Technology fostering ecosocial education

<< Background >>We applied for this project in order to address the need for Computational Thinking development in children, with a focus on eco-social problem-solving. Utilising Scratch, an MIT-developed software, aligned with societal and EU goals for sustainability and technological literacy. The co-creative methodology implemented involved tandems of experienced and less experienced partners, ensuring a win-win for our Erasmus+ projects and ICT integration. Our activities targeted Programming Scratch, Social ecosystem involvement, Environment, and Inclusion, impacting school staff, students, and stakeholders. The project filled gaps in pedagogical innovation, motivational learning, and ICT use in education, addressing the Sustainable Development Goals and contributing to the Agenda 2030. The project's international and local impact fostered the exchange of good practices, knowledge complementation, and broader comprehension of SDGs. The COVID-19 crisis underscored the project's relevance in addressing societal challenges and the importance of honing and sharpening the skills required for our digitalised and increasingly volatile world.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to enhance teaching-learning processes through ICT, aligning with UN SDGs, and the DigTrans, EnvCC, and SupTEACH priorities. The overarching objective was to develop Computational Thinking in children for social and environmental problem-solving in school contexts. Specific objectives included training teachers in Scratch and SDGs, ensuring 100% student proficiency in Scratch programming, and establishing SDG observatory groups for environmental analysis, proposals, and awareness. Additionally, the project aimed to improve values, cooperative work, and foreign language skills through the project activities. We also aimed to disseminate and transfer good practices created through project acitivities in open source. Overall we wanted to enhance community values and tackle current issues of climate change and social justice through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the SDGs in education.<< Implementation >>3 key activities were implemented in our project:1. IDEATION Teachers Training and Management: This focused on the design and development of the Teacher Training Programme on Computational Thinking, Scratch programming, and eco-social topics as well as working on the project management structure and responsibilities. 2. Scratching & EcoSocialising:Building on IDEATION, this activity united teachers for the delivery of the training programme. Coordinated by the programming tandem, it merged SDGs with programming, enabling educators to plan didactic proposals, creating Scratch games for SDG awareness, and forming SDG Observatories.3. EcoSocial I-City: Teachers, equipped through training, implemented student-focused initiatives in their respective schools. They established SDG observatories in schools with their students, planned and executed Scratch games for SDG awareness, implemented lessons and activities relating to the SDG´s and their students also socially engaged with their elders interviewing and recording local traditional tales. These activities ensured comprehensive training for teachers and impactful student-led projects. The activities not only met its objectives but also laid the foundation for future initiatives.<< Results >>The project yielded concrete outputs and results:Teacher Training Program: 12 teachers were successfully trained in Scratch for societal issues focusing on the SDGsStudent Skill Enhancement: All participating students achieved foundational knowledge in computer programming (DigTrans).Didactic Proposals on eTwinning: Didactic proposals were developed and implemented in schools to foster learningApplications in Scratch: Applications in Scratch were developed by students to raise awareness on societal and environmental issues.SDG Observatory Groups: SDG observatory groups were established in schools. Environmental analyses and proposed improvements were proposedCommunity Involvement: Active engagement of the educational community and other stakeholders.Integration in Official Training:Proposals developed in the project were integrated into the educational offer provided in participating centres.Increased Sensibility and Interest:The project contributed to an increased sensibility and interest in SDGs and European cooperation.The project achieved its goals by delivering comprehensive teacher training, enhancing student skills, fostering collaborative initiatives, and promoting values in the educational community.