Digital Innovation in Cultural and Heritage Education in the light of 21st century learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Digital Innovation in Cultural and Heritage Education in the light of 21st century 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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Creativity and culture; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context & background
Integrating the necessary skills to deal with complex 21st century realities in primary school education, such as the 4Cs Critical thinking, Creativity, Communication and Collaboration, asks for innovation. Cultural and heritage education has the potential of integrating 21st century learning in education, whereas digital resources can make cultural and heritage education more appealing to pupils.

However, schools teachers and cultural educators struggle to use the full potential of digital learning tools. Their organisations invest in digital equipment such as smart boards and tablets, but often use it rather conservatively. Meanwhile, developers of ICT/digital storytelling tools in education aim to make the existing technologies more mainstream in education. Scholars in (digital) innovation in (cultural and heritage) education still face many pending research questions related to the effects of using digital tools and resources in education.

Aims & objectives
To address the needs of primary schools, teachers, teacher’s colleges, parties active in culture and heritage, the ICT/E-learning sector and scholars, this project aims to integrate digital resources and opportunities in primary education in general and in cultural and heritage education in particular.
Thus, the project supports (prospective) teachers to deliver high quality teaching, to deal with complex classroom realities and to adopt new teaching methods and digital tools

These aims are attained through 6 objectives:
1. develop a common research agenda on the use of digital tools in cultural and heritage education in the light of 21st century learning
2. formulate desirable long-term development directions in the use of digital resources in cultural and heritage education
3. develop a menu of scenarios with digital resources, for (prospective) teachers, to be used in various contexts in cultural and heritage education
4. run pilots to test the menu and evaluate outcomes
5. recommendations for the use of digital tools in cultural and heritage education
6. create a sustainable partnership of complementary parties in digital innovatino in cultural and heritage education

Participants
The partnership consists of 6 parties in 4 countries
1. MARNIX (NL): a teachers’ college, with a program for teachers to become experts in cultural (heritage) education and research centre specialised in (digital) interaction in primary school education
2. LEU (NL) facilitates cultural and heritage education at primary schools in Utrecht
3. ATIT (BE) is a research and consultancy company and a mediator between technology providers and educational users
4. LBORO (UK) is specialized in digital storytelling, especially in education
5. COOPCULTURE (IT) provides cultural heritage education to primary school children and other audiences
6. UNIROMATRE (IT) has ample knowledge in the use of technology in education, particularly in (cultural) heritage education
Cultuurcompagnie/Plein C and Kunst Centraal – both cultural educators – are associate partners and can share digital materials used in cultural and heritage education

Methodology
The methodology is based on starting with a theoretical basis (research agenda), translated into a practical menu of digital teaching scenarios, testing the menu and using the outcomes to enrich the theory.

Results & impact
The project foresees 3 intellectual outputs, 6 multiplier events and 5 project meetings. Intellectual Outputs are:
O1: Common research agenda
O2: Menu of digital tools (pilot)
O3: Set of recommendations for the use of digital tools in cultural and heritage education

The 6 Multiplier Events reach at least 190 professionals.
The intellectual outputs will benefit at least 1050 participants (teachers, pupils, researchers).

Expected impact on target groups:
– Participants: valuable EU experience, valuable network, more transversal and basic skills especially in the use of digital tools in class; in new innovative methods for cultural and heritage education for 21st Century learning skills
– Participating organisations will integrate results in their daily business and courses.
– pupils at primary schools will get inspiring culture and heritage lessons
– (teachers at) primary schools will learn how to innovate their lessons using digital tools, with focus on 21st century learning
– Teacher’s colleges are provided with a theoretical framework and will be able to teach innovative methods for 21st century learning skills
– Cultural and heritage sector will know how to innovate their education to children using digital tools
– Universities gain a theoretical framework and relevant recommendations for the use of digital tools in (cultural and heritage) education, as a basis for new research
– ICT sector is provided with a theoretical framework and recommendations to develop applications that fit demands of teachers and schools

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 287831 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stichting Protestants Christelijk Hoger Beroepsonderwijs Utrecht, Marnix Academie & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Stichting Landschap Erfgoed Utrecht
• ATIT BVBA
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI ROMA TRE
• Società Cooperativa Culture
• LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY