Heads up! Young TechnoLingua Emphatic Minds Erasmus Project

Project Title

Heads up! Young TechnoLingua Emphatic Minds

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Social dialogue

Project Summary

„Heads up! Young TechnoLingua Emphatic Minds“ is a Strategic Partnership for Schools formed by the coordinating „Gesamtschule der Gemeinde Rödinghausen“, Germany, „IES Blas Infante“, Spain, and „Kabatas Erkek Lisesi“, Turkey. All three schools are schools in secondary education and teach between 850 and 1000 students.
In an ever changing world, a world being connected through globalization and digitalization, with new technologies and modified means of social interaction, this project focuses on teaching a sensible use of modern media while at the same time valuing empathy and social skills, also in terms of intercultural understanding across countries. Especially in the aftermaths of the Corona pandemic these aspects have become increasingly important, on the one hand in terms of switching from personal to digital contact, but on the other hand in terms of a heightened need for family and togetherness in general.
Thus, the project will follow these objectives: Innovative practices in a digital era + New technologies – digital competences + Supporting individuals in acquiring and developing basic skills and key competences + Social and educational value of European cultural heritage
These project objectives and goals have an effect on the whole school community, but foremost up to 24 students from each school will participate most actively. These students are around 15 years of age. They will learn a great deal from each other, from students in other countries with different knowledge about media and with a different set of cultural values guiding their social interaction.
To achieve these goals, students will work on the following activities:
Exchange of experiences, feelings and activities during Corona lockdown; discussion of internet safety and devising Do’s and Don’ts; role- plays on (cyber-)bullying to raise awareness and empathy of an increasing problem among youths; class discussions about sensible school rules; creating a game (such as Kahoot! or Trivia) about respectful word usages; writing emails to the exchange partners about school rules and means of punishment; workshops at project meetings focusing on e-safety, school rules and coexistence; conducting interviews with the elderly, professionals in their field of work and other role models about the change their (work) lives have undergone.
The methods used throughout the project are clearly task-based. Students will be presented with challenges to solve. This process requires collaborative and team work within the project group of each country, but also between the partners in the other countries. Highlight of shared ideas and experiences will be the three project meetings at which the teenagers traveling can work with their partners face to face. Thus, the activities and methods emphasize creativity as well as product and activity orientation.
As more concrete results, we expect the following:
A video showing featuring experiences, activities and other related scenes from the time of strictest Corona restrictions in the three countries.
A video featuring a typical digital day in the life of a teenager in Córdoba, Istanbul or Rödinghausen.
A video about „European“ school rules and politeness, featuring again shared ideas from the three partner schools.
An exchange booklet keeping track of the project meetings
An exhibition after completing the project.
In conclusion, this partnership will foster development in the area of digital skills as well as communicative skills needed in personal social interaction. Additionally, students will improve their creativity and further knowledge about digital media on the one hand, but maybe even more importantly on empathy and cultural understanding, especially when it comes to sensible topics such as cyberbullying or interaction across countries all over Europe. As the results will be shared with the participants’ peers, for example when discussing e-safety, or with the rest of the school community, including other students, teachers and parents, the impact of the project is a great one. Outside of school, local companies and the whole community will be involved and made aware of ongoing changes with the help of broadcasting results on local radio or TV stations. As disseminating activities, students will also prepare exhibitions to present the project results to a wider audience; examples are the Entrepreneur May Fair in Córdoba or a presentation at a University Conference in Istanbul. German students will also be embassadors to younger students at elementary school and teach them about e-safety, for instance. Last but not least, teachers’ centres, local and regional educational authorities, local governments such as councillors and mayors, will be involved by either inviting them or presenting ideas to them. Going beyond the three cities which are part of the project, many results, such as parts of the exchange booklet, will be uploaded to our Erasmus+ webpage for everybody to use wherever suitable.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 87804 Eur

Project Coordinator

Gesamtschule der Gemeinde Rödinghausen & Country: DE

Project Partners

• KABATAS ERKEK LISESI
• IES BLAS INFANTE