Folk heritage around the Europe – keep our traditions Erasmus Project

Project Title

Folk heritage around the Europe – keep our traditions

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The project was built on the basic concept of European integration, which is richness in diversity.
The general objective of the project was using modern technology and methods of students and teachers’ teamwork from different European countries to recognize cultural differences in the context of the unique history of each country and the common history of Europe. This also reflected the choice of partner countries and specific schools. The participants were students at the age 14-18; from each school at least 15 ones who participated directly at activities and 60 others, 5 teachers from each school who directly participated and other school stuff who participated at local activities, invited experts and local authorities.
The specific objective was realization of four activities. The main goal of activities was recognizing the open air museums of national history – ethnographic museums in partners´ countries, meeting original crafts, seeing how the national heritage was kept for the future in each country, learning national traditions etc. The main method used in the project activities was Experiential Education. This method enabled support of creative approaches, active negotiations, creating better informal relations and particularly intense learning from experience. Research shows that students who joined “learning outside the classroom programs” have significantly improved early career outcomes over those who do in-class studies only. Experience education gave all participants of Erasmus+ projects unforgettable experiences. That is why we used the method “workshops” for our project. During workshops students worked in international teams, they had different roles in the team. Teachers were also parts of the teams in the role of a team member or mentor. During workshops we implemented methods of teamwork, collaborative learning, learning from each other. Because the teams were international so students and teachers had to communicate in English so they developed their communication and social skills. The workshops were led either by invited experts or school teachers, sometimes both. During workshops participants got new knowledge and skills which they shared later with their schoolmates and other teachers but also with their friends and family members. It was very valuable experience also for invited experts and quests because for most of them it was the first time to lead the workshop like that. We managed to organise following workshops during the activities in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Spain: wooden toys, pottery, carpenter´s techniques, corn husk decorations, soaps, herb bags, cinnamon rings, knitting, embroidery, lavender wreath, willow tree whistle, bread making, pottery, painting pottery and shoemaking.
Outputs are: presentations and description of all learning activities, description of visited open air museums of national history and village life, description of workshops where participants learnt and tried original crafts, cookery book with original recipes from all participating countries, description of some national traditions, description and comparing national educational systems. photographs, project web, creating “interactive map”. Each of the participating schools processed outputs with emphasis on the area in which the school is unique and contacted to competent experts and institutions in this area and therefore there was potential for the transfer of these unique skills. These outputs were dealt with in advance of relevant learning activities and interactive way then presented to participants from other countries, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, sightseeing tours and excursions. Based on feedback from these events the outputs where processed to their final form.
The important part was also dissemination of the project at all schools during project days, open days for public, parents meetings, at local institutions, local media. Students created noticeboards at the main entrances to schools so each school visitor can meet the Erasmus project.
The project has impact on the whole schools – teachers, students and staff, parents and families – participants shared with them their experiences, new skills and knowledge; local institutions which where involved to the project. During the activities we were welcomed by authorities at local institutions and regional school departments where we had opportunity to introduce the project. The authorities could speak to all participants from different schools.
We wanted and we mean we managed to show all participants and other users of created outputs that the history, culture and traditions of individual countries are vital part of society. They can be known by a fun and interactive way to contribute understanding and development of cooperation between European nations. Participants got known different culture and customs, but also they learnt to think about their own culture and traditions in a broader context.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 105402 Eur

Project Coordinator

Stredni odborne uciliste elektrotechnicke, Plzen, Vejprnicka 56 & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• Liceo Linguistico Paritario Sant’Apollinare
• Centro de Enseñanzas Greguerias Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza
• LICEUL TEHNOLOGIC “SFANTUL PANTELIMON”
• Gminne Centrum Edukacji w Wawrzenczycach