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Cross-Curricular Approaches to Mathematics and Sciences in Formal and Informal Contexts
Start date: Sep 1, 2015, End date: Aug 31, 2017 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Over the past few decades, all of us witnessed a steady decline in the students’ interest in math & sciences which was reflected in their poor results in the graduation exams. At the same time, people often complain about the gap between what is taught and what is needed in life and so, the students’ motivation for study keeps falling. Students blame the entire system of education for being obsolete/oblivious to the requirements of real life. Through this project we want develop basic & transversal skills and to address the problem of low achievement in math & sciences by using an innovative and less widely used method: the cross-curricular approach in the teaching of math & other exact sciences, both in formal & informal contexts, special attention being paid to the development of digital & EN skills. We believe that, by studying one particular topic from the perspective of other subjects, always involving ICT based methods, we will help the students see the connection between theory & practice, thus raising their motivation & their interest in the study of math & sciences. Objectives: We want to increase the motivation for study & develop the thinking skills of ~300 students by using cross-curricular approaches & flexible learning pathways; We want to foster the EN/mother tongue & IT skills of ~ 700 students & 140 teachers, to contribute to the professional development of at least 140 teachers who will enlarge their knowledge & develop their skills by using innovative cross-curricular teaching & managing the project activities. By organizing short-term exchanges for students, we instruct 70 students (10/partn) to become peer-trainers. Other objectives are: to foster the social & leadership skills of the students through the peer education system, to enrich the curriculum with optional courses &, through the elaboration & free distribution of the training kit & through the training sessions, to contribute to the professional development of a large no. of teachers. We are 7 partner schools, out of which 3 are high schools providing education in exact sciences & humanistic subjects (EL,HR, RO), 2 are scientific high schools (IT &TR), a vocational high school (PL) & a middle school (SP). The topic of the project is new to all & is a challenge & opportunity to consolidate the quality of the educational services provided. The tasks & responsibilities are agreed upon, all partners will implement all the activities, all will be involved in all the stages of project management, some partners having special responsibilities. All the project activities facilitate the study of the exact subjects through cross-curricular approaches in order to develop basic & transversal skills. Besides the transnational mobilities, where project issues will be discussed, experience will be shared & optimum solutions will be found, we have envisaged 2 short term exchanges for students (80students), designed to train the students as peer-trainers. After being trained, they will use the experience, knowledge & skills acquired to train other students, thus ensuring the sustainability of the project from within. Other activities: creation of the website,the poster, the logo, workshops for students , the e-learning platform, 2 optional syllabus hand books, (online) contests, peer-training activities of students & training sessions for teachers, constant dissemination & evaluation. We will maintain regular communication using the Internet, during the 5 meetings all problems will be discussed , assistance will be offered, procedures made, ceaseless monitoring , evaluation & special plans for the project risks. Results: 1. the training kit (student's book , the teacher’s book , 2 video guides, a test book with key & a booklet with questionnaires for students & teachers. 2. the e-learning platform, in EN & all the 7partner languages, is an on-line collection of materials offering support. 3. other results: the 2 optional syllabus hand books, the magazines of the contests, selection criteria for all stakeholders, dissemination materials, multimedia presentations, newsletters, diaries, questionnaires, reports, etc. Through the implementation of the activities, we will help students better understand math & exact sciences, they will get a more comprehensive view on the applications of math & exact sciences in life, while the teachers will develop professionally through the training sessions organized & through their involvement in all the project activities; moreover, all the students involved in the peer-training activities will develop their knowledge & skills in multiple directions. The intellectual outputs, being freely distributed, will be tools for the development of a larger category of stakeholders . With the optional courses, we will enrich our school’s curriculum and we will contribute to the institutional development of our schools, also raising their prestige within the local communities.
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