Socrates MaltaSchool Education

Comenius

Overall Objectives of Comenius

to enhance the quality and reinforce the European Dimension (by encouraging transnational co-operation between schools),

to improve professional development of staff directly involved in the school education sector,

to promote the learning of languages and intercultural awareness.

Publicity Intensive media campaign - press releases, radio

and television programmes Dissemination of information - brochures, flyers

and posters Organisation of a number of information sessions Website - http://home.um.edu.mt/socrates/

- updated regularly- applications and guidelines are online

Information sessions at schools

Socrates Office

Provides technical advice and assistance on the different stages of developing a project.

Hold face-to-face meeting with project co-ordinators and partners.

Promote the availability of Socrates opportunities. Help participants to make contacts and find partners. Maintain close relationship with the Technical

Assistance Office in Brussels and with other National Agencies.

Comenius 1 - School Partnerships

Increase in the number of projects

2000 - 6 projects

2001 - 36 projects

2002 - 55 projects

Comenius 1 - School Partnerships

1st March 2002 49 School Projects 5 Language Projects 10 School Development Projects

64 applications were submitted55 applications were approved

Selection Procedures

2 phases Assessment carried out at a national level Inter-agency consultation

Comenius 2.1 - European Co-operation Projects for the Training of School Education Staff

1st March 2001 - 4 projects were submitted and approved.

1st March 2002 – 8 projects were submitted– 4 Renewals– 4 New

Comenius 2.1 - European Co-operation Projects for the Training of School Education Staff

Example of Projects : - Water Wisdom – Well being for the World - MIND/Critical Thinking for Successful Future

Career in EU - SEEPS : Developing Sustaining and Evaluating

Sustainable Practices in European Primary Schools - Community, Diversity, Communication –

Building Bridges in the Multicultural European Classroom

Comenius 2.2C - Individual Grants for In-service Training2000 – 4 In-service Courses 2001 – 21 In-service Courses2002 – 14 In-service Courses

Examples of In-service courses approved Creating a Better Environment in Our School Using Portfolios in Careers Education and Guidance to Enhance

Students Career and Development Cross Currents in European Literature Teaching and Learning German with the Internet

Example of Good Practice

Title : Euroview TT on the use of ICT in Education

Place : Alden Biesen, Belgium

Course Content : Creating Web Sites Using the Web in

International Projects at school

The role of ICT in

Education

Comenius 3 - Networks

2 applications were submitted

- TEPEE - Towards a European Portfolio

for Environmental Education

- RIAC - Regional Identity and Active

Citizenship

Structure of Comenius

Overall Priorities Equal Opportunities Pupils at risk Children of migrants, Gypsies, travellers

and occupational travellers Pupils with special educational needs

Who can participate?

Pupils, students and other learners All categories of educational staff (such as

teachers, head teachers, administrative staff, management staff, guidance counselors and inspectors)

All kinds of educational establishments Education authorities at local, regional and

national level

Comenius - Three Actions

Comenius 1 - SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Comenius 2 - TRAINING OF SCHOOL

EDUCATION STAFF

Comenius 3 - NETWORKS

Comenius 1 - priorities

Pupils with special educational needs Intercultural education, combat racism and

xenophobia Equal opportunities of women and men Schools lacking experience in European

cooperation Disadvantaged schools and pupils

Comenius Plan

Short and simple paper Tool for school to plan and evaluate

activities under Comenius Outcome of reflection and discussion

between all actors concerned Point of reference for the National Agencies

Comenius Projects

Subject Aims Timetable of activities Duration Budget

Comenius 1 - Project Types

Three project types :

Comenius School Projects Comenius Language Projects Comenius School Development Projects

Comenius School Projects

Objective : to develop and reinforce the

European dimension of school education

Format : at least 3 schools from at least 3

countries for 3 years maximum

Area : any theme or topic of common

interest to the participating schools

Example of Good Practice

School :Achille Ferris Primary School, Msida

Title : Green Links

Partners : Belgium (Co-ordinator), Estonia, Spain, Italy, Romania,

AimsTo learn about the environment and nature in a dynamic way,To look for ways to share ideas about environmental education with the complete school team and stimulating interdisciplinary work,Improving the school environment and the school atmosphere,To create a network that allows the participating schools to come together and to value their shared potential.

All the countries participating in the project

Information about the countries

Pupils explaining and showing items received during the Show and Tell Exhibition.

Pupils dressed in National Costumes.

Pupils and teachers act as jury in the logo contest – choosing a logo for the Comenius Project.

