EU-Topia+
Start date: Sep 1, 2014,
End date: Aug 31, 2017
PROJECT
FINISHED
The underlying theme of this project is to enhance the European dimension of education by promoting joint cooperation activities in the schools outlined in the project. This process will aid pupils and teachers to acquire and improve skills in the areas of geography, language, IT, history and social awareness/integration. the participation in the activities described will enrich a sense of teamwork, sociocultural relations, project management and the use of ICT. It is envisaged that there will be an increased multilingual capacity and an enhanced motivation towards language learning amongst staff, pupils and the wider school community. All of the participant applicants demonstrate a common ethos with regard to an understanding and appreciation for their role in their community ranging from that of a local one to a European one. they have an appreciation for advancements and developments in society and through this project, hope to be able to analyse a means of directing towards a more productive and socially aware Utopian environment.
It is proposed that these will all be investigated and researched in a cross curricular fashion under the headings of Language, Social Media, Economics, Democracy and Environment. Each of these headings will primarily be analysed under the the are of how it exists in our current society, the students and teachers will then engage in a series of actions and activities which are described as the process of development, and anlysis of the outcomes of these actions will from the blueprints for a Utopian society that has the values of social inclusion, multiculturalism, languages alongside technology, innovation and adaptability. The basic issues that the project will focus on are language, cultural awareness and diversity with the view to the advantages that can be gained from working in a European context.
The cross curricular nature of this project will enable a wide variety of subjects and issues to be addressed. It is anticipated that these will be tackled under the umbrella headings of the past, present and future which will culminate in a blueprint being set out for a Utopian society.
These will include a Refinement of Power Point produced for "Voices of the Sea" project about the origins of language. Design, completion and analysis of results of questionnaire identifying similarities and evolution of language. The actions that this output include are; a diagram of results, roleplay and comic book (icon,image,Language), students teach basic language (dictionary from previous project), international words Lexicon.
Students will proceed to compile and complete a questionnaire as to what social media they use, the future of social media, the advantages and disadvantages relating to social media, how much time they spend using it, the concept of virtual friends as wll as responsible usage. students will analyse a minimum of 150 questionnaires per school, they will engage in the project using the eTwinning platform they will create an contribute towards a website, they will come up with an idea and create an advertisement for a new form of social media. in the end oif this task the students will define an ideal social media fro a Utopian society.
Following on from this participants will study unemployment percentages, identify reasons for unemployment, draw up a profile of the long term unemployed and investigate into the concept of the brain drain. Students will define a minimum skills set, and inquire into the validity of entrepreneurship. Finally the students will define the concept of the optimum work life balance in a Utopian society.
During the next phase of the project Students will analyse the type of democracey that exists in their country at the moment, they will investigate into aspects such as voting age and political representation (what it does) they will go throiugh the process of an election to elect a project leader, this will include, nomination of candidates, campaigning and an election. they will ultimately define what it means to be a represenataive voice, the role therin and associated responsibilities as well as pitfalls one might encounter on the way.
Some of the concluding actions of the project will see the students investigate into the environmental standards that exist at the moment and inquire into how they are being applied. Students will reflect how and what they are doing that is contributing towards a healthy environment and what can be done to improve the energy rating of their everyday lives. Students will ultimately draw up a blue print for setting out a carbon neutral society.
The final results of the project revolves around the presentation of all of the reults in a cohesive document outlining all of the determined guidelines that will contribute towards creating and maintaining a Utopian society. The document will be accompanied by a collection of all of the IT initiatives employed over the duration of the project