International Collaboration Aiming Next Digital Opportunity

<< Background >>We conducted a SWOT analysis within our schools before we set out on this subject. We primarily identified our shortcomings and potential threats to us based on this SWOT analysis. As a result of these analyzes, we had the chance to see our basic needs. Then, we saw our strengths and how we could use the opportunities ahead, and we shaped our goals in accordance with our needs. The most prominent deficiencies in these analyzes are lack of knowledge of our pupils, parents and teachers about different cultures; lack of interest; inadequate support for some school activities; not being able to use all language skills fully in books and supplementary teaching materials even if they are included in curriculum; a reluctant teacher staff to the European projects. The threats arising in the analyzes are generally; the idea of “the opportunities offered to pupils in standard classical education will be sufficient in all areas of pupils' life”, the reluctance of parents and pupils to extra-curricular learning activities, the majority of teachers choosing to fulfill only mandatory tasks, the expectation of consistently rising academic success from pupils in terms of curriculum, less supportive administrations for extra-curricular activities.<< Objectives >>We wanted to achieve following objectives by implementing this project:-To improve our pupils' foreign language proficiency, communication skills and skill-based applications.-To ensure that our pupils and teachers work together with peers from different countries to create an intercultural European citizen awareness and perspective.-To encourage the interdisciplinary work of our pupils.-To cooperate appropriately and securely by using digital tools in different communication contexts based on the rules of behaviors, specific to each environment.-To develop processes that enable the creation of products and information by using diversified resources.-To help pupils and teachers generate new ideas and solutions in a creative and innovative way as a result of their personal thoughts and interaction with others.-To value the role of various expressions specific to cultures, in the life and culture of communities.-To support the use of web 2.0 tools by improving computer and technology literacy.-To encourage working in pairs or small groups.-To create a fun and interactive learning environment.-To explore ways of using technology efficiently for educational purposes.-To help pupils discover material development techniques.<< Implementation >>The activities were:-Starting an eTwinning project-Selection of project groups-Informing the participants about the project basis and goals-Preparing presentations about the education systems of schools-Sharing education system application examples of schools -Observation of the host municipality’s applications -Defining the basis of integrating the innovations-Providing intercultural training to the pupils-Observation of the host school’s STEAM applications-Implementation of the STEAM applications in the other partner schools-Observing pupils, teachers and parents in the application area-Preparing first dissemination studies of the achieved results in the implementation-Writing the implementation report and sharing in teaching groups-Observation of the host school’s PBL applications-Examination of application examples and system comparison-Implementation of the PBL applications in the other partner schools-Implementation of the other schools’ PBL and STEAM applications-Determining the gaps of schools’ application trials and possible solutions-Preparing presentations about the implementation examples-Evaluation of the process and the results achieved-Conducting national and international dissemination studies.<< Results >>The concrete learning outcomes for the participants were as follows:-Improving foreign language competencies, communication skills and skill-based applications.-Creating an intercultural European citizen awareness and perspective by working with peers from different countries.-Doing interdisciplinary studies.-Cooperating appropriately and securely in different communication contexts by using digital tools, based on the rules of behavior specific to each environment.-Developing processes that enable the creation of products and information using diversified resources.-Creating new ideas and solutions creatively and innovatively as a result of their personal thoughts and interaction with others.-Valuing the role of various expressions specific to cultures in the life and culture of communities.-Taking responsibilities in the language learning process.-Exploring material development techniques.-Using technology more efficiently for educational purposes.-E-books-Video files-Audio files-New teaching/learning materials-Short documentaries-PresentationsWe used all of these concrete outcomes in the dissemination of the project both within our institutes and outside our organizations.