Flip the switch Erasmus Project

Project Title

Flip the switch

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: Energy and resources; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

“Flip the switch” – the title uses a figure of speech to illustrate the effect the project is meant to have on the participating pupils and teachers. According to the physical definition, the use of energy means a form of work that is performed on bodies through movement, heat, light or a chemical reaction. In modern life, we use energy from many sources in many different ways every day – oil or gas is used as a fuel for the transport of people and goods or for the heating of our homes. Secondary energy like electricity produced by combustion of fossil fuels, nuclear fission or the abundantly available and environmentally friendly natural energy sources, is indispensable in the industry for production machines as well as in our homes for domestic appliances. A blackout, like it has occurred in spectacular ways in almost every part of the world, impressively shows how much we depend on the accustomed use of energy.

The unconsidered, sometimes even irresponsible use of energy which can often be observed was the starting point of our project. Participants should learn about the history of the generation and use of energy, starting in the past and moving on to the methods and procedures practiced today, they should find out the consequences of their actions on the environment and learn about the opportunities for individuals to influence the development by their behavior and reduce their ecological footprint. At the end of the project, students should be able to change their thinking, to “flip the switch” and make their own responsible choices regarding the sustainable use of energy based on the knowledge they have gained.

On the one hand, working with partners from other countries on a common subject proves that the use of energy and resources is a topic of global relevance, equally important and urgent to all nations. On the other hand, the examination of different forms of energy available or used in the partner countries or the measures taken there to tackle pollution and climate change also shows that we cannot assume the same conditions everywhere in the world, not even within Europe, and that we consequently will not necessarily make the same choices in energy policy. Last but not least, international cooperation is meant to increase the students’ and teachers’ intercultural competences, their ability to work in a team, their willingness to cooperate, the ability to approach other cultures and ways of working with interest, tolerance and acceptance.The development of the students’ IT competences and the improvement of language skills through communication in English or French with other language partners are welcome synergy effects.

The students (aged 14 -18 years) involved in the project will work on individually chosen aspects of the topic and will either deliver their results in various forms of presentation in plenary on the occasion of their trips to the partner schools, make surveys and evaluate them or collect the texts, pictures, diagrams in an e-book on Twin Spaces which is accessible for all project groups. An integral part of the project will be excursions to power plants, open pit mines, wind farms or solar plants. The inclusion of outside-school learning venues and cooperation partners such as museums, electricity suppliers or energy plants is necessary to give the students an insight into the reality of energy production, which cannot be adequately conveyed in school.
The results will explain the dangers, efficiency and environmental compatibility of energy sources, suggest reasonable and practicable measures for a responsible use of energy for everyone and scrutinize energy policies on a national and international level. They will be visible on the homepages of the schools during the course of the project and will also be collected in the e-book on Twin Spaces, which will also be available in printed form for further use in class after the end of the project. Furthermore in the interest of regional dissemination all partners will organize a final exhibition in the premises of the schools which the local press will be invited to (texts, films/videos, slide shows, models, cartoons, diagrams, posters…).

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 12000 Eur

Project Coordinator

Willy-Brandt Gesamtschule Übach-Palenberg & Country: DE

Project Partners

• SUGS Gimnazija Orce Nikolov
• Lycée Baudelaire