The main objective of the project entitled "Water, Nature's Treasure" is to sensitize students to the importance of nature and water as well as to the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy. On the one hand, the main goals are to make hot springs and geysers in their natural environment accessible to the young generation of today by acquainting them with their real meaning and their beauty. On the other hand, the two participating schools (the Hungarian, Szabó Lőrinc Primary and Secondary Bilingual School and the Icelandic Borgarholtsskóli, Comprehensive School) would like to undertake a project in German to increase learning motivation and language skills for the second and third foreign languages, but also to provide and gain intercultural experiences at first hand. In addition to learning the German language, strengthening the whole community of both schools plays a major role too. For both participating schools of the project, natural resources are of great importance. The students involved are between 16 and 18 years of age and have sufficient specialist knowledge and language skills to understand and apply the new information they have learned. The project builds on the experience of past cooperation with other schools and a job shadowing visit of the Icelandic School in Hungary. The activities take place throughout the project and will continue in the future too. There are two one-week learning events that focus on visiting sources, museums, institutions in both countries, and there are thematic online lectures. The main communication between the participants takes place via the common website and the coordinated processing of their content through video clips, photos, quizzes, questionnaires and presentations, blog posts and chat platforms. At the implementation of the project a variety of different methods are used, and both schools develop an awareness of natural resources (especially water), which is sharpened while project activities are prepared, carried out and evaluated. The young people should be motivated to appreciate and preserve the natural resources of their own country and other countries in Europe. The participants deepen the necessary multicultural and social skills in dealing with each other and use the German language to communicate online as well as personally in writing as well as orally. The project promotes the development of 21st century IT skills and key competencies, especially teamwork, creativity and imagination, critical thinking and problem-solving strategies. By getting to know important natural and cultural sights, all participants get a positive impression of the respective country. In terms of the project results achieved, both schools expect a growing awareness and attention to natural resources. The concrete results include a common website with scientific and cultural content as well as intensive language practice. The inclusion of many students and teachers in both schools can have a significant impact on both school communities and lead to a sustainable outcome in their everyday school life. With regard to the potential longer-term benefits, students should be encouraged and motivated to find further links between the economy and the ecosystem, past and present. Both schools intend to nurture and develop the existing relationship and be ready for future projects.
The main reason for the partnership between a Hungarian bilingual school in Budapest and an Icelandic school in Reykjavik was to cooperate with the aim of making students aware of the importance of nature and water, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy. The other reason for the two participating schools (the Hungarian Szabó Lőrinc Bilingual Primary and Secondary School and the Icelandic Borgarholtsskóli, Comprehensive School) in the project was to use German to increase the motivation to learn and improve language skills for the second or third foreign language, but also to provide intercultural experiences mainly through conversation. The various activities achieved the development of different areas of competence, which had a technical, linguistic and social impact at the same time. The participating students (16-18 years old) concentrated mainly on working on the topic and broadened their language and specialist knowledge while working. The main aim was for today's young generation to experience the hot springs and geysers in their natural environment and understand their real meaning and beauty. However, that was only partially fulfilled as the Hungarian students could not go to Iceland due to the pandemic despite the project being extended. The project started with online contact of the teachers and all the necessary preparation. The Hungarian students had already worked on previously selected topics on water energy, geothermal energy, school and city tours (Hévíz, Esztergom, Budapest). They created numerous presentations, quizzes, Kahoot etc., which strengthened their self-esteem, supported them and improved the process of becoming more competent users of German technical terms. As a result, they also improved their cultural and scientific knowledge. The main tool for communication between the participants was the creation of the common website (https://2019wasser.wixsite.com/erasmusplus) and messenger chat groups for instant communication, especially during mobility in Budapest. The face-to-face meeting of the students in Budapest was the first cooperative learning activity of the project. Through research, discussions with experts, lectures and visits to different institutions, all participants gained a deeper insight into the topic. They developed an idea of what they themselves mean by efficient use of resources and "culture". Throughout the project the development of IT skills and 21st century competencies were encouraged, such as collaboration and teamwork, creativity and imagination, critical thinking and problem-solving strategies. All students developed different strategies for independent information collection and presentation of results in German and / or have expanded their skills significantly. The Icelandic students spoke to young and elderly residents of Budapest in interviews and got to know their views. They observed the behaviour and mentality of Hungarians and discovered their own patterns of perception and behaviour in their meanderings in the city and the country as a whole. Due to Covid 19 and the lockdown, in which only online lessons were possible in both countries / schools, our project had to be changed quite drastically. In December, students from both schools explored the living cultural heritage and Christmas traditions with the best being published on the project website. In January and February, the Icelandic students prepared the trip for the Hungarian guests, but in March most unfortunate events took place and instead of a trip to Iceland, online lessons were the order of the day. Further online collaboration became more and more difficult, the motivation of the students decreased, and the teachers had no personal contact with the students. Various online presentation competitions related to the project were advertised (the best are available on the website), in which all students from the two schools could take part in. English had to be used as the language of instruction, so that all students from both schools could really be involved in the online world. Despite all the difficulties: In all activities, students and teachers gradually became acquainted with one another through personal exchange. Both partners became more sensitive to natural resources, history and culture, customs and traditions. Finally, the students were made aware of the importance of nature and water as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy.