Problem Solving and Critical Thinking in Maths and Science Erasmus Project

Project Title

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking in Maths and Science

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Currently the importance of school to school support is becoming more highly valued as a tool for reflecting on and developing pedagogy and good practice. This project will support the development of effective networks across Europe which are focused on the development of high quality, innovative teaching methods and their impact on outcomes for pupils. The project will provide opportunities for staff to share, trial and evaluate up to date teaching strategies and approaches within the key areas of Maths and Science.

This project will impact on roughly 2500 participants across schools in five diverse European countries. The impact will be specific for different target groups. This project will support individual staff members and wider school teams to enhance their professional development by working trans-nationally. Through a series of school based staff training events and shared projects, staff will have the opportunity to adopt collaborative and innovative teaching strategies based on up to date pedagogic approaches. In addition, individuals will be given the opportunity to develop their leadership roles through developing the provision of these training sessions. These skills will be transferable within their wider roles therefore supporting wider professional development and the development of middle leaders within wider leadership structures.

The training sessions will lead to shared projects within the partner schools which will allow effective pedagogy to impact on pupils teaching and learning in the areas of maths and science. Specifically this project will focus on the areas of critical thinking and problem solving in Maths and Science. Reasoning, critical thinking, explaining and talk for learning are all transferable skills which will be promoted through this project. Individual learners needs will be addressed through working within the priorities of each partner school when planning, delivering and evaluating each training session and the resulting project work.

This project will be managed through a series of Short Term Staff Training Events which will provide opportunities for a rigourous cycle of Planning and Review Meetings. Each transnational meeting will include a focused meeting between carefully selected coordinators from each school to review the current status of the project and make future planning decisions including target setting and key dates and deadlines.

The project will result in improved outcomes for pupils in the key areas of reasoning, problem solving and talk for learning in Maths and Science. The European aspect of the project will help raise the value and relevance of these key areas in each school and lead to a greater engagement from pupils in their own learning and in their wider local, national and international community.
The project will also impact on Middle Leaders, supported by those already engaged in school to school support,who will engage with a wider community in planning, delivering and evaluating staff training and learning opportunities. The training events will enable teaching and support staff to develop teaching strategies and skills and to become more reflective practitioners as they evaluate current pedagogy. The international aspect of the project will support the development of collaborative learning across all groups and help pupils, staff and the wider community understand the relevance of their learning within the wider world and in greater range of contexts.

The impact of this project will be sustainable due to the long term commitment of each school to develop collaborative learning within the wider European community. Each school is fully committed to the importance of school to school support in improving outcomes for children and developing highly skilled reflective staff. This project will support the development of positive attitudes to collaboration thus enabling each school to further develop an outward looking, reflective attitude to teaching and learning and to their role within Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 76855,95 Eur

Project Coordinator

St. Matthias CE Primary Academy & Country: UK

Project Partners

• HASAN ALI YUCEL ILKOKULU
• Istituto Comprensivo Lentini
• Colegio Lope De Vega (Treinta Profesores SCA)