EUROPE + KNIT + ERS = EUROKNITTERS "to become closely and firmly joined together, grow together, as broken bones do". The main idea of our project is based on the purpose of interlacing and growing together in Europe that is being broken in recent times by a wide variety of political, economical and social events that we must overcome together. Along with this, the innovative character is today imposed. With this purpose, 5 European countries take the initiative of carrying out a common project for the training of future active European citizens. ITALY, ESTONIA, GREECE and PORTUGAL led by SPAIN will develop this task based on the priorities of social inclusion, open and innovative practices in the digital world and reinforcement of the profile of teaching professionals. This union has been organized to design some of the activities that allow us to achieve the objectives aimed at promoting European citizenship in accordance with the 2020 Strategy and to improve the level of internationalization of the partner countries. Promoting social inclusion based on equality through social cohesion and the practice of active citizenship. It also aims to enhance the professional actions of teachers through the improvement of knowledge and use of Educational Technologies. The project will provide the necessary instructions on the use of official European documents. This will lead to improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching by increasing creativity and innovation in the classroom. This is planned to improve the English language as a means of communication as well as to appreciate our own languages, disseminate their study, use and origin among the participants of the project: Euroknitters. They are made up of all the participants of the partner countries, mainly students, teachers, parents and other staff members of the Educational Community of each school. The schools show similarities but at the same time differences that make them fit into a whole. Thus, some schools expose fields of expertise in which others display weaknesses. This is the origin of its complementary nature both for the settlement of these disproportions and to complement with other similar projects developed by each partner. In order to achieve this, we as EUROKNITTERS have created a set of activities that will be developed in each school and during the mobilities: BARRIERS BREAKER. This set consists of using our languages, spreading our culture, understanding our art, studying our literature and sharing our music in order to break the frontiers that separate us and get the UNION. All these elements are inmersed in a tangible result that will be the interpretation of a cooperative theatre play through an active methodology, constructivist problem solving and critical thinking development since the play will involve a mystery that will begin in the first scene that will be performed in the first host country and then will continue in the rest of the countries. The performance in each mobility will lead to find a relevant piece of the puzzle that will be solved in the last host country. In this sense, the location where the play is performed is key for the achievement of the objectives, considering that it involves a set of complementary training actions. These actions will be coordinated through a process of communication between the partners that will be direct, fluid and permanent, involving a hierarchical distribution of the tasks of both execution and project management. Consequently, Euroknitters will be an event that will establish a turning point in the life of the partner schools as it will provide tangible and strategic results such as the change of mentality of the Educational Community, the implementation of official European documents, the internationalization of the schools, platforms of linguistic and cultural exchange, the improvement of digital competence and linguistic competence in both English language and the mother tongues of the partner countries, the scientific and didactic methodological updating of teachers involved and the aim to deepen in other European projects. These results will have an impact not only on the participants involved but also on the whole Community at local, regional and even national level through the implementation of the Dissemination Plan designed for this purpose. This Dissemination Plan as well as the impact and success achieved will be evaluated along with the rest of the project on many occasions through an open process and feedback using tools for a qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Our leitmotiv is: Trabalhar and cooperare juntos to ühendama Ευρώπη. (Work and cooperate together to unite Europe).
The Euroknitters project can be summarized in 4 main concepts: LEARNING - INNOVATION - CHANGE - EUROPEIZATION. The achievement of the objectives of the project has meant a very solid LEARNING process for all its participants: students, teachers, educational community and external agents. The students have been immersed in a project that included the learning of several European languages, the improvement of the English language, the real practice of social inclusion, the acquisition of knowledge of the culture of Europe and its countries and the integrated learning of all these elements in the school environment linked to the curricular areas. Teachers have received training on fundamental methodological and pedagogical aspects today in their educational trajectory, that has meant a great enrichment in their teaching skills and therefore a substantial improvement in the teaching process of the associated schools. In addition, teachers have improved their communication and coordination skills with other teachers and agents outside the school. The educational community has been exposed to a full learning of educational practices that had not occurred before in the partner centers, such as the hosting in families of students from other countries or the direct participation of parents in activities of the school. Finally, external agents have learned that the formulas for collaboration and cooperation with the schools in their area can reach unsuspected limits and benefits for all. INNOVATION has been a fundamental step in the associated schools. From the inclusion of this type of objectives in educational projects to the use of active methodologies, TV programs, internationalization or the creation of networks of European contacts. The whole of the educational practice of this project has meant an innovation process that has had a very clear impact on the partner schools causing a great CHANGE. This CHANGE has meant both tangible and intangible results. Upon entering the associated centers, a substantial improvement in decoration and equipment is seen in its image, which has resulted in the creation of an environment that is very conducive to learning in each educational center. What cannot be seen with the naked eye is the improvement in English language of students and teachers, the motivation that the project has meant for its participants, the innovative pedagogical practices of its teachers, the high participation of students in performing arts or the increase in knowledge about Europe of the agents that have been exposed to their objectives. Finally, the EUROPEIZATION and INTERNATIONALIZATION that has been linked to the active practice of European citizenship. Our students, teachers and families have been immersed in a process of open mindedness towards Europe and its citizens. Today the established ties are so strong that it is difficult to raise the educational practice without prioritizing the idea of Europe and UNION. "Trabalhar and cooperare juntos to ühendama Ευρώπη." (Work and cooperate together to unite Europe). This has been the case, the Euroknitters have achieved that through cooperation, strength, union, social inclusion and values, our centers have become references to change not only in the local area but also in regional, national and international territory. As the motto was raised and the title of the project was invented, they have fulfilled. The best thing about finishing the project is to realise how Euroknitters came to stay.