TRADITION | Global Junior Challenge

The Train to Europe

Thu, 30/07/2009 - 13:14

During the realisation of the project students of each school make one carriage of the train on the big cardboard in any artistic technique.

1. Project summary

Summary:

Our school has realisated European educational projects since 2007. During our acting we saw the need of creating a new project, which would join cultures, traditions and values of European countries. We got the possibilty of realisation of our ideas through eTwinning platform, which gave us chance to make contacts with teachers from other countries.

During the work over the project we invited partners from Romania, Italy, Spain. We involved teachers and students from 6 European schools. The main topics were:

-developing language, intercultural and technical competences,

-appreciating of national culture through knowing other cultures. Building the attitude of toleration to members of other nations,

-looking for universal values

-using different ITC techniques in work over the project [ chat, videoconference, TwinSpace, PowerPoint, Picassa, photostory editor, mail, internet , Skype, blog].

-developing language skills.

The main coordinator of the project was Polish school [PSP nr 17, Radom]. Gradually, we involved new members: students, parents, other teachers, headmasters, local authorities,local media and organizations to broad ideas of United Europa.

Our big success is publishing an international mini dictionary showing effects of the project. The publication contains photos and vocabulary connetced with the project. We promoted it in local environment, and also sent it to the authorities, embassy, National Agency and to our foreign partners.

2. Country (City / Region)

State:

Poland

City:

Radom

3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project

Organization:

Publiczna Szkoła Podstawowa nr17 , Radom

4. Type of organization

Select type:

School

5. Project coordinator

Name and Surname:

Monika Dudek

E-Mail:

monikagorecka@tlen.pl

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:

10/11/2008

9. Targets and Elements of Innovation

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

The main target was creating an international train made from "national carriages" in many artistic techniques and joined with using ITC technologies. Students learned to work in team and to cooperate with teams from other countries, developing their language and communication skills. Teachers had possibility to exchange their experience with teachers from other countries. There were many events connected with the project organised in partner schools. Reports and photos from these events were put at eTwinning platform.

Which opportunities/problems does it address to:

The project aims to overcome problems with intolerance, cultural sterotypes, appreciating national culture. What is more, it gives students oportunity to develop their language skills, improving skills of using modern computer technologies.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

An international train is a symbol of joining different cultures and traditions in one unity, looking for common cultural elements and universal values. Our project helps students in showing their abilities, developing their skills. Moreover, it builds their self-confidence, forms the attitude of disinterestedness an social committment.

Many people and institutions took part in activities connected with realisation of the project. It influenced on integration of different social environments and made ideas of the project and Europen integration more popular.

10. Results

Describe the results of your project as per today:

Results of the projects:

-knowing and cooperating with partners from Romania, Italy and Spain

-developing language and ITC skills

-creating national carriages joined in one international train

-evidencing work over the project by photos at eTwinning platform. Making Power Point presenation

-publishing dictionary showing ideas of the project

-organizing events in partner schools to promote effects of the project

-involving and integrating many people and institutions.

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

In realisation of the paroject take part about 125 students and 19 teachers per month. The preffered forms of interaction are: verbal communication, nonverbal communication: photos, artistic works of students.

To interact with foreign partners we use the internet, chat, forum, videoconferences, e-mails, eTwinning platform Skype.

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

The project makes students and teachers more creative, broadens their horizonts. They are not afraid of using foreign languages and computers in every day life and work. It integrates people at different age, with various characters and cultures in one activity

Realisation of the project has changed methods and forms of teaching using so far. Teachers has changed their attitude to teaching, they are more open, treat students more like partners and use modern technologies more frequent. They join different contents from curriculum during the realisation of the project.

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

Thanks to work over the project teachers knows more ways of using ITC in educational process. They are more open to develop their skills, to take part in trainings, to use computers and equipment during their lessons. It broadens their horizonts through exchanging experience with teachers from other countries.

As far as students are concerned, they are able to know and use many new tools and programms, which they use in every day life. Many of our students come from poor families and our project is the chance for them to learn how to use ITC. These technologies give them possibility to be more innovative at school, gives them a lot of joy and develops imagination. Students can know other cultures, traditions, be more tolerant thanks to interaction with foreign students by exchanging e-mails, chats, etc.

Describe how you measure (parameters) these results:

We make an evaluation by questionnaires and meetings with teachers, students and their parents. This way we have got a feedback information.

11. Sustainability

What is the full duration of your project:

From 1 to 3 years

12. Transferability

Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere:

Yes

Specify:

Tasks are realised in partner schools. Each school can make it in their own way. Effects are evidenced by reports and photos at eTwinning platform. Then, we can compare different ways of realisation of the tasks and use conclusions in our work.

