New generation old games Erasmus Project

Project Title

New generation old games

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: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions

Project Summary

Our project team came together with the concern that children’s technology addiction. There are many children who prefer to spend time with technological tools instead of communicating with each other or playing games. We had also observed in our schools that parents often use technology not in the best advantage for their children as it is an easy way to keep children busy and calm, it is like a babysitter in a way. Unfortunately even children younger than 3 years old are often exposed to technologies. Extreme technological but inactive life caused many children to be addicted at very early ages. We believe that conscious and balanced use of technology is becoming more and more important each year. Now at the end of the project, when many children all around the world learn virtually, we are satisfied that we chose this topic for the project. There are many advantages of using fast developing technologies but there are some disadvantages as well. It is important for adults, but even more important for children to use technologies in a conscious and balanced way. During the project each partner team created a booklet compiling ideas of how to help families and teachers to develop good habits of technology use and balanced life in general, we held meetings for teachers and parents on use of technology. We learned about the best ways to implement technologies with children. When during our eTwinning project children could not only see each other on the screen and talk but also create a collaborative picture, using computer, it was a successful way of using technologies. Use of photos, presentations, videos and virtual meetings, communication using whatsapp, twinspace and email was helping in implementation of our project goals. Sharing documents on google drive was an easy way to share documents and work collaboratively.
Our project aimed to reduce the level of technological dependence by focusing on playing traditional games in order to encourage children to spend more time with their peers, to have fun, develop collaboration and motor skills as well as strengthen their communities. Project partners researched traditional games and shared them with each other. Through our project, lost and forgotten old games re-emerged in everyday school day of our educational institutions. There were a wide variety of cultural exchange between participating countries, which led to a rich game collection we published in an e-book of games. During the project children learned new games and developed through them, so our goal was achieved. Children learn about the world through play, but technological life is far from exploring real life. During the implementation of our project, children played and socialized inside and outside as well as explored nature.
All partners had equal responsibility for the planning and implementation of the project. The time allocated for extracurricular activities was increased in order to include traditional games and make the school environment more attractive to children. New equipment was purchased and new game boards painted for outside use. Project mascots, developed by each team enriched the project in a playful way. Mascots not only traveled to other countries, but also had a small symbolic change in their outfit from the country visited. While playing traditional games, children learned to think and act freely and independently, to collaborate and solve problems. The planning and implementation of active games was carried out in order not to develop or overcome technology addiction. We also aim to encourage parents, As one of our target groups was parents, we encouraged them to spend more time with their children playing traditional games of own and other countries. We also found out that many games are quite similar and both children and adults enjoy playing them. To teach parents new and forgotten games, we included them in the process of teaching and learning games in the school setting. Each participating institution shared e-book of games and brochures on conscious and balanced use of technology with schools and teachers in their countries therefor spreading the idea of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 104636 Eur

Project Coordinator

SIA “Skolmeistars” privata pirmsskolas izglitibas iestade “Mazins ka jura” & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Colegio Publico Ocejon
• Scoala Gimnaziala “Iancului”
• PIRITA KOSE LASTEAED
• NENE HATUN ANAOKULU MUDURLUGU