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Χαράσσοντας εκπαιδευτική πολιτική: Τ.Π.Ε. - Βιωματικότητα - Ευρωπαϊκή διάσταση
Start date: Jun 1, 2015, End date: May 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

In demanding times, Assiros Upper High school is in need of quality improvement on many levels: 1. Innovation: incorporating educational innovation and good practices in a school policy plan 2. Digitalization: using digital tools to promote learning, cooperation and communication. 3. Internationalization: promoting European cooperation and networking and international relations. To address the needs mentioned above three in-service training courses were selected and were attended by two members of the teaching staff and the Deputy Head teacher. The criteria for participating in the training courses were English and ICT proficiency and experience in European programs and activities. All the selected courses were offered by the same provider (Euneos) and were chosen on basis of interest, impact and because they represent the Finnish educational system with its undisputed reputation and excellent PISA results. Furthermore, the courses were selected on the one hand because they meet the needs of our school and on the other because they can strengthen the professional competences of the participants. The training courses that were selected are: 1. «Best practices: Benchmarking»: the course includes visits to Finnish and Esthonian schools and participation in true learning situations, in order to approach new teaching methods. In addition to observation, the course uses discussion, exchange of ideas between the participants, implementation of new practices and incorporation of innovation in a school development plan. 2. «Tap-Swipe-Pinch into STEM. Learning Mathematics and Sciences with tablets»: the course aims to familiarize the participants with the educational use of tablets and relevant software, and to help them create educational material for tablets and their own digital learning environment. It also includes outdoor learning with the use of tablets. 3.«How to make your school more international»: the course includes detailed presentation of European and international educational activities and acquiring the know-how of European networking and community building, of forming European projects (eTwinning) and applying for KA2 partnerships. Our school used the intellectual output of the courses to prepare, process and finalize a chapter about innovation in a school policy plan. This long term school policy plan aimed in the use of innovative teaching methods, digital learning methods in different school subjects, the use of social media for educational reasons and the coordination of in-house training events. A workgroup coordinated and supported the activities of the school policy plan and carried out the communication with the course provider. The workgroup was formed by the three participants in the training courses, it was supervised by the school Director and technical support was provided be the ICT teacher of the school. Through this school policy plan our goal was to build standing structures for innovation in our school and pursue a future partnership with European schools in a KA2 project, a goal that was successfully achieved. A long-term impact of this KA1 action is, also, the life long development of professional skills and of an innovative and Europe oriented way of thinking among the members of the educational community. The dissemination activities were a vital part of the program: Posts about the training activities and their outcomes were published in the school website and there was contact with the municipality of Langadas. Alongside the in-house training, meetings were held with secondary education teachers of neighbouring schools with the participation of PTA members. Collaboration with the school advisors was sought. As part of the dissemination activities an open presentation event for students, teachers of other schools, parents and representatives of the municipality took place in December 2015. Concluding, we would like to emphasize that through all our efforts we aim for a school that will not just transfer knowledge, but that will become a place of creativity and development, a beacon of optimism for our educational and local community in times of crisis.

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