Playing Europe

Playing Europe: KA229 Erasmus+ project

Eirini Arnaouti, Evangeliki Model School of Smyrna, Greece; Panagiota Argyri, Evangeliki Model School of Smyrna, Greece; Jorge Garcia Garcia, IES El Carmen, Spain; Rosatea Bommarito, Istituto Istruzione Superiore Orso Mario Corbino, Italy; Eva Peeters, Sint-Gummaruscollege, Belgium

Watch the presentation of the poster in this video:

Abstract of the Poster

The education landscape is evolving rapidly towards more modern methods, also known as blended learning. Several studies show the importance of games in the learning process and the pupils’ motivation. In this way, we hope to use them to deal with diversity in the classroom. Games also have a cultural and traditional value in every EU country, which we can integrate in our teaching methods.

Gamification in the classroom is not yet widespread, since games tap into 21st century skills, like problem-solving, collaboration, negotiation, which do not necessarily constitute the bedrock of our current educational system. Additionally, gamification is a good way to motivate our students and has good effects on the pedagogical process. At the same time, traditional/folk games are part of our culture. In many ways, traditional games are culturally influenced and vary from place to place. They may involve singing traditional songs, or certain practices that have very deep cultural roots. Youth should grow up and be able to associate their childhood with where and who they grew up with. It is important for them to be some kind of cultural totem in their childhood so that they have a sense of pride for their homeland. Besides, these games require among others physical activity, social skills, creativity, imagination, competition, and sense of brotherhood. Therefore, our project ‘Playing Europe’ is in agreement with the Europe 2020 strategy, advancing the synergies, experience and knowhow between four partner schools (coordinator: IES El Carmen from Murcia, Spain,  Istituto Istruzione Superiore Orso Mario Corbino from Partinico, Italy, Evangeliki Model School of Smyrna from Athens, Greece, Sint-Gummaruscollege from Lier, Belgium). It started on 1st September 2020 with two-year duration.

This project is innovative in many respects as it will bring: a) innovation in participants’ intercultural awareness due to the focus on multiculturalism in the educational process, b) innovation in technology education as new and interesting ways to organize information will be used to fulfill the project activities, c) pedagogical innovation, realized through competency-based education, which allows students to advance based on their ability to master a skill or competency at their own pace, d) social innovation as the project will foster a sense of risk-taking in accepting and embracing otherness and taking responsibility for preserving the European cultural heritage and values for the future generations.

The objectives of the project are:

  • Acquiring new tools and strategies for dealing with diversity in the classroom.
  • Learning about the European culture and history through our traditional games.
  • Integrating traditional games and toys in the pedagogical process, especially as a measure to respond to diversity in secondary schools.
  • Improving oral and written English skills.
  • Enhancing soft and hard skills (communication, teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, etc.) through traditional games.

Each host country will handle the organization for the short-term exchange with the topics i)“Presentation of traditional games”,  ii) “Our history, iii)“Teaching Unit”, iv) “Educational Visit”, v) “Integration in the host school’’,  vi)“Playing Europe – The quiz’’.

We hope that the schools will not only establish long-term partnerships to work on transnational educational projects, but they will develop and share additional knowledge, skills, experience and educational games, which will be integrated in their classes.