online with customization options depending on the preparation or as a challenge to achieve a certain result such as complexity and time.
It is important to note that the implementation of the methodologies in non-formal environment does not require fundamental knowledge and pedagogical experience, but motivation and understanding of the opportunities that such training opens up personally and professionally with subsequent teaching. These are the foundations for the tangible impact of the project. Despite or due to the pandemic situation, informal educational institutions were the first in Bulgaria to benefit from the project results during the summer vacation and Mental Arithmetic is offered in 35 centers in Bulgaria, and starting September 15th in three public schools. After the presentation of the project during the Multiplier event on July 9th with a demonstration of the exercises with increasing difficulty and participation of the public, many teachers started using some of them or combinations of them in their classes. The effect is similar in Turkey, where attempts are being made to make Methodology training part of the compulsory curriculum of pedagogical profiles. Unfortunately, the pandemic and lack of local trainings has slowed the impact in some countries, but mental arithmetic will certainly expand its geography, as is the case in Spain, and the results of the project are yet to be seen.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 147930 Eur

Project Coordinator

SDRUDZENIE ZNAM I MOGA & Country: BG

Project Partners

• FORMACION PARA EL DESARROLLO E INSERCION, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA
• UMNI DETSA EOOD
• AKMI ANONIMI EKPAIDEFTIKI ETAIRIA
• CONSORZIO MATERAHUB INDUSTRIE CULTURALI E CREATIVE
• Bolu Milli Egitim Mudurlugu
• DANMAR COMPUTERS SP ZOO