INFORMATION ABOUT THE ERASMUS PROJECT
The European ERASMUS + project "KA210-SCH - Small-scale collaborations in school education" sets as a key horizontal priority the protection of the environment and the fight against climate change. Referring to School Education, it aims to support teachers, school principals and students in developing basic skills for designing new, innovative curricula on the topic of outdoor learning, environmental protection and climate change. The methods that will be used during the implementation of the project are based on outdoor learning practices, as they increase students' interest in the lessons, support academic success and make learning more fruitful and permanent. After all, modern educational systems aim to integrate nature, art, technology and real-life experiences into the learning process, instead of relying exclusively on classroom teaching. According to PISA studies conducted in OECD countries, the motivation for learning and critical thinking skillsof studentswho receiveoutdooreducation increaseby20%.
Based on the above, the project aims to improve the innovative pedagogical skills of all teachers in the partner schools and to diversify their teaching processes, applying outdoor teaching approaches. At the same time, the project aims to enable all students in the partner schools to develop cooperation, problemsolving and creativity skills in outdoor learning environments, implementing nature-related, as well as cultural and technological activities. Another objective is to integrate outdoor learning methods into curricula, through the exchange of good practices between the partner institutions and the creation of a long-term guide for designing outdoor lessons. Through the project activities and the final productsthatwill beproduced,thepedagogical skillsof teachers will beimproved by increasing outdoor teaching skills. The academic performance and motivation of students will be visibly improved. A sustainable teaching model will be created by integrating outdoor teaching methods into school curricula. Students' global awareness will be increased by leveraging the cultural and natural wealth of partner countries.
The final products of our project will be : 1. a model Teaching Guide Abroad, 2. a digital brochure and Beyond The Boundaries of Learning – an electronic Magazine, which will be prepared jointly by the students of the partner countries, which will include the activities carried out during the project, good practices, the views of teachers and students, 3. a digital story telling called “From Nature to Culture ”, which will include digital Stories on the nature and cultural heritage of the partner
countries, which will be created by students using artificial intelligence tools. The final products will include multimodal elements, such as audio elements and enhanced visual aids, to support different learning styles and needs. The project will leverage local expertise and resources in each partner country to enhance these inclusive approaches. In Italy, the rich educational ecosystem surrounding the coordinating school will provide valuable insights on accessibility best practices. The project will start with a seminar entitled “Ecological DiscoveriesOutdoor Education for Global Awareness”, which will be delivered online by the Greek Cultural Association of Koutsoupias to teachers and students from the partner schools. In total, 8 teachers and 16 students will participate in mobility activities. During these activities, training sessions will be organized, with the teachersthen sharing theknowledgetheygainthroughpractical lessons withtheir colleagues in their home country. The students will organize workshops focusing on outdoor education for their peers. Balıkesir University, as the local institution, will collaborate with the Turkish school to organize scientific discussions focusing on outdoor learning environments. The Turkish school will also organize workshops for its sister school, Atatürk High School , to present the project and share its impact.
This project aims to transform educational practices by combining proven methodologies with the application of expertise in non-formal education. The digital outputs will extend the impact beyond the partners’ collaboration, while the involvement of the Greek Cultural Association of Koutsoupias and eTwinning initiatives will create a multiplier effect, transforming individual successes into systemic educational change across Europe.
The project partners will carry out various activities related to outdoor learning methods, enhancing their knowledge and experience in this field. Through active participation, meaningful work will be produced, reflecting common values in the context of European cooperation. The mobility of teachers and students, facilitated by European cooperation and outdoor learning environments, will help participants to develop a variety of skills, such as foreign language proficiency, intercultural interaction, problem-solving skills and the effective use of information technologies. As these methods become more widespread, a sustainable educational model will be created. This interaction will significantly improve the quality and creativity of the project results.
In this project, the international collaboration with two different schools and a cultural association will help to achieve its goals much more effectively. Through this collaboration, diverse experiences, perspectives and expertise will be combined. In summary, the collaboration with international partners will enhance knowledge exchange, support the development of innovative teaching methods and strengthen the international connections of the partners involved. For both students and teachers, this project will offer valuable skills and rich experiences, making it an incredibly enriching journey for all involved. One of the greatest
benefits of this collaboration will be the opportunity to create a comprehensive and rich digital guide. With the contribution of the project partners, five educational videos, ten lesson plans for outdoor teaching and detailed assessment rubrics will be developed. The different approaches and digital skills ofeachpartnerin thefieldofoutdoor education will adddepthand varietyto these materials, making them more practical and adaptable to different educational environments. The cooperation between the partners will also significantly improve the quality of the training sessions. During the second month of the project, a two-day training via Zoom will be organized. Thanks to the experience of the trainers of the Koutsoupia Cultural Association, teachers and students will receive high-quality training in video editing, scriptwriting and voice-over. This training will increase the practicality of the project and participants will be able to immediately apply the skills they acquire in their own work and projects. For the students, working with their international peers will be an excellent opportunity for self-improvement. During their work on the digital story series “The Silent Cry ofNature”and“Traces of Time”,theywill improvetheirlanguage skills,learnabout different cultures and have the opportunity to represent their own cultural values. Visiting natural and cultural heritage sites and transforming these experiences into creative digital content will help those involved to develop a deeper awareness of environmental issues and cultural identity. The online magazine and the series of digital stories created by the students will be permanently displayed on the websites of the partner schools. This will ensure that the project results will reach a wide audience and inspire future international collaborations. In summary, cooperation with international partners will enhance knowledge exchange, support the development of innovative teaching methods and strengthen the international connections of the partners.
The project is structured to directly contribute to the horizontal priorities of Erasmus+. It will enhance the skills of teachers and students through digital tools, enhance environmental awareness and promote inclusion. In line with the digital transformation priority, teachers and students will use tools supported by Artificial Intelligence to create content and develop digital stories. Video editing, narration and subtitling tools based on Artificial Intelligence will be used to create educational material, while improving digital literacy skills. This process will allow teachers and students to improve their digital competences and integrate digitalisation into the education system. Regarding environmental sustainability and awareness of nature, students will gain practical experience through field studies in natural and cultural heritage sites. Throughout the project, they will develop awareness of nature protection and cultural heritage sustainability by reflecting their experiences in digital stories. This approach will instill in students a sense of environmental responsibility, while offering a learning experience embedded in nature. In terms of inclusion and diversity, the project will ensure equal participation of students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Artificial intelligence-powered narration and subtitling tools will
make educational materials accessible in multiple languages and inclusive for people with hearing impairments. In addition, students will actively participate in the process of creating digital content, providing each participant with a platform for self-expression. In line with the theme of European identity and cultural heritage, the project will offer students the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of different countries. Through the series of digital stories, students will discover different cultures, develop a common European identity and gain experience in international cooperation. In addition, interaction with peers from other European countries through the eTwinning platform will enhance digital cultural exchange. Through this integrated approach, the project will directly support the horizontal priorities of Erasmus+, while equipping both students and teachers with future-oriented skills.