Learning together – a path to our future Erasmus Project

Project Title

Learning together – a path to our future

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: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The idea for this project arose from the needs of pupils and teachers of both schools. A big question we wanted to explore was how to support the ones who are struggling with, for example, learning difficulties or immigrants with Finnish or Spanish as a second language while also providing enough challenges for high-achieving pupils. We started to look for answer by focusing on multi-disciplinary studies and transversal competences such as Communication in the mother tongue, Communication in a foreign language, Digital competence and Learning to learn skills. We were hoping that by using ICT in teaching languages and other subjects, we would increase motivation, learning and social skills of all students. Pupil participation in this process would help the children on they way of becoming active citizens that take responsibility, help others and have a feeling of being an important part of the community.

During the first year we focused on communication, ICT and languages. The teachers participating in the project contacted each other and started planning their cooperation according to mutual needs and interests around these topics. For example, the English teachers chose a literature project as their link class project while ICT/art/technical work teachers focused on creating the blog, exploring the possibilities for communication and distribution via ICT and sharing good practices. Both schools had their own Erasmus Club for the target group pupils who were interested in exploring the topics of our project more deeply. Together with the teachers in charge of these clubs, they planned activities and had their own virtual meetings with each other.

The second year of the project focused on pupil participation, learning to learn and focusing on our strengths. All these themes were naturally present throughout the whole project. The pupils of our target group participated already in the application process by suggesting topics and activities that they would like to share with each other. The pupils and teachers worked together in three different ways: Link Teacher cooperation, Erasmus Club activities and Multi-disciplinary Theme Weeks during pupil mobilities. The Link Teachers, who paired up with a teacher from the partner school, visited each other and planned activities together with their pupils. These links became somewhat permanent for the whole length of the project. In addition to their Link Teacher work, they participated in planning other learning, teaching and training activities. During the teacher visits, the hosting school organized a training event for everyone, including their own teachers. The topics were Cyberbullying and Bridge Class (pupils with immigrant background).

By founding Erasmus Clubs for both schools, we ensured that the pupils were aware of the content of the project and had their own important role in planning and executing activities. The club also made it possible for all pupils to have equal possibilities to be a part of this international project, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. Both clubs chose eight pupils as Ambassadors based on their active participation and application and they visited the partner school during the multi-disciplinary Theme Weeks in Aranjuez and Espoo. These pupils were also included in the planning process of these weeks together with the teachers. In order to include everyone, not just the pupils who are travelling, we had hoped to share our work via ICT in as many ways as possible, creating a Virtual European Classroom for the whole week. Unfortunately, idea of joining two schools/classes via Skype to create a virtual classroom for even a day was too ambitious at the time. We did not take into account the technical and some practical challenges when it came to equipment, schedules etc

The expected impacts on the participants, both pupils and teachers, were somewhat similar and based on the feedback we received through our questionnaires, we managed to achieve our goals. We expected that this project will increase the use of ICT as meaningful tool in language studies, art and other subjects. We also saw the development of communication skills, pupils gaining confidence and becoming more interested in languages and international cooperation. The project also included host families and students doing their practice at school, which increased the feeling of larger community and international cooperation on more than one level. The long-term benefits that can already be seen are the interest in international cooperation and foreign languages. Pupils have become active members of the school community and are already hosting language clubs for the younger ones.

Project Website

http://www.rastaalacas.blogspot.com

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 40644 Eur

Project Coordinator

Rastaalan koulu & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Colegio Apóstol Santiago