The Adventures of Out-of-Classroom Learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

The Adventures of Out-of-Classroom Learning

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; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

The project called “The Adventures of Out-of-Classroom Learning” has originated within the Erasmus+ Program, Key activities of two strategic partnerships for schools and preschool institutions, envisaged to last for 36 months – from September 1st 2019 to August 31st 2022. The project has been submitted by the preschool institution “Maštolend’’ from Novi Sad, together with elementary school “Dobje” from Dobje pri Planiniin the Republic of Slovenia, the “Maslačak” kindergarten from Pulain the Republic of Croatia, Preschool Institution “Včielka” from Bački Petrovac, Republic of Serbia and the Gallery of Matica srpska from Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, who are all strategic partners in the development of an innovative model of teaching children. The exchange of experiences in the outdoor-based concept of work that has been implemented has shown a vast variety of activities and innovative ideas, leading to the formation of strategic partnership aimed at knowledge networking and the creation of high-quality methods for the work with children. The goal of the project is to stimulate knowledge and skills in the work with children of preschool and lower school age, through an innovative approach which emphasizes play and outdoor learning, in natural environment, in cultural, scientific, sports and other authentic institutions. This model anticipates local and natural environments as resources for experiential education that stimulates critical and functional thinking in children. The idea of outdoor-based models of working with children is quite recent in our society and therefore there are no handbooks or textbooks which could help educators, teachers and pedagogues to master their professional competencies towards practicing outdoor-based programs. This is why the e-handbook for educators, teachers, various professional associates, parents and representatives of local communities is the kind of literature which is to be helpful in the introduction of these teaching methods. It contains a set of educational materials which include the basic information on outdoor-based teaching approach, remarks on teaching methods and guidelines, as well as examples of successful activities and instructions for the use of digital technologies in early age groups. The handbook recommends spending time in natural environments, playing with various natural materials and pursuing research projects in the local and social communities. Children’s programs are also supported by ideas for implementing digital toys, the use of which makes sense when they are used during play and activities in nature and cultural and sports centers. This approach is innovative because in the so far dominant preschool education, which did not sufficiently elaborate the implementation of digital technologies, we are offering an introduction of a proven model for their application through the use of digital toys such as microscope, video and photo camera, coding toys, orientation in nature and so on.
The e-handbook was born during the program, through the exchange of experiences and knowledge, to serve the needs of educators, teachers, professional associates, parents and representatives of local communities. The results of the project activities and the contents of the handbook were shown at an international conference, through presentations of studies which evolved in the course of the project, presentations of the objectives, activities as well as of teaching materials.
The e-handbook subject matter includes: theoretical concepts, materials containing teaching methods which aid planning, organization and creation of opportunities for learning in living environments, scenarios aiding family inclusion, partner organization and experts from the local community, examples of activities with children, as well as examples of the use of Information and Communications Technologies.
Long term effects of this project should include further networking of professionals throughout Europe, exchange of experiences, co-operation on
joint projects and development of high quality preschool curricula inspired by modern models of work with children.

Project Website

http://learningadventuresproject.eu/sr/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 109057 Eur

Project Coordinator

Predskolska ustanova decji vrtic “Mastolend“ & Country: RS

Project Partners

• Osnovna sola Dobje
• DV Maslacak
• Predskolska ustanova Vcielka
• GALERIJA MATICE SRPSKE