Smarter…Greener…Safer… Erasmus Project

Project Title

Smarter…Greener…Safer…

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: Energy and resources; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Natural sciences

Project Summary

The project ‘Smarter…Greener…Safer…’ was to increase practical scientific and entrepreneurial skills of students and equip teachers with innovative and effective teaching methods to support scientific and entrepreneurial education. The project concerned environmental issues as disrespect for natural environment, excessive use of raw materials, energy and overconsumption are problems of our times. Scientific and entrepreneurial knowledge of students is often too theoretical and teachers lack innovative and effective teaching methods. Students proved to be poor at managing time, home budgets, recycling and energy usage, teachers lacked competence in teaching scientific subjects combined with entrepreneurial skills. The project objective was to foster innovative, out-of-box thinking, appealing to young minds who are more and more demanding and not interested in traditional methods used at school and to equip teachers with innovative teaching tools. The project was innovative because it introduced and tested out innovative methods of teaching scientific subjects and entrepreneurial skills (innovative multidisciplinary approach with interconnection between scientific knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to prevent/solve environmental problems). It made use of the newest technological innovations and tools to solve environmental problems using entrepreneurial skills. It emphasised Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and collaborative problem solving as effective tools for creative thinking. The target groups were young teenagers (12-14), for whom entrepreneurial education intermingled with scientific courses was something new and unavailable within the regular school curricula, and Science, English and IT teachers who learned how to put this idea into practice (at least 150 students and 30 teachers). Project partners cooperate closely with local companies and specialists to make the interconnection between environmental and entrepreneurial education most effective. In technology-oriented world, engaging students in designing simple devices, using videos involving peer teaching and use of technological innovations stimulated their minds to perceive environmental issues more practically and attractively. Project activities were a grassroot initiative triggering off new approach and changes in scientific curriculum to make it more practical and efficient.
The activities took place at local, regional and international levels. Workshops for teachers on how to teach multidisciplinary entrepreneurial skills (including online ones), workshops for students using activating methods of teaching and studies conducted during mobilities fostered innovative approach to promoting green energy and business ideas in countries with different economic and cultural background, and with diverse eco-systems. Cooperation with local institutions, educational centres and companies enhanced the participants’ practical scientific and entrepreneurial skills and became the basis for future cooperation in the field of environment protection in diverse eco-systems.
Transnational project meetings and short-term exchanges made it easier for the target groups to exchange ideas and practical experience, especially that some partners to the project could offer facilities and equipment unavailable to others (e.g. cooperation with EduFor Training Centre, Portugal; status of Apple partner in education, Croatia). Partners to the project face diverse ecological problems, their experience in environmental protection differs a lot, thus international exchange of good practices was the key to success.
Tangible results of the project (Greenpreneur’s Book, Green E+Dictionary, innovative lesson plans, GreenSmart Stories) were disseminated at local, regional and European levels to make our ideas available for everyone. A multimedia teaching aid base was made available to all partners and anyone interested in practical scientific and entrepreneurial education through Erasmus+ Project Results Platform, this way sharing good practice and experience within schools, communities and regions, allowing others to learn from it. The project will bring longer term benefits. Activities promoting practical scientific and entrepreneurial skills have become part of school curricula and cooperation with local institutions will be continued. Project online groups remain active making background for further discussions and future cooperation. Students became familiar with culture and natural heritage of other countries and broke down barriers and prejudices between nations. They improved linguistic skills, which facilitates creating new EU program projects in the field of education through exchange of good practices. Above all, the project participants learned that despite cultural diversities we all have the same goal as responsible European citizens – to be smarter …greener…safer…

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 127165 Eur

Project Coordinator

I Spoleczna Szkola Podstawowa im. Unii Europejskiej w Zamosciu & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Istituto Comprensivo Madonna della Camera
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Vila Nova de Paiva
• Emäkosken koulu
• l. osnovna skola Cakovec