Rationale of the project
Background and rationale of the project:
The major reasons why this project is launched are mainly school-political reasons. The competition between schools in the same region in order to attract students has also grown a lot. The administration of the BG/BRG Judenburg stated that the number of students registering for higher grades has been decreasing steadily due to demographic reasons but also due to the outdated offer of subjects at school lacking the European dimension. Students’ desire and demand to participate in EU projects and activities has grown a lot at the BG/BRG Judenburg. Due to the steady offer of EU projects at school during the last 15 years, awareness for the importance of the European Unions in students’, teachers’ and parents’ everyday lives could be raised. In order to close this gap in the offer and the demand for EU based courses at school, the Jean Monnet learning initiative “Learning about the EU at School” will support the BG/BRG Judenburg to provide students (aged 14-18 years) on ISCED 2 levels with specific content on EU based subjects. This JM initiative will enable the school to offer EU activities and courses during the school year and include a wide range of non-teacher centred learning scenarios including project work, group discussions, digital methodologies and innovative didactic approaches, study visits and cooperation with local, regional, national and European institutions.
This initiative allows the school to create a set of 9 modules and learning sessions in order to make the European Union subjects more attractive and they can be tailored to the school’s needs and the students demands for more interesting, engaging and attractive EU based classes. This project will help students to strengthen their sense of belonging to the EU and to understand the mechanism, values and policies of the EU and enlarge students EU literacy.
This learning initiative will foster the introduction of EU subjects at the BG/BRG Judenburg and will strengthen the European identity, EU literacy and active citizenship not only among students but also teachers and other stakeholders at school.
This project fosters up-to-date information on EU, innovative teaching and communicative learning scenarios, invitations and discussions with EU experts and representatives, the use of digital, virtual, non-teacher-centred and students’ focused approaches. These methods go along with the objective of this JM initiative to empower the school and teachers with new professional teaching material and methods and will make EU topics more attractive to students.
Additionally, the use of authentic and digital teaching material offered by EU institutions and adjusted to the needs and ages of students from 14-18 in this project will also improve the learning outcome on EU matters. Furthermore, it will strengthen EU literacy in school. The participation in a specially for students designed course combined with the opportunity to participate in E+ mobilities and visits of the EU institutions in Vienna and Brussels will enhance the interest in the EU. The specific knowledge provided in courses funded by this JM learning initiative will also enhance the participation of students in the democratic process becoming an active political EU citizen.
This project is relevant to the scope of the call because it will introduce 9 modules based on main EU priorities and values and will cover the following EU subjects:
1.) EU Institutions and Democracy: EU Parliament; European Council; EU Commission; European Court of Justice; Council of Europe; Court of Auditors; etc.
2.) Politics and European Entrepreneurship: EU elections; EU laws; EU representatives and politicians; Austrian national and regional representatives; relations between national and regional Austrian governments and EU; active participation in EU initiatives and politics.
3.) Geography and Single European Market: EU citizenship; status of countries in Europe; Great Britain and Brexit; tax-free transportation of good; freedom of movement of persons;
4.) Economy: The Euro, Free Movement of Goods, Services and Capital, EU careers,
5.) Green Sustainability and Climate Change: Green Deal; Green transition; energy production and green energy;
6.) Languages, Culture and Diversity: Official languages in the EU; human rights;
7.) Inclusive Access to Education and Erasmus+ initiatives: Erasmus+ at school and university; EU projects in the region students can benefit from; Euroscola, European Youth Parliament; eTwinning, European Solidarity Corps;
8.) Future of Europe and Digitalisation: Conference on the future of Europe; (im)migration and peace; digitalisation; common defence policy; digital and virtual mobility; data protection,
9.) Visit of EU Institutions in Brussels
This project promotes innovation and creativity for 7 reasons:
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Jigsaw competition idea: This is a very innovative and competitive method in order to engage students in the learning scenarios and to promote the active participation in EU activities inside and outside of school. The method will be described in detail in chapter 2.1.1 Concept and methodology.
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At school there is no special subject that fosters EU based topics. This project also supports the innovative approach to offer a set of modules in the upper grades especially adapted to students.
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In the district and region, there are no schools that are implementing this project in their schools. As this is a totally new EU initiative, this project is an innovation not only for the BG/BRG Judenburg but also for the schools in Styria and Austria in general.
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As this project combines different learning scenarios (formal, non-formal and informal learning sessions) it is also innovative because lessons up to now are still frequently teacher centres. Another innovative aspect is the only use of authentic digital material (books, brochures, posters, digital material, online games, videos etc.) provided by the EU.
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Creative learning approaches and the use of digital methodologies are offered so that students have a wide spectrum of how to get engaged in their learning process and to find personal fulfilment.
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Cooperation with local institutions, communities, politicians and visits of EU institutions and EU wide cooperation also turn this project into a very creative and innovative one.
Use of digital methodology:
As the BG/BRG Judenburg is an eEducation+ expert school, the implementation of digital methods in the scope of this project will be possible in all learning sessions. Students on the ISCED 2 level but also teachers have a profound knowledge on using digital devices and are used to a wide range of digital devices, programmes, social media and virtual platforms on a daily basis. This project will foster the use of digital and virtual approaches like:
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creating videos, podcasts, explanatory videos, interviews, etc
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use of digital EU platforms to gather authentic information
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use of virtual and social platforms: Gathertown, Padlet, Instagram, Facebook, MS-TEAMS, Flipgrid, Mentimeter, Google applications, Zoom, TedED talks, learning apps, etc.
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use of interactive whiteboards, projectors, cameras, mobile devices, tablets in an interactive way,
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creating memes, mindmaps, flowcharts, Kahoot and other quizzes,
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travel blog and course blog
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using computer and online programs to present, cut, edit, register and save data, video/audio/photo material
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use of interactive platforms to communicate, exchange information and save data and files
Teaching and Learning methods
The project will also implement innovative and new teaching and learning methodologies in order to make the European Union subjects more attractive and tailored to the needs of pupils and students. The number of teacher-centred learning scenarios will be reduced to a minimum. The following methods will be implemented
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Expert rounds and peer teaching
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Problem solving techniques
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Simulation games
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Discussions with experts
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Presentations
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Individual and group work
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Game based learning using EU material
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Interaction and interviews with EU experts and local politicians
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Roleplays
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Sessions where students carry our individual research
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Methods of how to assess and give feedback
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Interview and discussions with EU experts and representatives