Ostatnia szansa – zachowanie bioróżnorodności dla następnych pokoleń Erasmus Project

Project Title

Ostatnia szansa – zachowanie bioróżnorodności dla następnych pokoleń

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: Natural sciences; Energy and resources; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

The project “The Last Chance – Preserving Biodiversity for Future Generations” was a strategic partnership formed by schools from Italy, Romania, Spain, Poland and Turkey. The schools put emphasis on teaching natural sciences and were all interested in developing a project which would combine these subjects, English and ICT as well as art, music and sport. The cooperation between the partners, who had contacted through eTwinning, started before submitting the application.
The project was addressed to students aged 15 -18 and teachers. The aim of the project was to develop students’ knowledge and skills in natural sciences as well as improve their language skills, especially ESP.
Other objectives were as follows:
a) learn how to plan, conduct and analyse a scientific research,
b)develop ICT skills,
c) develop interpersonal and intercultural competences,
d)exchange experiences and good practice,
e)carry out peer learning activities and workshops,
e)raise ecological awareness of the students and local communities.

The project was carried out for three years. The partners focused on the topic of biodiversity and analysed the anthropogenic causes of the decrease of biodiversity as well as discussed actions whose aim was to improve the quality of the natural environment. Some of the discussed topics included destruction of the habitats and ecosystems, reintroduction and restitution, species and area protection.

The project activities took place through the project website and the project TwinSpace on the eTwinning site and short-term exchanges of groups of students.
There were 9 short-term exchanges, in which 244 participants took part. The criteria for choosing the students included the level of English proficiency, good marks in natural sciences, understanding of the objectives of the project and active participation in the life of the school and local community. Also, there were 4 transnational project meetings, in which 34 participants took part.

Some of the activities that were carried out during student exchanges are as follows:
a)lectures and experiments at universities; the aim was to develop students’ knowledge and skills (e.g. teach them how to analyse the purity of the natural environment using the chemical, biological and physical methods),
b)field workshops and guided trips to national parks, ecological centres, refinery, wind farms, hydro thermal dam, etc.,
c)seminars and CLIL lessons,
d)activities promoting ecological issues in the local community, e.g. happenings, eco-fashion shows, eco-festival, Open Stage music festival, photography exhibitions, festival of films and commercials made by the students, poetry competition,
e)workshops during which the students prepared the project products, e.g. a booklet “Species and Biological Biodiversity in Europe”, eTwinning gallery “Biodiversity in Music, Literature and Art”, leaflets, multimedia presentations, films.
Moreover, during each exchange activities introducing traditions and culture of the host country were held.

Each school formed Project Club whose aim was to coordinate students taking part in activities. Students in between exchanges developed knowledge, practiced English, prepared the materials necessary for the next mobility (films, presentations, surveys, questionnaires, photos). They used eTwinning, Skype, communicators and social networking sites to collaborate.

Throughout the project activities, students were given the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in natural sciences, improve language skills and ICT skills, develop interpersonal and intercultural competences. They were able to carry out peer learning workshops. Teachers exchanged good practices and experiences, especially those connected with CLIL. Ecological awareness of the students and local communities raised and wide access to the project results was provided .

The project had a significant impact on the students, teachers and schools:
a) students developed their knowledge and skills in natural sciences by doing, seeing and experiencing,
b) they are aware of their own and European culture; they are open and tolerant,
c) project activities stimulated their creativity,
d) their motivation to learn English as well as language competence increased,
e)they developed intercultural competence,
f) they developed ICT skills,
g) teachers’ professional skills increased; they learned new methods and exchanged experiences,
h) schools gained prestige in the district and improved the quality of work,
i) ecological awareness of the students, teachers, school workers and local communities increased.

Long term benefits will be seen in the activities of people who are students today and in the future will have a real impact on European cooperation, partnership and integration across all the differences that will not divide, but inspire.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 244397,13 Eur

Project Coordinator

Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace z Oddzialami Dwujezycznymi im. Boleslawa Chrobrego w Gryficach & Country: PL

Project Partners

• MACIDE-RAMIZ TASKINLAR SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
• IES Alonso Sánchez
• Liceo Scientifico Statale Enrico Fermi
• Colegiul Tehnic Danubiana Roman