Smartphones in our modern world: where do we (want to) go? Erasmus Project

Project Title

Smartphones in our modern world: where do we (want to) go?

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: Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

Our project was rooted in the context of digitalisation and broadly focussed on the use of smartphones in everyday life, and also in learning and teaching. The main objective was to help students grow as independent learners by developing their basic key competences (“skills for the future”), and more concretely, by raising their awareness and understanding of the impact digital technologies exert on their lives in global, local and personal respects. Our project also aimed at enhancing proficiency in the English language and communication skills among students and teachers. Moreover, it focussed on promoting international school co-operations and partnerships in a European context, thereby raising an awareness of the importance of active participation in the EU.
During a preliminary visit of teaching staff in Lodz, Poland, we equipped ourselves with a number of skills relevant to the work to be undertaken. These included an exchange of examples of good practice in former projects, the dissemination of tools supporting the educational and creative development of students, the use of ICT (especially smartphones) in the development and circulation of educational materials.
Our first student exchange took place in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, where we worked on “Production conditions and environmentally-friendly disposal possibilities of smartphones”. With the help of questionnaires, research, role-plays, visual material and a guided city tour on sustainability, students gained a deeper understanding of the controversial topic in this field of work.
We continued the project with another student exchange in Örebro, Sweden, where we focused on the topic of “Privacy, integrity and mobile phones”. Through questionnaires, roleplays and cultural visits, we closely examined the connection between privacy and integrity and smartphones. In the roleplay, we also incorporated political ideologies in the discussion. In collaboration with the University of Örebro, students were invited to a lecture entitled “Youth values” which aimed at developing a more profound understanding of common European values. In fact, this focus on attitudes and opinions surrounding the issues of privacy and integrity in the use of smartphones ran through the entire visit in Örebro, Sweden.
The third student exchange took place in Salo, Finland, and was themed “Practical use of mobile phone in everyday life and social-economic impact of the mobile phone industry“. Participating students learned about mobile phone addiction and how to also use mobile phones for health benefits. During this exchange, students also looked at how the socio-economic impact of the mobile phone industry has changed the city of Salo and how social media is used in advertising. In addition, interactive mobile phone applications were used to see how first-hand experiences of real life can be digitally augmented during a cultural walk in Salo and visits to major sights in Helsinki.
During our fourth student exchange in Poland, we worked on the topic entitled “The linguistic, artistic and educational influence of digital technologies”. Due to the Corona pandemic, this part of the project took place in the form of a number of online workshops spread over three days. Students and teachers shared their experience of using mobile phone technologies in their respective educational settings.
Our final mobility took place as a series of online workshops, in which we shared best practices ideas, learned about new methods and exchanged ideas about the best smartphone apps and tools to use. Preparations were also made for the final report.

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/73717/home

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 101410,34 Eur

Project Coordinator

Weiterbildungskolleg Emscher-Lippe.Abendgymnasium und Kolleg der Stadt Gelsenkirchen & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Zespol Szkol Salezjanskich im. Ksiedza Bosko w Lodzi
• Salon lukio
• Karolinska gymnasiet