Start to study
Start date: Oct 1, 2014,
End date: Sep 30, 2015
PROJECT
FINISHED
Following the observation that students are more motivated to learn within class time than outwith it, we want to implement a project called ?Start to study?. Inspired by success stories from educational systems across Europe, the introduction of the ?learn to learn? model is designed to stimulate more efficient study practices among students.
The ultimate goal of the project is to significantly increase possibilities for educational attainment among students in secondary and higher education. We incorporate concrete and goal-focused activities into our ?learn to learn? model by providing job shadowing and traineeship opportunities in diverse locations across Europe. 20 teachers have done a job shadowing, 1 director and 10 teachers have followed a traineeship.
The model is designed to take a proactive approach towards achieving an improvement in levels of attainment among young people, which is a European policy priority. It follows the premise that an improvement in experiences with and attitudes towards studying will lead to higher levels of educational qualification. And through this we aim to increase the opportunities for our students in the European job market.
We are very pleased with the results that we have achieved:
- The ?start to study?- project has triggered a lot in an informal way: Most of our colleagues appreciate the added value of an IST or job shadowing in another European country. In de the teachers meeting room, during break time, the project has been the topic of many discussions.
- The project?s participants have tested on a small scale the things that they observed during their training session. This all occurred in collaboration with colleagues that didn?t participate in the project. In this way the knowledge spreads in the same way as an oil slick does.
- Due to the importance of this project, ?learning how to learn? has earned an explicit place on the headmasters? and coordinators? agenda, on meetings with section chiefs, on the pedagogical board. Everyone?s awareness has been raised. The focus has been sharpened.
- The project has improved and enlarged our European network. Our school has started a new European exchange project with the Liceo Scientifico Statale ?Marco Vitruvio? from Avezzano. We have come in contact with this school thanks to the teachers that had the opportunity to attend an IST in Iceland. We are also glad to be one of the partners in a KA2 project presented by this school. This KA2 project deals with active learning, CLIL, inclusive education, studying methods? The project?s main goal is to decrease early school drop-outs. It is completely in line with our KA1 project.
- On 22 May 2015, we organised a ?learning café?. All participants to this project have shared their experiences and findings in an informal way with an interested audience. On 27 August 2015, the section chiefs were being informed. They each took along in an à la carte way, the things that were useful for their teaching subject. Our perspective on ?learning how to learn? has become wider.
- The reports made by the teachers that were involved in job shadowing and the already processed results of the ISTs will form an important element in the strategic plan during the school year of 2015-16. This strategic plan especially aims at everything that has got to do with ?learning how to learn?. The master plan of all this will be drawn up during the 2015-16 school year en and will be executed during 5 upcoming years in a row. Therefor it will be a long-term project.