SMART SCHOOLS OF 21st CENTURY

CONTEXTThe project was created to respond to two basic needs identified at the level of the schools involved - the need to foster students' motivation, their school results and the need to promote intercultural dialogue among people from different nationalities, cultures and religious backgrounds, in a European context which is now facing great challenges. Therefore, the purpose of this project consists of two apparently distinct directions. We want students to become key actors in their own learning process by providing them with the opportunity to use computers in their lessons, homework, research and project work, etc. And we believe that by exposing all the participant students to different ways of thinking, values and beliefs, we will help them to learn, understand and experience what it means to be European. The partnership includes five schools of five different European countries– DE, PL, RO, IT, TR.AIMTo improve students' motivation, active involvement in their learning processes and school results and to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue allowing all participants to become more and openminded and tolerant to alterity. To help all the participants of this project to acquire and develop the essential skills for them to be part of the “Smart Generation” really needed today in European schools.OBJECTIVESThe objectives we envisage are:To:1.motivate students to get more involved in their own learning processes with a view to attain better learning results (at least 40 percent from the target group will improve their school results);2. develop students' transversal skills and 21st Century skills – namely, literacy, numeracy, ICT, cultural and civic literacy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity, social and cultural awareness (at least 30 percent of students will improve these skills);3.develop intercultural understanding and acceptance (at least 60 percent of students will have better knowledge of other cultures);4.develop communication skills in English, the project communication language (participants will improve communication skills in English);5.promote European values and develop cohesion among European citizens. (measurable by analyzing students' and teachers'attitudes to other cultures, as seen in the post-LTTA feedback)MAIN ACTIVITIESC1 – Oct. 2018 - DE - Topic: Using software to create fun lessons; Customs and traditionsC2 - Mar 2019 - IT - Topic: Using online tools to create quizzes; MathsC3 - May 2019 - RO - Topic: Using online tools to create book trailers; LiteratureC4 - Oct 2019 - PL - Topic: Digital tools for artwork; Religious StudiesC5- April 2020 – TR – Topic: Evaluation of the project, Conclusion of the all project outputsNUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS120 students aged 12-18 from the 5 schools, selected from the target group of 250. The studentscome from very diverse backgrounds in terms of geographical area - urban and rural - and most of them also have different ethnic and religious backgrounds, which makes the project even more appealing and relevant in order to empower all the students with real knowledge and skills which allow them become smarter and smarter. 36 teachers of ICT, English, Literature Maths with the help of ICT teachers, ICT applications will play a central role in the whole project. In fact, it is pretext and context for all the participants to come together and collaborate because the “computer” is the common language they speak irrespective of their national or international background. Computer work will become a catalyst for most of the project’s activities helping students to become “Smart Generation”.METHODOLOGYThe project is designed to cover 5 main areas:A1. Project management communication strategy. 1 TM is included, at the end of the project.A2. Implementation of activitiesA3. Designing and planning ICT lessonsA4. DisseminationA5. Follow-up and sustainabilityRESULTS AND IMPACTStudents will improve knowledge in terms of ICT tools for educational purposes, practical skills related to designing mini-lessons, story trailers, digital projects, online quizzes, digital artwork, motivation, school results, experience another culture, increase adaptability, self-awareness and awareness of cultural differences which make Europe so diverse, and yet unitary. Teachers will have the chance to learn with their transnational peers by exchanging pedagogical good practices, teaching methods, opinions and will improve English and digital skills. Schools will promote a positive self-image and become more visible in the community. They will gain project management experience. They will also become more cohesive and a positive atmosphere will be created among the school staff. All partner schools will help students to develop 21st Century skills and European values that will be vital in the students’ future lives when they will become active and smart workers and citizens.