The project was formed pas part of a contact seminar organised in cooperation with the Estonian and Finnish Erasmus+ National Agencies. The topic of the seminar was - “Enhancing Digital Competences in Education and Training” The partners were drawn together out of a desire to create an international project that would push and examine the boundaries of digital competences in the classroom and in finding new and exciting ways to motivate and engage with their students. EU estory - Understanding Energy through IT is an Erasmus+ KA2 project between, Finland, Germany, Irland, Czech Republic and Austria dealing with energy from different point of views, using innovative and non traditional ICT methods to research and present the findings in line with EU 2020 goal “use IT smartly” and the EU energy efficiency target 2020-2030 20% energy saving target by 2030“. Conversion of energy and using energy is narrow connected to the change of climate. It’s up to each of us to take care of our climate. The aim of this project is that students get better understanding of the lifecycle of the energy, also improve their knowledge on benefits and risks of different energy sources and be aware of the ethical, legal and social effects in using and wasting energy. Local energy companies will be the experts and give input. Provide teachers the opportunity to become familiar with, learn and integrate new ICT methods into their learning strategies. The second target is ICT and the use of common IT normally for students, but not for teachers. Provide teachers the opportunity to become familiar with, learn and integrate new ICT methods into their learning strategies. Mostly students don’t know what is allowed, what have I to take care of using different social networks. They should know after this project is finished. A major element of the project involves students using the social media app - snapchat. This app was chosen specifically as it is the most widely used app among our students but it is also one of the least understood among the teachers. The use of this app as the platform for much of the students work will place teachers in a position where they must learn from and with their students while undertaking project work and activities. Snapchat can be used to take photos and videos which can then be “snapped” or sent to other people. Other users can then view the “snaps” in their own feed. The result is a “snapstory” which can detail the daily social experiences of an eager 16 year old. For students: • understand financial and natural costs of energy • motivate students to use IT (snapchat and instagram) to create energy stories on key themes • improve foreign language skills • increasing students understanding the connection of energy and climate and the responsibility of each of us • gain useful contacts • cultural awareness For teachers • improve their digital competence; Google documents, Instagram, SnapChat and other ICT “non traditional” tools for educational purposes • workshops for teachers in the use of innovative ICT apps - given by students -flipped • Workshops for teacher on motivational methods for the use of ICT in learning • Use of OER methods • collaborate with students and other teachers in using different ICT, • communicate with students, give them instructions and guide them through the process to get better understanding of how the students think and use different ICT tools, • reflect about their experience in learning new ICT tools The desired results: • portfolio of student works containing snapchat, instagram videos, presentations and other materials based on their own experience; • teachers more educated in using IT devices • Students will also create a story of the effect of energy on the landscape in their region. As a short slogan: sustainability in energy and ICT. Final project results; 1 "EU Energy guide" 5 parts of the "EU Energy guide" 25 “snapstories” (at least) 5 “Community Energy survey" 5 "Energy Company Analysis" 5 Energy company visits 1 “Online ed Teacher's handbook” 5 sections of the handbook 1 Instagram channel containing all snapstories (25+) Snapchat channels 1 Project website - www.euenergystory.weebly.com 5 School blog network - finland.euenergystory.blogspot.fi 5 “E+ energy corners” in each school 5 recorded “EU energy seminars” 1 twinspace finalised
The project was formed pas part of a contact seminar organised in cooperation with the Estonian and Finnish Erasmus+ National Agencies. The topic of the seminar was - “Enhancing Digital Competences in Education and Training” The partners were drawn together out of a desire to create an international project that would push and examine the boundaries of digital competences in the classroom and in finding new and exciting ways to motivate and engage with their students. EU estory - Understanding Energy through IT is an Erasmus+ KA2 project between, Finland, Germany, Irland, Czech Republic and Austria dealing with energy from different point of views, using innovative and non traditional ICT methods to research. The objectives of the project were: For teachers: - Improve teachers abilities in the use of modern social media tools as a means for creating dynamic learning environments -Provide the opportunity for teachers to learn about new IT teaching methods -Gain experience in the use of OER such as google -Collaborate with and learn from students on the use of IT For students: - Take part in an international project and work with other international students -Motivate students to use IT as a learning tool -Increase students understanding of energy and its place in their world The project involved up to 50 students actively taking part in travelling in LTTs as well as 700 more in school participation events. All students were aged between 15-18 and took an active role in the project as the main substance and experience creators. In total 5 LTTs were undertaken and 1 TNPM The meeting took place in Austria, Germany, Czech rep, Finland and Ireland. Students spent their time on the LTTs studying a variety of topics related to energy such as wind power, coal, nuclear, bio mass, and waste. The results from the project involved; 21 students took part in 4 LTTs 30+ snapchat stories of varying length and complexity 1 Energy guide/presentations 5 community surveys 5 Energy company visits 1 Teachers collection of online tools 1Instagram channel Padlet blog Twinspace 5 E+ energy corners in each school