What lessons can others learn from your project:

Others can learn that it is possible to become an aware European with knowledge of other cultures, free from stereotypes with consciousness of value of national culture. It is possible to integrate different peolple in one acting. Learning becomes fun and gives a lot of opportunities for students and teachers to improve many skills, broadens their mind.

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

Background:

Programm eTwinning is realised only through internet platform, without funds. We had to find sponsors to publicate our dictionary [final effect of the project]. We also organised a lottery to gain money.

Barriers:

- lack of regularity in work of partners,

- lack of computers and equipment in students homes. All work over the project had to be done at school, after the classes.

- lack of computers and the internet in Spanish school

- little knowledge of teachers, parents about eTwining programm

- lack of funds for realisation of our project

Solutions:

We tried to motivate partners to regular work. We organised a lot of after- classes activities, becouse only then we have access to computers and internet. We also organised a meetings with teachers, students, parents to enrich their knowledge about eTwinning. They also got brochures and were asked to visit website.

To publish dictionary we had to find sponsors and organised lottery.

Future plans and wish list:

We would like to transfer our project to many other schools in Poland and abroad, becouse "the train" can be still developed and new "carriages" can be added.

We would like to achieve it by promoting dictionary, by inviting new partners, training teachers, involving further organizations, institutions.

Our wish is to find new sponsors and funds, which let us to realisate all targets.

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E. U. ONLINE MAGAZINE

Mon, 25/05/2009 - 12:51

AN ON LINE MAGAZINE CREATING TIES WITH 16 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

1. Project summary

Summary:

THIS PROJECT WAS CREATED AS AN ETWINNING PARTNERSHIP AND IT AIMED GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER EUROPE CONNECTED IN A MONTHLY ONLINE MAGAZINE EDITION. AS A FOUNDING MEMBER AND MENTOR OF THIS PROJECT I INTENDED TO GIVE MY PUPILS A LARGER VIEW OF THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SO THAT, IN THE FUTURE, THEY MAY BE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND FRIENDLIER. I FIRST STARTED WITH ONE PARTNER BUT THE INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT GREW AND WE ARE NOW 16 COUNTRIES SENDING ARTICLES AND PICTURES TO PUT THE MAGAZINE ONLINE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH. MY PARTNERS ARE: SPAIN, ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, CYPRUS, GREECE, SLOVENIA, SLOVAKIA, ICELAND, GERMANY, BELGIUM, ITALY AND LITHUANIA.
WE USE THE HTTP://ISSUU.COM SERVER TO PUT THE MAGAZINE ONLINE AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP AS WE DO NOT HAVE TO PRINT THE MAGAZINE AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AFTER OUR NATURE AND PLANET.
EVERY MONTH THERE WAS A SPECIFIC TOPIC AND ALL THE SCHOOLS WROTE ABOUT IT, BOTH IN THEIR MOTHER LANGUAGES AND IN ENGLISH: IN DECEMBER WE WROTE ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS, IN JANUARY WE WROTE ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS, IN FEBRUARY OUR TOWNS, IN MARCH OUR NATIONAL SYMBOLS, IN APRIL WE WROTE ABOUT EASTER, IN MAY OUR PAST PRESENT HEROES, AND IN JUNE WE ARE WRITING ABOUT A NATIONAL TOURISTIC GUIDE.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT ALL THE PUPILS HAVE LEARNT A LOT ABOUT USING ICT IN THEIR LIVES, AS WELL AS RECOGNIZING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NATIVES OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ALL HAVE TO SHARE THIS CONTINENT AS UNITED AND RESPONSIBLE.

2. Country (City / Region)

State:

Portugal

City:

TROFA – PORTO

3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project

Organization:

ESCOLA BÁSICA DO CASTRO - TROFA

4. Type of organization

Select type:

School

5. Project coordinator

Name and Surname:

ANTÓNIO SILVA

E-Mail:

silva.antoniom@gmail.com

6. Website

The website of the project:

http://issuu.com/antoniomonteiro

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:

NOT in Creativity and Social Innovation

8. How long has your project been running?

From:

01/11/2008

9. Targets and Elements of Innovation

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

THE MAIN TARGETS WERE USING ICT AND A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AS TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION AND GETTING TO KNOW THE TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND WAYS OF LIVING OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. WE USED TWO PLATFORMS: THE ETWINNING PORTAL AND ISSUU.

What does it try to achieve and how:

THIS PROJECT AIMS GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITHIN EUROPE BY WRITING ABOUT WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT AND WHAT MAKES US EQUAL IN EUROPE.