Chart done by pupils which incorporate their ideas on the different countries

Pupil’s Work

Comenius Language Projects

Objective : to improve pupils’ motivation and

capacity to learn foreign languages

Format : 2 schools in 2 countries for 1 year

Priorities :

- the least widely used and taught languages of the

EU

- vocational and technical schools

Example of Good Practice

School : De La Salle College, Cottonera

Title : From Malta to Normandy : The Sea and Its Issues

Partner : Verson, France

Aims : To allow students to communicate with another country and discover another culture, another system of education, an unknown language and new technologies, eg:desalination of water in Malta, the use of the tide energy in France, To broaden pupils’ reflection on and understanding of important topics such as the sea, the natural environment and pollution,To make the pupils fully conscious that the building of a united Europe requires people to know each other better, as well as a joint reflection and work on issues involved in this community project.

Franco-Maltese Evening in France

Franco-Maltese Evening in Malta

All the children (French & Maltese) that participated in the exchange

Comenius School Development Projects

Objective : to improve school management and pedagogical approaches

School centered : management and staff Format : at least 3 schools in at least 3

countries for 3 years maximum Area : any theme or topic relating to

management and pedagogical approaches of common interest to the participating schools

Example of Good Practice

School : Tumas Dingli Primary School, Attard

Title : EPSEN (Examining Provision for Special Educational Needs in Participating Schools

Partners : UK (Co-ordinator), Ireland, Poland

AimsTo examine provision within each school region for Special Educational Needs for children of Primary School Age,To provide an opportunity for comparisons to be made between partner schools and lead to the development of a comprehensive policy which will encompass the best practices identified in each country,To improve the skills and techniques used by teachers of children with special educational needs,To raise the level of awareness among these pupils about their own capabilities and those of children in other countries.

- Case studies performed with students- Age : 6 - 8 years- Examples of Special Needs : - Autistic - Communication problems semantic pragmatic disorder - Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.)

Other Examples of Projects Integration of pupils with special educational needs Integration of ethnic minority groups Preventing and combating racism and xenophobia Conflict resolution; prevention of violence Equal opportunities between girls and boys Acquiring skills in the language of instruction Adapted teaching methods; classroom management Involvement of mediators and teaching assistants Involvement of parents and the local community Co-operation and co-ordination with local authorities such as

social services, health services, employment services, youth services and the police

Partners other than schools

Objective : to embed projects in a wider school and local environment

Examples : parents’ associations, pupils’ associations, local and regional authorities, businesses, associations, non-profitmaking organisations, NGOs, museums etc.

Staff Mobility

Outside projects : preparatory visits Within projects :

- transnational project meetings

- head teacher study visits

- teacher exchanges

- teacher placements

- accompanying class exchanges

Pupil Mobility

Comenius School

Projects Comenius School

Development Projects

Comenius Language Projects

participation of limited number of pupils in transnational project meetings

class exchanges for min. 14 days of min. 10 pupils aged 14 years and above

Financial Support

Standard amount

Variable amount

Complementary

Funding

Various project costs

Transnational mobility of staff and pupils

Schools

School’s Web Sites – St. Michael’s Foundation

Carmela Sammut Primary School, Mosta

COMENIUS 2

Comenius 2 contributes to the professional development of all staff involved in school education, by supporting:

- transnational projects

- mobility activities

Training of School Education Staff

Transnational cooperation projects – curricula– modules– courses– teaching material

Mobility activities– Initial teacher training– Comenius language assistantships– In-service training courses for teachers

Comenius 3: Networks Composed of at least 6 organizations from 6

different countries All types of educational institutions, public or

private bodies interested eligible under Comenius: universities, teacher training institutions, education authorities, research centers, associations...

Objectives : - To encourage the networking of Comenius

projects on subjects of common interest- To promote European co-operation and innovation

in school education in various thematic areas

Deadlines

1st November 2002 - Comenius 3 - Pre-Proposal Applications

1st March 2003 - Comenius 1 - School Partnerships

- Comenius 2.1- European Cooperation Projects for the Training of School Education Staff

- Comenius 2.2B - Language Assistantships

- Comenius 2.2C - Individual Grants for In-Service Training

- Comenius 3 - Full-Proposal Applications

Further Information

Schools, Organisations and Institutions which are interested in submitting project ideas to be funded under the SOCRATES/COMENIUS Action can contact :

Socrates Office or EUPU Ms. Annhelica Scerri Mr. Ivan Borg Tel : 2340 2204 Tel : 21

255086 E-mail : socrates@um.edu.mt

Web sitehttp://home.um.edu.mt/socrates/comenius.html