The project aims to develop Digital Competencies in line with the Welsh Government's new curriculum. According to the Donaldson report he DCF comprises four high-level strands. These are subdivided into elements which, in turn, are supported by classroom task ideas. The DCF sets out the digital skills to be attained by learners aged between 3 and 16-plus years across four strands. These are Citizenship, Interacting and collaborating, Producing, and Data and computational thinking. The focus with Citizenship is is on learners developing the skills needed to contribute positively to the digital world around them. These skills will help learners to critically evaluate their place within the digital world, so that they are prepared to encounter the positive and negative aspects of being a digital citizen. Critical thinking skills, strategies and tools will be developed and applying them in all aspects of their digital lives will equip learners to become responsible, independent consumers and producers of digital products in the rapidly changing digital world. Under Interacting and collaborating learners will explore methods of electronic communication and identify which are the most effective for a given situation. Learners will also be able to store data appropriately and use collaboration techniques successfully. Learners will explore both formal and informal methods of communication, suitable for a range of contexts. This will include, for example, professional aspects of e-mail and other communication channels such as social media and instant messaging. Storing and sharing has become an essential part of our lives. Learners will not only look at how to store data on different systems but also at the implications of data laws. Along with storing information, learners will understand how to share it appropriately and for specific purposes. Collaboration, in all forms, is an important aspect of the curriculum and electronic collaboration is vital. Learners will explore a range of collaboration methods and as they progress, they will develop the skills to successfully work together in different contexts and situations as and where appropriate. The producing strand covers the cyclical process of planning (including searching for and sourcing information), creating, evaluating and improving digital content. Data and computational thinking among other things aims to make learners consider the following high-level questions to gain an understanding of why computational thinking is important. Is this the most efficient way to solve the problem? Is this the fastest way? Does it require the least amount of resources? Does it solve the problem and give the right answer? Can it be used to solve other problems? By working with our partner school, we aim to develop student and teacher competencies in these strands and elements.There will be an overall coordinator which will be Iwan Barker-Jones, Ysgol Brynrefail. This will act as the lead school. The partner organisations will be lead by Carmen Radulescu, Colegiul Economic "Ion Ghica” We will aim to maximize the use of technology to correspond e.g. eTwinning. We are hoping that we can take a small delegation (approximately 5 students and 2 members of staff) from Ysgol Brynrefail to Romania, and that pupils from our partner institution can visit us in Wales. During the exchange we would hope to showcase and share good practice. The pupils would be able to participate in lessons to see how the curriculum is designed to deliver the strands and the elements of the DCF. We would be able to share what works well in Ysgol Brynrefail, and likewise what has been successful at Colegiul Economic "Ion Ghica”. Following the visit, staff and pupils at the respective institutions can experiment with the new pedagogical approaches, in order to improve the delivery of Digital Competence to the students.We will use the following success criteria to ascertain if the project's objectives have been met: 1. The project will enabled teachers at both institutions to share effective practice with regards to the following Digital Competency skills: i.Citizenship ii.Interacting and Collaborating iii.Producing iv. Data and computational thinking 2. Students and teachers will have engaged in a transnational visit to study and analyse alternative pedagogy. 3. Going forward, schemes of work at both institutions be modified to include best practice observed. 4. The twinning experience enhance the digital skills of teachers and students alike 5. There be a long term benefit to students at both institutions as a result of increased Digital Competency skills, thus enhancing the skills offering to employers at local, national and international level. 6. The project include students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 7. The project will include parents, and the wider community in publicizing the increasing importance of Digital Competency, and the contribution that this partnership can make.
The context of the project was as follows: The project aimed to develop Digital Competencies in line with the Welsh Government's new curriculum. We aimed take a small delegation from Ysgol Brynrefail to Romania, with a return visit by our partner institution and that pupils from our partner institution Colegiul Economic "Ion Ghica”. During the exchange we aimed to showcase and share good practice. The pupils would be able to participate in lessons to see how the curriculum is designed to deliver the strands and the elements of the Digital Competency Framework. We would be able to share what works well in Ysgol Brynrefail, and likewise what has been successful at Colegiul Economic "Ion Ghica”. The project objectives were as follows: 1. The project will enabled teachers at both institutions to share effective practice with regards to the following Digital Competency skills: i.Citizenship ii.Interacting and Collaborating iii.Producing iv. Data and computational thinking 2. Students and teachers will have engaged in a transnational visit to study and analyse alternative pedagogy. 3. Going forward, schemes of work at both institutions be modified to include best practice observed. 4. The twinning experience enhance the digital skills of teachers and students alike 5. There be a long term benefit to students at both institutions as a result of increased Digital Competency skills, thus enhancing the skills offering to employers at local, national and international level. 6. The project include students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 7. The project will include parents, and the wider community in publicizing the increasing importance of Digital Competency, and the contribution that this partnership can make. The activities that took place were: A group of five students and two teachers from Coleguil Economic "Ion Ghica" visited Ysgol Brynrefail in Wales in October 2019 Following the cancellation of the planned mobility to Romania due to the COVID-19 pandemic a week of virtual activities was organised in June 2021 using various platforms such as Zoom and Google Classroom. The project results were as follows: During Coleguil Economic "Ion Ghica" visited Ysgol Brynrefail in Wales in October 2019 a wide range of activities were organised in the ever evolving field of Digital Competency. This included a presentation on the new Welsh Digital Competency Framework, staff and pupils from Coleguil Economic "Ion Ghica" were able to observe and take part in lessons at Ysgol Brynrefail. These included Welsh lessons using 'Keynote', Technology lessons using CAD Techsoft 2D Design as well as the "Battle of the Buggies" competition. The use of iPads to support the teaching was demonstrated in Physical Education and Computer Science lessons centered on Inputs and Outputs, Kitronik, Computer Networks and Identifying components within a computer. Furthermore social, cultural and historical experiences were organised including a tour of Caernarfon town and castle, quarry carts and zip wire at Penrhyn Quarry and a RIB ride on the Menai Straight. The staff and 6th form pupils also shared a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Pupils and staff were able to socialise and exchange contact details ahead of future networking. During the virtual exchange in 2021 a Google Classroom was set up so that students from both schools could communicate, collaborate and submit work. Pupils created a video or voice memo to present themselves as well as a digital app. A Virtual Guide to Targoviște and quiz. Based on a presentation that they read, pupils created a 4-cell storyboard using Storyboardthat to show how to fight against virtual harassment and stay safe online. The European Digital Competence Framework was presented by Carmen Rădulescu, and Pupils from both schools went into go into breakout rooms on Zoom in order to work collaboratively on breaking a mathematical code. Following this students worked collaboratively using Padlet and Meetigng Words. Pupils then gained a ‘Digital Master’ open badge, before using Bookcreator in order to produce a digital book outlining what they had learnt about Romania and online safety. The expected long-term benefits are as follows: Numerous students and staff were able to take part in the various physical and virtual activities, thus developing their digital skills for the future. Good practice at both institutions was showcased and shared so that present and future students could benefit from what was learnt. Schemes of work at both Ysgol Brynrefail and Coleguil Economic "Ion Ghica" will be amended to reflect what was learnt during the mobilities. Close ties have been forged between both institutions during the course of the project. This has enabled not only the development of digital competency but a better understanding of the education systems in both countries, as well as culture, tradition and history. It is hoped that future exchange visits can take place in 2021 or 2022.