Search for European Projects

UČENJE O SVIJETU PUTEM OSJETILA
Start date: Jun 1, 2014, End date: May 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The main goal of "Learning about the world through senses" project was to enrich our everyday practice. This is primarily related to new approaches in planning and implementation of educational activities. Our intention was to achieve quality results with this new experience, by focusing on cooperation and connection with the educational practices of other countries in the project. We selected structured courses with topics that are relevant to the needs of our institution and with the project that pervades our educational work: LEAP: Teaching Approaches in Early Years and Preschool Education eduKarjala: PISA Kinda education center: Outdoor Education Job shadowing was carried out in three schools with a common theme: "Active and effective methods of working with children in pre-school age": Bulgaria: Citizen of Europe Portugal: Special needs Poland: Education for multiple intelligence Three educators participated at each job shadowing and at the end of the project a total of 14 preschool teachers, headmaster, pedagogue, head nurse, head of accounting and speech therapist took part in the mobility. Initial expectations were exceeded as we have made strong connections with other schools and institutions in the mobility and we plan to continue cooperation with them in new Erasmus + and eTwinning projects. Mobility participants continue to develop on a professional level and keep in touch with colleagues from institutions and schools they visited. All mobility participants actively participated in the mobility by exchanging their teaching experiences with the experiences of other countries. They improved their knowledge and skills in ICT, linguistic competence, and how to share the acquired knowledge with other colleagues. Within the structured courses the participants improved their competence in the following areas: learn to learn, effectively managing their own education and career, time management, cooperation, working in a group, sharing experiences and theoretical and practical application of acquired knowledge. Skills and competencies that prevailed during the mobility: teamwork, clear learning strategies, problem solving, developing creativity and motivating children, connection with the local community, integration of children with special needs, working with parents. Skills and competences acquired through mobility have made the participants more motivated and filled with more confidence in dealing with challenges. They are able to use and apply new knowledge and skills in a variety of everyday situations. The implementation of the acquired knowledge about the ways and possibilities of learning about the world through the senses in our daily work was based on new insight, experience and innovative pedagogical approaches and methods brought to us by the mobility participants. Comparison method was used to continuously assess the extent of how far the implementation has reached. New practical ideas and proposals that were seen and experienced by our educators in the countries hosting the mobility were added to our quarterly plans and programs. We compared what we have seen and learned there with our practice and added the methods which were affecting the interests of children. Practical observation outdoor activities have become more prevalent in our work with children. We put more emphasis on working with natural materials, paying special attention on combining different natural materials. Parents were informed of ways of gathering material and taught how to create games with children. To make the results and achieved goals available to other educators, we gathered the acquired knowledge and experience in a manual for preschool teachers: “Outdoor education” Our main focus is the children. We transferred our newly acquired experiences to the children directly and thus reflected it to practical everyday work. It’s easy to see the synergy between the teachers and children, and enthusiasm for daily activities within the project. Children gained knowledge, skills and competencies they can directly apply in everyday life situations, spend quality time outdoors, and in accordance with the planned and implemented activities they use all the senses while in nature. Special emphasis is on use of natural materials throughout the seasons. Joining such mobility training increases the awareness of individuals about their own learning process and needs. This is essential for all the participants involved in the mobility, but also for the workers who are indirectly involved receiving knowledge and information from colleagues from the nearest surroundings. Implementation of this project has left a special mark on our organization in the form of progress, inclusion in new aspects of learning and new projects. Further expansion of the acquired knowledge has improved working quality of the institution as a whole and also given us a new dimension, as we are now seen as a recognizable institution with a European dimension.
Up2Europe Ads

Coordinator

Details

3 Partners Participants