Weekly Roundup
Eco friendly schools for a brighter future
According to UNESCO’s Global Action Program, sustainability should permeate the whole school culture. Nature education brings many benefits: it sets the stage for personal well-being, it promises a more suitable future for communities, and it develops competences that will help children in other fields of learning. The Project ‘Empowering teachers and pupils for a better life through nature’ produces high quality supporting materials, organizing training sessions and building networks at a national and European level.
Find more about the projects here.
eTwinning and better Friends: Better Internet for Kids (BIK)
One out of three internet users worldwide is a child. Technology provides opportunities for children to access knowledge, to communicate and develop their skills. The Better Internet for Kids guide to online services aims to provide key information about some of the most popular apps, social networking sites and other platforms which are commonly being used by children, young people and adults today. These activities contribute to a better understanding of the challenges faced and a better and safer internet for children.
Find the guide here.
Opening of the student photography exhibition “European Identity”
The regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Crete, the secondary cycle of the School of European Education and Europe Direct organized a school photography contest called “European Identity”. This exhibition is a collection of small stories from students and their perception of a European Identity. The exhibition will take place on June 19 in Heraklion. During the inauguration, the winner of the competition will receive the contest first place award, donated by the Europe Direct of Crete. All participant will receive participation certificates.
Read more about the exhibition here.
CIDREE Conference on Inclusion: Developing Functional Guidelines for Implementation of Learning Outcomes in Inclusive Education
On a meeting in Sarajevo, the delegates from CIDREE member countries exchanged ideas and experiences on the implementation of learning outcomes in inclusive education. Participants were given understanding into the ways and methods used by different countries to adapt education programs for children with special education needs. The meeting was attended by representative of Estonia, France, Ireland, Scotland, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Find more information about the meeting here.
When formal education meets Non-Formal Education
The Maisons Familiales Rurales goal was to open their doors to another way of education and learning, to non-formal education. Together with 2 Europe direct centers and a non-formal education association, they created 3 sequences on how to prepare participants to mobility and how to valorize their experience once they got back. The idea has been to prepare students before departure in 3 steps. Step 1: What does it mean to be a European citizen? Step 2: How can I spend the best time of my life in internships in Europe? Step 3: How can I valorize my experience of internships in Europe? Description of the project is “European Mobility for a Dynamic Territory”.
Read more about it here.
The Importance of engaging stakeholders in quality assurance processes: new report for policymakers
A report by the Education and Training 2020 Working Group highlights the importance of stakeholder’s engagement in quality assurance processes to support the quality of learning and well-being for all children and young people. The report sets out guide policy development and illustrate them with country examples. It shows that policymakers can create conditions for meaningful stakeholder engagement in quality assurance processes. The recent findings will contribute to the Groups final report in 2020 on how the governance of school education systems can support education across a European Education Area.
Find the full report here.
EU Code Week Press Release: Gearing up to celebrate EU Code Week 2019
The seventh edition of EU Code Week will take place 5-20 October 2019. To prepare for the EU Code Week, teachers, trainers, and coding enthusiasts will get new learning materials, lesson plans and online trainings to make their coding classes more engaging and more fun. EU Code Week is based on a growing network of around 80 volunteer national ambassadors, 42 national education ministry coordinators, and 280 leading teachers. EU Code Week in 2018 reached over 2.7 million participants.
Find the full press release here.
New EU Council Recommendation on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems
A new Council Recommendation on High Quality Early Childhood Education and Care Systems was made at the Council of the European Union’s Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council at the end of May. The intentions are that Member States use them when preparing legislation. It aims to improve the quality of early childhood education and care systems and ensure better access to them. Good investments in early childhood education and care must be inclusive, accessible, affordable and high quality to deliver the benefits to society.
Find more information here.
Prepared by Rachel van Wetten
