social networking

A cultural and communication project which provides a platform for teenagers to communicate and exchange cultural information with their European peers.

1. Sommario progetto

Sommario:

Language teachers have included pen friends and exchanges in to their lesson planning for a long time, but as students now use e-mail, chat forums, blogs, podcast, video conferencing and so many other ICT based methods of communication, we decided to try to incorporate the Virtual world, and try to ensure that instead of hindering communication and socialisation it actually facilitated it and made it more accessible and immediate. We looked for a platform which would provide a safe environment with solid privacy controls to allow students to do all of this safely and only to an invited target audience. The Etwinning site proved to be perfect launch pad for this and we set up 2 projects for 2 year groups. These were called EuroSwitch and SwapShop. “EuroSwitch” came from the idea of switching/changing places anywhere in Europe – providing a window into each other’s surroundings and culture. “SwapShop” came from the English Swap, meaning to exchange, with the idea of a continuous stream of information exchanges. We found a number of schools and institutions around Europe and began creating PowerPoint presentations, debate threads on issues we concern this peer group, letters of introduction and so on. In some cases this lead to an actual visit where students got the opportunity to visit each other’s schools and turn their virtual friendships into real ones. As the projects are online, many students have continued to correspond through the summer holidays and the projects will be renewed in the new term with additional students and schools and countries participating.

2. Paese (Città / Regione)

Stato:

Spain

Città:

Alicante

3. Nome dell'organizzazione che presenta il progetto

Organizzazione:

Escuela Europea de Alicante

4. Tipo di organizzazione

Scegli tipo:

Scuola

5. Coordinatore del progetto

Nome e Cognome:

Deborah Nicholson

E-Mail:

Deborah.Nicholson@escuelaeuropea.org

6. Website

Il sito web del progetto:

http://www.escuelaeuropea.org

7. Selezionate la categoria di appartenenza del vostro progetto

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Fino a 15 anni

Inserimento dei giovani nel mondo del lavoro:

NOT Helping youth step in the job market

Creatività e Innovazione sociale:

Creatività e Innovazione sociale

8. Da quando è funzionante il vostro progetto?

Da:

01/10/2008

9. Obiettivi ed elementi di innovazione

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

As explained in Q 9 the targets are to make communication “real” and promote social interaction between young Europeans.

Come, e con quali mezzi cerca di raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati:

To provide a platform for teenagers to communicate using the ICT tools with which they are already familiar, and enable the speed of communication and the immediacy of response and feedback they have become accustomed to since the inception of the internet. It is also a focus that computer provide an aid and a tool to human interaction rather than a barrier to it.

Quali opportunità/problemi affronta:

It provides the opportunity to communicate with real people in a combined real and virtual environment using a multitude of linguistic and visual methods. It also addresses the problem of the misconception that IT creates a barrier to social interaction, when in fact if used correctly it can greatly enhance it.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

Students have combined the world of digital communication, which is so familiar to their generation, with that of more traditional methods, including exchanging gifts and making personal visits. They have learned firsthand the reality of living in another European culture.

10. Risultati

Describe the results of your project as per today:

The project is ongoing and will be continued with the same and new additional groups from September 2009. The results so far have been enhanced enthusiasm for language learning and improved abilities in using multiple ICT skills.

In che misura risponde ai bisogni degli utenti:

Answered in previous and subsequent questions.

Quanti utenti interagiscono con il progetto mensilmente e in quale modo:

Approx 280 per month, but this varies depending on which schools have been online, and what stages people’s power presentations are at etc.

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto contribuisce a migliorare l'educazione e la formazione dei giovani:

The project was launched by one teacher with 2 groups of language learners, but has been extended to include many classes in many countries, and is being adopted my many other teachers and groups in the originating school. Comments by teachers involved in the visits have been very impressed by how the project had brought‘purpose’ to language learning in the students’ eyes. Also by how it has changed ICT from being a potential barrier to social interaction into being a tool which can greatly enhance it

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto ha ottimizzato la partecipazione di professionisti, ragazzi, giovani o altri soggetti:

As above

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto favorisce l'uso delle nuove tecnologie da parte di professionisti, ragazzi e giovani per lo sviluppo culturale e didattico:

Answered in Q 12.4. However additionally the following formats and tools have been used: live chat, video conferencing, PowerPoint presentations, digital video editing, forums and debate threads, word processing, digital photography and video making, cultural and historical internet research. A multitude of skills have been combined to facilitate communication.

Descrivete i criteri che usate per misurate i risultati raggiunti dal vostro progetto:

Through feedback from students and participation from a growing number of schools. Also through the quality and richness of language used, the topics researched and presentations completed.

11. Sostenibilità

Indicate la durata complessiva del progetto:

Più di 6 anni

Indicate il costo di massima del vostro progetto (in Euro):

Da 30.001 a 75.000

Come è finanziato il vostro progetto:

Altro

Altro:

paid for in the general running costs of the school

12. Trasferibilità

Il progetto è stato replicato/adattato altrove:

Specifica:

By our current partner schools within the project. These include school in England, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, France, Poland, Romania, Belgium, Germany and Finland. Also by other teacher and groups within my own school.

Che cosa possono imparare altri soggetti dal vostro progetto:

That communication is enriching, and our peer group is vast. That the rapidly expanding world of computer and communication technology can help us be closer and more effectively “in touch” with other cultures.

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti:

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti.

13. Informazioni aggiuntive

Ostacoli:

Time limits and time differences presented quite a challenge. We found that video conferencing was difficult to organise as we had coordinate concurrent times and availability of resources. Holidays differed between the schools, and times available in curriculum and hours or ICT spaces were varied.

Soluzioni:

Initially this year it has involved A LOT!! Of teacher time at home (outside school hours) teachers have sent messages to other teachers – ‘on behalf of’ their students, and we would have preferred them to be doing themselves in real time. The lesson learned her is to find out this information at the beginning of the project and plan the timing to coincide as closely as we can.

Future plans and wish list:

Expanding the project as planned to other schools and year groups – vertical (ages) and horizontal (more schools and groups) expansion.
Having the technology in place and a space for video conferencing.
Having up to to date video editing software with dedicated space and computers

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EuroSwitch SwapShop