1. The project grow up from a need in all participating schools' to increase science subject attractiveness and a need to help students to choose well considered future profession. This is based on serious analyzes and schools' development plans. It is therefore essential that schools provide quality teaching and learning in science and technology subjects, allowing pupils to learn both knowledge practical skills. This combination of knowledge and skills is demanded by the European labour market. Schools must now rise to the challenge of developing new approaches and innovative methods which will improve the standard of teaching and learning in science and technology subjects. As individuals become increasingly science literate, the more they can contribute to scientific innovations and help to create a better world for all. Another issue is that of young people dropping out of education and training completely. It is very important to find ways to encourage them to return to active education on a sustainable long-term basis. This project should develop Innovative teaching methods and interesting activities that will allow us to address this issue. We will share new ideas, develop innovative teaching and learning methods, meet new people, work in teams, improve the use of English as a common language and become more competent members of European Union.2.Number and profile of participant-170 3. Description of activities - whole project is divided in 7 main stages: 1.-Knowing each other better2.-Science is fun13.-Science connected jobs in my community/ region4.-Science is fun 25.-Career choice6.-Research "Possibilities of the EU for students in my region7.-Final stage4. methodology to be used in carrying out the project - e-twinning platform, job shadowing, workshops, lectures, excursions, quizzes, research work, experiments, different kind of activities for the particular topics, presentations, assignments for other school students, theoretical and practical knowledge during the study process, discussion.5. a short description of the results and impact envisaged and the potential longer term benefits.The teachers are going to share good practice, implement innovative approaches in teaching and learning processes, ICT based methods and processes which are based on recognition and evaluation. Each school is going to become a more modern, dynamic and professional environment, ready to integrate a range of innovative methods, open to society and ready to synergise with other organizations. The project will lead to Improved pupils and teachers competences. A handbook for teachers and DVD will be produced that will illustrate all methods used during the project. During the project, we will make it clear which tasks the school should realize in its further work, which tasks we plan to include in the plan of school development, and which tasks target the aims which are defined by EU. During the project, participants will identify which science, IT and work-related skills require the most development amongst pupils. Learning activities will be created that will enable the development of these skills. Partners will collaborate in improving these activities and will publish electronically a review of these activities together with a set of resources which are open for every partner school and its stakeholders and any interested person. A Facebook account and eTwinning platform will be set up for the above purposes. On completion of the project, a review of the success of the project will be published. Each pupil will have a portfolio of evidence demonstrating how they have developed their science, IT and work-related skills. The full set of teaching resources will be available electronically. They will learn to use cooperative and interdisciplinary working methods and skills. All the participants will experience a new and appealing approach to learning. Participants will learn how to use a blended learning system (traditional and virtual). As the project deals with a lot of subjects taught in our schools, the great majority of the staff will participate in it so they will learn and experience how project work can improve their teaching compared to their traditional methods. Teachers can develop their teaching skills by using new methods seen in the participating schools.
The application of the project was based on needs of our school, which were studied and data analyzed. As a base was taken OECD research and exam results of Jaunpiebalga Secondary School. The main aim of the project was to improve students’ motivation to study and achieve better results at science subjects, as well, to promote opportunities for more students in future to pick up career connected with science subjects, which is one of EU single market’s adjustments. As a long-term aim was to reduce the amount of those students, who are early school leavers, not graduating the education without any certificate. The participants of 4 schools from 4 countries – Latvia, Italy, Spain and England. The age of students who participated in the project – 13-18 years old. The main activities implemented during the project: -the local project activities in each partner school, which were realized ( lectures, experiments, studies, video making, excursions, quizzes, questionnaires etc.) -international meetings among project coordinators, -Teaching/learning international events at any of partner schools, -meetings for teachers, pupils and pupils’ parents, -arrangements with people who are interested in the project -informative events -dissemination events of the results -the evaluation events of the project The results and benefits during the project: As a particular result can be mentioned manual book for teachers, where are summarized different teaching methods, lesson plans, work sheet examples and other useful information. Ready made brochures about EU offered opportunities for students – for studies and choice of career. Therefore, there is ready- made brochure for pupils, what skills and knowledge are necessary, in order to choose the future career connected with science. As intangible results and benefits from project can be mentioned: - good practice examples exchange among teachers from partner schools – using teaching methods, exchange with study materials, even creating new teaching materials. -improved knowledge about other countries education and evaluation systems improved pupils knowledge in different subjects improved foreign language knowledge among all participants who were involved in the project improved pupils’ motivation to study better and achieve higher academic results knowledge and experience during the school project more open becoming sinenergies among other organizations, they are more dynamic, more modern. Speaking about long-term benefits from this project, we can admit, that there is a base for not stoppable process in future for school development. There are connections with other school teachers and out of school organizations, we have new ideas for challenges and wish to continue cooperate with partner-schools from this project. As one of the most important benefits can be considered the change of attitude among teachers, pupils and their parents. More often people can distinguish and evaluate benefits from that kind of projects and many of them expressed a wish to be involved in that kind of occasions. Teachers are more ready to accomplish their professional skills, that will lead to more qualitative teaching/learning process.