#ShareEurope: Sharing interactive education in virtual and mixed reality Erasmus Project

Project Title

#ShareEurope: Sharing interactive education in virtual and mixed reality

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Reaching the policy level/dialogue with decision makers

Project Summary

All EU Member States are facing several similar key challenges: (1) There are weaknesses in competence development at school education level. As a result, the European young people are more likely to face important, lifelong obstacles to social inclusion and employability; (2) School education does not always play in full its role to promote equity and social fairness. Educational achievements greatly depend on the pupil’s socio-economic background. Schools need to respond to the pace of technological and digital change, having a profound effect on our economies and societies.
It is therefore crucial to face the challenges through: (1) digital technologies can enrich learning experiences and support development beyond digital competence. They can support communication and cooperation in and between schools and enhance the participation of pupils and their families in school life; (2) Schools need to support all learners and respond to their specific needs. Some EU Member States face difficulties in providing pupils with difficulties in learning and disabilities access to inclusive, quality education; (3) Support should be provided for peer exchange and helping to improve methods of organisation, teaching practices and learning experiences for enhancing schools to broaden connections and enabling cross-border peer exchange; (4) Supporting teachers and school leaders for excellent teaching and learning through developing online communities and resources. Educational innovations such as collaborative peer networks, MOOCs, and the sharing of OERs can complement these methods and help overcome barriers to participation; (5) Effective school leadership impacts positively on student achievement, teaching quality and staff motivation.
Based on the context above, the project general objective is to support the implementation of innovative teaching methods, through integration of virtual and mixed reality (VR and MR) technologies in the educational approaches across Europe. The project general objectives will be supported through the successful achievement of three specific objectives:
+ ensuring high-quality and inclusive education, through enriching learning experiences while supporting effective use of digital technologies and encouraging activities that link learning with real-life experience, through the application of virtual and mixed reality;
+ empowering teachers and school leaders by strengthening targeted collaboration, learning networks, online communities and innovative pedagogical practices among teachers and school leaders, and involving other relevant stakeholders;
+ enhancing European cooperation in the field of school education through building a European Network for VR Technology in Education for establishment of closer contacts between European schools stakeholders, teachers and school leaders, and supporting policy reforms in the educational field.
The target groups of the project will include:
+ Disadvantaged groups of students in schools, such as children with difficulties in learning, within culturally diverse communities, as well as those with physical disabilities.
+ Teachers from all school grades, more specifically those teaching subjects in geography, history, nature and human sciences, ITC;
+ School leadership and networks, specifically school managers, influencers in the field of school education, policy and decision makers.
The project will carry out a total of six intellectual outputs for upgrading and complementing the existing platform for virtual reality in education IEDU360. They will follow a strict timetable and will deliver the following results:
1. Review of the schools curriculum of the countries included in the project, and shortlisting of lessons for VR/MR adaptation.
2. Developed assignment for 360° VR and Mixed Reality Modules Software Development.
3. Upgraded IEDU360 platform with three new features – teachers and homework tool, Mixed reality tool and 360° VR video content feature.
4. Mixed reality and 360° VR video educational resources database established.
5. The European VR and 360° Image Bank upgraded and enriched within the IEDU360 platform.
6. Developed Standard IEDU360, containing quality standards of 360° capturing and the VR and MR content.
7. Established and operational European Network for VR Technology in Education.
All results and lessons learned will be disseminated in a total of six dissemination events in all partnership countries.
The project will build upon and complement a cutting-edge approach to teaching, learning and developing of the educational approaches to the schools. The virtual and mixed reality technologies have a growing and disruptive impact of the digitalisation of education. Thus, the innovation will respond to the rapidly changing demands of learners and teachers. It will bring the technological and digital developments to the hand of the teachers, by providing them tools for innovative teaching methods.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 299059 Eur

Project Coordinator

Interactive Bulgaria Foundation & Country: BG

Project Partners

• 18 Comprehensive school William Gladstone
• Czech VR Agency, s.r.o.
• TUROREIN – Verein zur Förderung transnationaler Jugendinitiativen
• KULTURALIS OROKSEG MENEDZSEREK EGYESULETE
• Geniko Lykeio Agios Nikolaos,Sithonia,Halkidiki
• Fondacia Prosveta-Sofia