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Crisis Simulation lab

2020-1-BG01-KA226-SCH-0951902020Partnerships for Digital Education Readinessfinalized
Countries: BG|PT|IT|ES · Grant: €221,537
New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training coursesICT - new technologies - digital competencesAccess for disadvantaged

Project summary

The threat of COVID-19, social exclusion and the closure of schools at the end of last school year posed an important task for school education around the world - the introduction of a completely distance form of education. Regardless of how and to what extent normal learning activities are resumed, distance learning is very likely to be an important part of the learning process in general and a preventive measure in particular, in order to avoid a sharp increase in infection rates. Therefore, it is important to take measures and work to correct the shortcomings and weaknesses inherent in distance learning. The main disadvantage of distance learning is the discontinued social communication between teachers and students. The idea of the project is to develop a Crisis Simulator, dedicated to the various crises that children need to be aware of and ways to prevent and respond to them. The emphasis will be on a methodology that is attractive, with clear messages and instructions. The crisis simulator will enable teachers to include it, as part of the remote work with students in class or in other classes, as well as to use them in communication with parents to draw their attention to parental involvement in online life and children's education. The crisis simulator will use a complex psychological approach aimed at overcoming emotional stress in a critical event - natural disasters, industrial accidents, catastrophes, terrorist acts, etc. The main goal of the project is to develop a methodology and technical specification for application (Crisis Simulator), which will provide preparation and psychological support to students in a situation of various crises, through an innovative game model. SPECIFIC AIMS: • To support teachers and students in adapting to distance learning; • To prepare teachers and students to deal with possible life risks - violence in all its forms, xenophobia, etc. • To prepare teachers and students to deal with possible future similar challenges and crises - pandemics, cataclysms and any other emergencies; • Active inclusion and equal opportunities for inclusion in the online education of students from 1st to 7th grade, incl. from risk groups; • Increasing the number of students from risk groups who are involved in distance learning by creating a social environment in the Internet space. THE TARGET GROUPS of the project are divided into: • teachers (representatives of general education schools); • students from 1st to 7th grade, incl. from the under-represented risk groups: students from ethnic minorities, students living in isolated and remote geographical areas, students with risky behavior and at risk of dropping out of the learning process, students from families with economic constraints and difficulties, students with educational difficulties, etc. ACTIVITIES The following intellectual products will be developed within the project: O1 - Methodology and technical specification for creating a "Crisis Simulator" application O2 - Development of interactive materials (game models) O3 - Crisis Simulator Pilot Application Five transnational meetings of the partners are planned M1 - Kickoff meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria - March 2021 M2 - Second transnational project meeting in Bologna, Italy - September 2021 M3 - Third transnational project meeting in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal - December 2021 M4 - Fourth transnational project meeting in Alcalá la Real, Spain - March 2022 M5 - Final project meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria - October 2022 Learning mobility: C1 - Training of teachers to work in a crisis situation according to the model of WE ARE Lda. (PT) C2 - Training of teachers to work in a crisis situation according to the model of Asociación Socio-Cultural VerdeSur Alcalá (SP) Activity Title C3 - Training of teachers for work in a crisis situation according to the model of the Institute for Training, Occupation and Mobility (IT) Dissemination event E1 - Final seminar "Crisis simulator - interactive practices for counteracting emergencies" The project lasts 20 months. Participating organizations: DISKORDIA Ltd. - Bulgaria, "St. St. Cyril and Methodius” Primary school, Kovachitsa - Bulgaria, Institute for Formation, Occupation and Mobility - Italy, WE ARE Lda. - Portugal and Asociación Socio-Cultural VerdeSur Alcalá - Spain.

Objectives

The idea of the project is to develop a Crisis Simulator, dedicated to the various risks that children should be aware of, their adequate response in such situations and ways to prevent them. The emphasis will be on a methodology that is attractive, with clear messages and instructions. The crisis simulator will enable teachers to include it, as part of the remote work with students in class or in other classes, as well as to use them in communication with parents to draw their attention to parental involvement in online life and children's education. The crisis simulator will use a complex psychological approach aimed at overcoming a critical event - natural disasters, industrial accidents, catastrophes, terrorist acts and last but not least life risks - sexual violence, xenophobia, psychological violence (including the Internet), domestic violence and etc. The main goal of the project is to develop a methodology and technical specification for application (Crisis Simulator), which will provide preparation and psychological support to students in a situation of various crises, through an innovative game model. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: • To support teachers and students in adapting to distance learning; • To prepare teachers and students to deal with life-threatening situations - sexual violence, xenophobia, psychological violence (including the Internet), domestic violence • To prepare teachers and students to deal with possible future similar challenges and crises - pandemics, cataclysms and any other emergencies; • Active inclusion and equal opportunities for inclusion in the online education of students from 1st to 7th grade, incl. from risk groups; • Increasing the number of students from risk groups who are involved in distance learning by creating a social environment in the Internet

Background

Distance learning has steadily entered our daily lives, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and has proven that in extreme situations when children cannot physically attend school, it is an absolutely necessary educational tool for both students and teachers, as well as for all related with the educational process - parents and society. Distance learning showed that it is a modern opportunity for the development of education, but it also proved to be a prerequisite for deepening some educational inequalities.Carrying out the project, we have developed a "Crisis Simulator", illustrating various potential risks that students / children may face, giving them guidelines for adequate reactions in similar situations and ways to prevent them.The crisis simulator allows teachers to include it as part of remote work with students, as well as use it in communication with parents to focus their attention on the involvement of parents and society in the online life and education of children.Other goal of the project is to develop a methodology and technical specification for an application that will provide training and psychological support to students in a situation of various crises, through an innovative game model.

Project partners (5)