Which opportunities/problems does it address to:

WE ARE NOW 27 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND THE MAJORITY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE NOWADAYS DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THIS CONTINENT. SO, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR PARTNERS AND MAKE FRIENDS THAT MAY LAST FOREVER, BRINGING PEACE TO EUROPE AND TO THE WORLD.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

I FIND THIS PROJECT SPECIAL DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES THAT WERE WILLING TO TAKE PART IN IT. WE ALSO USE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AS A MEANS OF PROTECTING NATURE. AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE ALL SHARING OUR MOTHER LANGUAGES AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, IN THIS CASE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

10. Results

Describe the results of your project as per today:

WE HAVE PUBLISHED 6 ONlINE MAGAZINES SINCE DECEMBER 2008.

How does it fulfill the users’ needs:

ALL THE ARTICLES SENT TO ME ARE PUBLISHED AND WE FEEL BELONGING TO A GREAT GROUP OF TEACHERS AND PUPILS COMMITED IN CREATING WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD.

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

AS I SAID BEFORE THERE ARE 16 TEACHERS FROM 16 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE NUMBER OF PUPILS VARIES BUT WE ALL WORK WITH A CLASS EVERY MONTH, SO THE AVERAGE OF PUPILS PER MONTH WILL PROBABLY BE 160.

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

THIS PROJECT BROUGHT GREATER INTEREST IN LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AS THE PUPILS KNOW THAT WHATEVER THEY WRITE WILL BE READ BY THOUSANDS OF ONLINE READERS IN THE WORLD. AS TEACHERS WE CAN INTEGRATE THIS PROJECT AS A TOOL FOR TEACHING PUPILS HOW TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION AND HOW TO WRITE IT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES.

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

AFTER SOME MONTHS OF HARD WORK WE FEEL OUR PUPILS MUCH MORE MOTIVATED TO LEARNING AND ALSO TO KNOWING FACTS ABOUT EUROPE.

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

THIS PROJECT IS BASED ON ICT AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. IN PORTUGAL MANY TEACHERS WERE NOT USED TO WORKING WITH THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THEY FELT THAT THE PUPILS KNEW MORE THAN THEM. WITH THIS PROJECT THAT FEELING HAS CHANGED AND TEACHERS FEEL NOW MUCH MORE CONFORTBLE IN USING ICT IN THEIR CLASSES. CHILDREN ARE JUST LOVING BEING ABLE TO USING THOSE TOOLS THAT THEY WERE BORN WITH.

Describe how you measure (parameters) these results:

THE USE OF ICT BY TEACHERS – VERY GOOD
THE USE OF ICT BY PUPILS – VERY GOOD
THE USE OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE – VERY GOOD
THE SEARCH TECHNIQUE – VERY GOOD
COMMITMENT – VERY GOOD
RESULTS – VERY GOOD

11. Sustainability

What is the full duration of your project:

From 1 to 3 years

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

Yes

Insert date:

11/01/2008

12. Transferability

Has your project been replicated/adapted elsewhere:

What lessons can others learn from your project:

I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME LESSONS THAT MAY BE TAKEN FROM THIS PROJECT. FIRST, THAT IT IS WORTH TO TAKE CHANCES; SECOND, THAT WE MUST BE REALLY COMMITED IN TEACHING OUR PUPILS AND NEVER LET THEM DOWN; THIRD, IN ORDER TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE PUPILS NEED TO FEEL THE NEED, AND GETTING THEM IN TOUCH WITH OTHER INHABITANTS THAT DO NOT SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGES IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS.

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

Background:

THIS PROJECT WAS STARTED AS ONE MORE PROJECT ON ETWINNING THAT I’VE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE 2006. I’VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BRING MY PUPILS REAL LIFE SITUATIONS OF USING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND ICT. THERE IS NO NEED OF FUNDING FOR ETWINNING PROJECTS, WE JUST HAVE TO REALLY BE UP TO IT AND KEEP ON WORKING. THE TEAM OF PARTNER SCHOOLS WAS A BIT DIFFICULT TO GET TOGETHER AS I WANTED MANY COUNTRIES TO BE ON THE PROJECT. AFTER TWO MONTHS OF HARD WORK I BROUGHT TOGETHER THESE

Barriers:

THERE WERE NO GREAT BARRIERS. I ONLY WISHED I COULD GET MORE PARTNERS.

Solutions:

I SENT MORE THAN 100 MESSAGES TO ALL THE POSSIBLE PARTNERS AND SELECTED THEM AS THEY ANSWERED ME.

Future plans and wish list:

THERE IS MUCH TO DO TO MAKE US FEEL EUROPEANS, TO BREAK BARRIERS AND TO BE TOLLERANT TO OTHERS. I WOULD LIKE THIS PROJECT TO CONTINUE AND DEVELOP AND THAT WE COULD NOW CREATE FRIENDSHIPS AND EXAMPLES OF TOLLERANCE AMONGST EVERYBODY.

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