Where I live...

"Project “Where I live…” was cross-country/culture based. It reacted on us increasingly moving away from a life that was based on the natural coexistence with nature. Therefore, it was important to repeatedly offer comprehensive information about these facts and present them in a combined form - a personal approach, using modern methods and the Internet, and finally thru direct stay in the countryside and the experiential method and self-exploration.Objectives and descriptionThe objectives of the project were to support gaining skills and competencies for students, teachers and non-teaching staff also. Student practiced their teamwork, worked in international team and learn and showed presentation skills, all in English, on environmental topic. Teachers worked more from the mentor position, rather than teaching one. They all worked in international team and lead workshops.It was necessary to understand the environmental issue on a wider scale, not only limited to local or national interests. In the context of school education there wasn’t enough space for these themes and there was no possibility of active communication on issues from the perspective of people with different cultural, geographical and social backgrounds.PartnersThe partnership included two partners from two countries – The Czech Republic and Poland. Hungarian partner left the project before it started. The targeted groups of the project are described as follows:Students of involved partner schools, local elementary schools, local authorities, local communities and public. In addition, the targeted groups of students, who often are from socially non-stimulating environment were involved. ImpactsAll participants increased their geographic and ecological knowledge, nurtured and advanced their use of English language and practiced their teamwork. The main impact on project participants was improving language skills, especially practical language use. We also see great benefits in their personal and personnel development, and in particular: the ability to work in a team (both locally and internationally), getting a general view, improving presentation skills and using modern methods of communication for ""school and work,"" not only personal.Impact on organizations involved in the project:Increasing employability of students on the European labour market. Increasing motivation for language learning, for both school students and the teaching staff.Opportunity to compare the approaches in teaching cross-cutting theme - ecology, promoting students and teachers drive, support of project education.Knowledge and experiences of the projects targeted and transmitted not only on the students from the school, but also to work with primary schools to ensure better transferability and sustainability of education.The impact on the local community:Processing and promotion of outcomes and mobility increased awareness of the participating states in the local community. Transferred information have a higher predictive value than mediated by television and other media, without the personal presence of someone from the region.Project’s ActivitiesThere were four training activities - two in Czech Republic, two in Poland. Students were using work practices such as observation, experiments, data measurements, test, data analysis, discussion, brainstorming, etc. Within the local and international framework of activities they created outputs such as presentation about schools and regions, knowledge tests, processing flashcards with power/energy topic, nature, ocean and agriculture. As well they formed the basis for the project days, project promotion, diaries and other materials. Unfortunately, two training activities were not possible to arrange due to restrictions in Europe. Dissemination took place on the web sides and social networks schools involved, further thru project days, media etc."