PROJECT BACKGROUND - In the most partner schools, traditional educational system is focused more on information than on practice. Questionnaires applied to students revealed that they are interested in studying Geography only for graduation exams. That is why a new teaching approach is required in order to make information more accessible and to connect information with practice. Meteorology/ Climatology represents an important topic for human life; it is of major importance to understand phenomena in order to form proper skills and habits. Meteorology is very unpredictable and it represents a challenge for people. Though daily weather information can be accessed through media, immediate contact with nature represents a great advantage for students to identify weather characteristics. Therefore, our main goal is to increase students’ interest in studying Geography throughout practice and transdisciplinary activities. All these activities will involve specialized and English teachers in order to guarantee the accuracy of achieved materials, of implemented activities and of the project. PROJECT AIMS: - a modern approach of Geography, as a discipline of Sciences - transdisciplinary approach of Geography: Optional disciplines and auxiliary materials for other classes/lessons - students and teachers will be involved in the transformation of traditional educating process into a modern and attractive one - promoting European dimension throughout the connection between partner countries, the collaboration with local communities ACTIVITIES DESCRIPTION: The implementation and development of the project includes the following activities: - practical activities carried on during mobilities within the project - interdisciplinary activities within workshops - demonstrative lessons; the use of interactive methods and experimental learning during the teaching process - research activities regarding particular elements/ phenomena and experiments - activities of editing specific materials: atlases, brochures, dictionaries, magazines, books - editing project logo and website METHODOLOGY APPLIED: - establishing the communication instruments with the partners, mediating the project and providing information - drawing up a dissemination plan for each partner country - organizing methods in order to analyze and supervise the materials necessary for mobilities; editing project reports - identifying difficulties within the project and modalities of remediating the problems - analyzing the efficacy and sustainability of the project; the relevance of the project aims - analyzing the resulting materials, their quality and the modalities of measuring beneficiaries’ contentment DESCRIPTION OF THE RESULTS AND THE EXPECTED IMPACT: - development of students’ skills and abilities of working in groups and also a positive attitude - respect for diversity and integrity of the environment and human communities - exchange good practices and team work - promoting the coordinating school both in local and regional area throughout Erasmus+ partnership and demonstrative activities - experience achieved throughout working methods of the partner countries and transdisciplinary workshops - a strength collaboration with schools in the area, local community, parents and some institutions ( weather stations, specialized Faculties) LONG-TERM BENEFITS: The project results/products will be available for all people interested in and will be used in further educative activities. Thus, the project benefits will be transfered in other regional communities. Research activities will be carried on in collaboration with specialized institutions; materials will be updated periodically throughout a good practices brochure which will support initiatives alike. An initiative club will be founded at the end of the project, so that all partners could supervise long- term results; they will also use these results in their strategies. Partner schools will become centers for educational activities development within their community.
PROJECT CONTEXT - • Our project started from the need for a modern approach to the learning of geography, in the context of a traditional education that focuses more on information and less on the practical and applicative side of learning contents. • Because we found a low interest in geography, we succeeded in a new approach to learning through which we made information accessible, correlated it with practical activities, often transdisciplinary, and anchored it to the needs of daily life. • Consequently, through our project we aimed to increase the attractiveness of the geography in the school, involving in practical and transdisciplinary activities, both teachers and students PROJECT OBJECTIVES: • We have introduced modern teaching methods - geography learning, experimental practical activities, field observation activities • we carried out activities in which we aimed to train the transdisciplinary competencies, activities that were included in optional disciplines, as well as in auxiliary materials (Handbook of practical activities) • We involved the students in the project activities (observation, documentation, structuring and synthesizing information, experienced, teamwork), activities that were then processed through the experiential learning cycle. • We got involved and coordinated the learning activities, turning them into attractive and innovative activities • We promoted European values and collaborated with partner schools, the local community and other institutions THE DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES: we have included the following activities • Practical activities carried out in the field: all mobilities included practical activities carried out at the weather stations, research institutes, profile faculties, in the field; all partner schools supported at the school level practical activities aimed at high school students • Transdisciplinary workshop-type activities aimed at training transdisciplinary competencies (laboratory activities - in Slovenia, demonstration activities - in France) • Demonstrative lessons we attended during the mobilities, which included interactive methods; students were also involved in filming demonstration lessons. • Research activities - the students carried out observation / research activities on some elements and phenomena such as: increase of CO2 concentration in air, variation of temperature and air pressure, speed etc. • Activities of writing some materials - all the materials of the project were realized by involving the students in the activities of documentation, research and synthesis of information; • Elaboration of the project logo and the project website - the project logo was chosen following the selection of several variants proposed by the students of the partner schools. THE METHODOLOGY WE APPLIED INCLUDED • We have established means of communication with partners, of publicizing the project, of providing information • We drafted a plan for the dissemination of the project and each country made its own plan according to it • We organized the analysis methods and prepared a monitoring plan for the realization of the materials and reports • We identified the small problems and misunderstandings and solved them in the most efficient way • We analyzed the degree of achievement of the project objectives, measured the impact produced and drew up a sustainability plan • We analyzed the resulting materials, appreciated their quality and collected feedback for each of them DESCRIPTION OF RESULTS AND EXPECTED IMPACT • The students involved in the project activities have assimilated new knowledge, skills, group working skills and positive attitudes towards the environment. • You have understood the importance of respecting the integrity of the natural environment and human communities • They worked in mixed teams, collaborated and exchanged best practices • They made the school known in other communities and participated in the dissemination activities held at the school level • They have learned new working methods presented by the partner countries, and they have trained transdisciplinary competences • They have improved their relationship with the students of the school, with the teachers, they have created links with the representatives of visited institutions LONG-TERM BENEFITS • All the resulting products are available to interested persons and can be used in educational activities for further education; • The research activities continue in collaboration with profile institutions, and the materials are updated periodically; at the school level we continue to carry out demonstrative practical activities and we intend to write a brochure of good practices that will support the takeover and multiplication of initiatives of this kind. • We set up an initiative club through which we continue the activity of monitoring long-term results, periodically integrating these conclusions into our own strategies.