social networking

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

1. Project summary

Summary:

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. Country (City / Region)

State:

Spain

City:

Alicante

3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project

Organization:

Escuela Europea de Alicante

4. Type of organization

Select type:

School

5. Project coordinator

Name and Surname:

Deborah Nicholson

E-Mail:

Deborah.Nicholson@escuelaeuropea.org

6. Website

The website of the project:

http://www.escuelaeuropea.org

7. Please select the category in which you candidate your project

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Up to 15 years

Helping youth step in the job market:

NOT Helping youth step in the job market

Creativity and Social Innovation:

Creativity and Social Innovation

8. How long has your project been running?

From:

01/10/2008

9. Targets and Elements of Innovation

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.

What does it try to achieve and how:

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.

Which opportunities/problems does it address to:

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. Results

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.

How does it fulfill the users’ needs:

Answered in previous and subsequent questions.

How many users interact with your project per month and what are the preferred forms of interaction:

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

How has it improved the quality of educational and/or training services:

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

How has it improved the participation of professionals, children, youth and other stakeholders:

As above

How does it promote the use of ICT for the educational and cultural development by professionals, children and youth:

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.

Describe how you measure (parameters) these results:

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. Sustainability

What is the full duration of your project:

More than 6 years

What is the approximate total budget for your project (in USD):

From 30.001 to 75.000

What is the source of funding for your project:

Other

Other:

paid for in the general running costs of the school

12. Transferability

Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere:

Yes

Specify:

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.

What lessons can others learn from your project:

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.

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects:

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects.

13. Background information

Barriers:

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.

Solutions:

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

Privacy Law

Do you authorize the FMD to the treatment of your personal data?:

I do authorize the FMD to the treatment of my personal data

EuroSwitch SwapShop