Games For Learning Science Erasmus Project

Project Title

Games For Learning Science

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Pedagogy and didactics; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

Learning of certain scientific and mathematical concepts is somewhat complicated at certain ages, which causes the demotivation of students in the face of science and mathematics subjects, and even at more advanced ages, they determine the option of their studies or even precipitate the abandonment of these.
This is not a recent problem, quite the contrary. We have been trying to solve it for years but without success. The scientific method tells us that it is impossible to obtain different results if changes are not introduced in the procedure, so we understand that without a change in the methodology with which these contents are currently addressed, better results cannot be obtained. The problem is not only in the complexity of these concepts but in the way in which they are taught.
With our project, the 5 partner countries (Spain as coordinator together with Croatia, Greece, Latvia and the Czech Republic) seek to give a new approach to the learning of mathematics and science subjects. We want our students to regain motivation and love for learning.
For the development of this project we are based on these 3 ideas:
1. Studies in neuroeducation affirm that students learn better if they do it in a more playful and fun process.
2. Play and physical activity increase students’ motivation to learn.
3. Work peer to peer allows better assimilation of the contents: the student becomes an active part in the teaching-learning process, collaborating with the teachers so that their classmates better assimilate these concepts.
That is why our objective was focused on working side by side with students to find, modify or even create games or exercises belonging to the physical education subject and provide them with scientific content so that while students carry out sports, fun and healthy, they get to learn some concepts that have been previously worked on in science or math class.
The 20 games we have created are not computer games or applications. We want students to play to learn but to do so in a healthy way, with activities that can be done outside the classroom, outdoors, in groups, away from screens and keyboards. That is, we want them to learn science, in a fun way and at the same time take advantage of the benefits of physical activity and sport.
So that the games can be used by all schools that wish, we present them through videos made by the students themselves. These videos include a technical sheet of the game that explains the objectives of the game, the rules, the levels for which the game is suitable, the number of participants, necessary materials and even the modifications that could be made to achieve other objectives or adapt them to other ages. These sheets can also be consulted thanks to the portfolio of sheets that we have also developed.
In addition to the 20 games with their videos and explanatory sheets, throughout the project other complementary products have been obtained, such as, among others: the creation of a logo, the project’s board game, a knowledge test about our countries and the UE, interactive games, works on local scientists, posters on healthy life and healthy habits, etc.
To promote the dissemination of our work, a specific website and YouTube channel have also been created, as well as a Twinspace in e-Twinning that has also allowed the participants to communicate and work online, mainly during festive or confinement periods. The results can also be consulted on the Erasmus + Projects Results Platform.
This project included 5 teaching and learning activities in individual schools, but of the 5 only 4 could be carried out as scheduled. The last LTTA, the one that was up to the Latvian school to host, had to take place virtually. In each LTTA, in addition to carrying out a host of activities of all kinds, the schools presented the GFLS that they had designed and was put into practice collectively, to later add it to the presentation video of the game. In the case of the virtual LTTA, each school presented their game and recorded their students playing it.
With our project, added to the commented results, teachers and students have been able to improve their skills both in oral and written communication in English and in the use of ICT. Likewise, the importance of teamwork has been reinforced and we have been able to learn new methodologies and work dynamics.
In addition, our educational communities have been able to recognize and appreciate the diversity of European cultures, heritage and languages ​​and reinforce the values ​​of respect and tolerance for diversity.

Project Website

https://sites.google.com/colegiosocorro.es/games-for-learning-science/our-project

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 114706,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Socorro & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Model Secondary School of Heraklion
• Rigas 22. vidusskola
• Osnovna skola Frana Galovica
• Jubilejni Masarykova zakladni skola a materska skola,Trinec, prispevkova organizace