STEP UP WITH GOOGLE TOOLS AND MOBILE APPS

All partner schools strongly believe that information and technology literacy skills can be acquired and developed through innovative teaching and learning, particularly involving effective use of digital devices such as smartphone, iPad or tablet, dominating today’s world of internet in many countries.A rising tendency of using digital devices can also be observed at school, however most countries in Europe are still deficient in terms of using mobile apps in an educational context. Furthermore, even though some schools have been equipped with state of the art facilities, teachers have not always given the suitable training to use all the digital devices and tools which makes them ineffective.The reason why we have got together in this transnational project is that we really want to help our students to acquire, develop and improve digital skills.To do this, we will create collaborative work and will observe other European schools more experienced in applying technology based teaching - mobile devices in the students’ learning processes. Moreover, as some of the schools have only begun to get acquainted with this technology-based teaching approach, it is imperative that we shed some light on the huge diversity of mobile apps and web 2.0 tools. We have set some key objectives for both teachers and students to be achieved through the project activities,which will be developed locally and transnationally. Teachers will: - gain, develop and improve knowledge on mobile apps, Google tools, - practise using digital tools, - enhance digital proficiency, - increase confidence in using technology teaching methodologies in the classroom, - enhance sense of initiative and creativity, - develop communication and collaborative skills, - connect with their peers and share experiences and best practices, - improve their knowledge and cultural awareness. Students will: - acquire, develop and improve technology and information literacy, - increase motivation for learning, - develop communication and collaboration skills, - enhance digital proficiency for educational purposes, - develop creativity and sense of initiative, - practise using Google tools and mobile apps for educational purposes, - connect with peers and share experiences, - enhance cultural awareness and intercultural competence. LTTA1,short-term joint-staff training-course on “Google tools and the use of mobile devices and apps for educational purposes” LTTA 2,student LTTA on “Google tools and their use in the classroom LTTA3,student LTTA,follows the same procedure as LTTA2. The topic is “Mobile apps and web 2.0 tools for collaborative learning”. LTTA4,student LTTA–Mobile apps and web 2.0 tools for content creation LTTA5,student LTTA–Mobile apps and web 2.0 tools for assessment Before student LTTAs,each country prepares an activity which will be developed for and with students. Two main target groups are involved in the project:students and teachers. Students’ age range is 15-17.They are either vocational or general education students.Boys and girls are part of the target group. In what concerns students, they will be the cornerstone of all project activities and they will answer questionnaires,at the beginning and at the end of each LTTA. 20 students in each country will participate directly in the LTTAs as they will be a representative part shown as evidence of school quality work for the LTTAs.As for all the other participant students,they will be the target of the thorough dissemination activities developed after each LTTA.As for teachers,three of them,per country,will participate in LTTA1.Then, all the other project LTTAs will have the participation of two teachers per partner country.There will be a total of 52 teachers attending transnational events,both as beneficiaries in LTTA1 or as accompanying teachers in the other five LTTAs.The participating teachers will be mainly Technology (IT),Language and Foreign Language,Science,Maths,though other subject teachers can be involved too.Teachers and students will get hands-on experience on how to use innovative mobile apps and tools in the teaching and learning process.This project will obviously impact on the whole school,as participants will become more active and competent in using digital tools.Classes will become more interactive and participants will become more motivated and involved in their own educational processes leading to mid and long term effects-fostering students’ further academic achievements and preparing them either for the job market or going into higher levels of education.We will produce tangible and intangible outcomes.Within the timeframe and development of the project activities,all participants will become more motivated,more involved in the teaching and learning process and much more digitally proficient.Schools and classrooms will become more attractive and suitable for the purpose of educating 21st Century children, teenagers and young adults.