2009-2011 "Science in the extremes and culture in between"
An exciting project for The Ashcombe School, working with Norway, Hungary and Spain.
Y8 Comenius Group visit to Madrid: 15th to 20th November 2009
Y7 Comenius Group visit to Hungary: 22nd to 28th May 2010
Summary
Under the umbrella title “Science in the Extremes with Culture in Between” pupils and teachers will journey from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, through Spain, Hungary, UK and Norway encouraging an awareness of social, geographical and linguistic perspectives. There will be four modules, each with an inter-relating theme, linking science and nature with culture and traditions of each country. At least six teachers and eighteen pupils from each of the participating schools will take part in the project over its 2-year period. There will be a common introductory element to each module so that participants are engaged in the initial discussions, planning , execution and evaluation of the project. This work will be conducted electronically through Fronter VLE to promote collaborative working using ICT. The core of each project will, in turn, be planned and prepared by the hosting country. Pupils will work collaboratively to compare and contrast life in different parts of Europe. Post visit collation of materials will be brought together electronically for dissemination amongst the participating groups. Pupils will develop an active awareness of the importance of citizenship within a united yet diverse Europe. They will learn tolerance when confronted by experiences alien to their culture.
Objectives
4 countries (England, Spain, Norway and Hungary) are involved, which have different languages, customs and cultures.
- To enable pupil and staff mobility, as each country will host groups of pupils and staff from the 3 other countries, with a focus on a particular aspect of the natural world or local customs (see 6.1 below “Life in the Mediterranean Woods”, “Art and Dance on the Great Hungarian Plain”, “The Healthy Language of Food – customs and traditions”, “Life in the Norwegian Mountains”). (Op Obj a and b)
- To use innovative ICT methodology as an electronic Learning Platform / Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) which will be the centre of communication and repository of shared work throughout, giving the Partnership a continuity and coherence and involving a wider number of pupils and staff. (Op Obj d)
- To introduce English, Spanish, Norwegian and Hungarian through ICT to pupils in each of the other countries looking at useful expressions, similarities and differences to create illustrated phrase books within chosen topics (Op Obj c and d)
- To stimulate intercultural awareness focusing on similarities and differences in the natural world, language and customs of the countries involved and thus to promote harmony between countries at different extremities of Europe (Spec Obj a)
- To encourage and teach pupils how to work within groups in their own schools and subsequently how to work collaboratively with pupils from other countries, initially through a virtual learning environment and then in reality in each of the visits, thus gaining valuable life-skills and competencies for future employment and active European citizenship (Spec Obj b)
- To share and experience different teaching styles and techniques, and to disseminate the findings to trainee teachers (2 schools have specific Teacher Training roles) and to existing teachers (Op Obj e and f)
Subjects and/or Problems
In each of the countries involved and throughout the project we will be looking at the following topics and addressing issues associated with them (see 6.1 below).
- Global / environmental issues
- Respect and the nurture of nature
- Communication and language barriers
- Acceptance of Traditions and Customs
- Life skills for different communities throughout Europe
Approach
Each country will introduce their teaching and learning styles throughout the project to show different nationalities how others learn (the schools involved vary in size from 42 to 3000! Two of the schools are in a city, one is remote rural! There will be some cross-phase teaching (from a primary, middle and secondary prospective).
This is a multi-phase project: The main content of curricula-based teaching and learning is specific to each country but there are common elements of preparation and evaluation within each phase.
Phase One:
There will be pre-visit preparatory work, involving the whole group - research, gathering information for the trip, investigating geographical location, historical facts, environmental and cultural issues. There will be video conferencing for useful language expressions and the setting up of cutting edge technology to deliver project outcome. Pupils will have the opportunity to ask questions and contribute to what they want to discover about the country too. The hosting country will prepare the topic content for the forthcoming visit and some preparatory work in each school may need to be done.
Phase Two:
There will be visits for small groups to the different countries. Pupils and teachers will experience family and school life, daily routines and follow a curriculum programme of activities. There will be final performances, compilation of phrase books, evaluation each day in mother tongue, use of ICT – blog / photos to report back to friends and families at home.
Phase Three:
As part of the post visit evaluation of each visit there will be feedback to class/year group/staff/ parents/local community including questionnaires, discussions, presentations, reports in school magazines/local press, practical workshops and language activities.
Project Partners
Hungary: Juhász Gyula Általános Iskolája, Szeged - website
Norway: Fjellgardane Skule, Hovden - website
Spain: Salesianos Atocha, Madrid - website
UK: The Ashcombe School, Dorking
Specific Documentation
2005-2006 "The role of woman in New Europe"
From the national heritage to an active building of the European citizenship