Language of the Photos Erasmus Project

Project Title

Language of the Photos

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation

Project Summary

Although European countries are united, there is a multicultural community in the unity. They had some similiar and varying problems, in the educational systems. Depending on the results of evaluations, it was realized that a majority of young students felt themselves socially excluded and discriminated because of their family backgrounds, physical appearances, learning difficulties, financial problems, different customs. As a result, these young students lost their self-confidence, motivation for learning and creativity. Our aim was to make these disadvantaged students active by giving responsibilities; in cooperation with the peers from different cultures, via team works. Through these activities; we built up friendships and prevented early school leaving( one of the objectives of Europe 2020 Educational Strategies), social exclusion. We also decreased the difficulties in foreign language learning by using innovative methods and materials. One of our goals was improving ICT skills. Teachers acquired new teaching methods and skills to overcome the project problems met at the partner schools. We raised awareness and took attention to violence against women; intolerance and discrimination against minorities and disadvantaged groups (disableds, socially excluded); prejudices for various cultures.

130 students and 30 teachers actively took part at the project works. There were Roma minorities, from Turkey, Romania, Portugal and Poland, with whom we met. The women under violence (from Turkey), mainstreaming students with special needs, physically disabled students and a teacher, the members of the ‘Chorus of Civilizations’ ( from Antioch) also attended the project activities. 2 Turkish students, whose parents were imprisoned because of drug-addiction, attended the project works.

Our project activities were parallel to a detailed action plan prepared by the coordinator. Task of the partners was uploaded to the project web-site, chronogically. They consisted of preparation of promotional materials, meetings; organization of presentations, conferences, skype conversations, international meetings, informative meetings with authorities, trips for taking photos, “Language of the Photos” week, “The School of Dreams” day, photography and English courses, psychological support, visits to families, visits to minorities, visit to a Women Association (KADER / MOR ÇATI), exhibitions.

We used a series of methods at the implementation of the activities: Cooperative learning technique, think-pair-share, brainstorming, problem solving method, metaplan, lecture, simulation, exposing method, demonstration, debate (for decision- making), communicative approach, educational games, do it, case method in practice (students’ decision- making), role-play, random input (for generating fresh ideas or new perspectives).

Our activities were in the ways of pre-planned educational visits, internationally, “Language of the Photos” week, exhibitions, presentations, conferences. By attending these activities; students gained positive behavior modification, teachers acquired innovative methods. There was a wind of change at the partner schools. We desired to raise awareness and took the attention of local, regional representatives and educational authorities to the project issues, by inviting them to these activities. The parents and the other schools took the advantages of the results. The materials developed during the project were made available for those interested in the project topic; other schools, organizations, associations. Moreover; there were workshops at which the usage of created materials were taught to the neighbour schools’ students, teachers and educational representatives.

We were in communication with local and international representatives of the organizations. Besides; we contributed in the means of experience to the other schools through e-twinning portal.

“Language of the Photos” day will continue in the following years, as a ‘school custom’. School Family Associations, school budget or sponsors will finance them.

Producing school magazine and the activities of the Photography Club will go on. The products will be available at the facebook page and delivered to the educational authorities. As a result, we will provide our project’s sustainability and continuity of target solutions to the problems.

The community that are aware of the importance of ‘ the language of the photos’ at solving the problems met at educational systems will go on their workshops.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 60872 Eur

Project Coordinator

Akenerji Sehit Ugur Ekiz Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Agrupamento de Escolas Augusto Cabrita
• Zespol Szkol Nr1 im. prof. B. Krupinskiego
• Smiltenes gimnazija
• Colegiul National de Informatica “Carmen Sylva” Petrosani