Summary of Mobility to Denmark October 4th -10th 2015

Summary of Mobility to Denmark October 4th -10th 2015

1. Introduction

As planned, the first mobility took place in Denmark. Due to different issues as not getting contract or grant; Portugal was not able to participate, but the rest of the schools were each represented by 2 teachers and 7 students.

1. Arrival and accommodation

All guest schools came as planned and was met at the airport by the host families. Teachers went to their hotels.

1. Logo contest

Before the mobility, we had a logo contest and each school contributed with their best bid on a logo for the project. There was a vote amongst the students and the winning logo was made by Italy and can be seen on top of this summary. The Logo will be used on all documents and other things related to the project. Congratulation Italy!

1. Program for students

See attachment 1

The presentation on Thursday was held as an exhibition, where parents, teachers, fellow students could stroll around and see/listen to the products made by the groups during the week, discussing the problem chosen and the suggestions on solutions for the specific problem.

1. Program for teachers

The teachers had almost the same program as the students working on Innovation, but from a teacher´s point of view. By working in an innovative way, the teachers got hand on the way to work with the students as they come home to their own schools. We worked with check in-check out, Jump Cards, Brain breaks, combining two things, face of, sorting, how to make everybody contribute to ideas and be a part of the group work using post it notes, Design to improve life compass etc.

The teachers had lots of ideas and finally narrowed it down to 2 subject to work on at home

a) How to say “no” in a “yes” way, meaning focus on positive improvement, ignoring negative behavior.

b) How to make social medias become our servants and not using us as slaves.

1. Adjustment to mobility plan

Because of the issues with Portugal, we had to adjust the mobility plan, and agreed on:

Finland: 24^th – 30^th of January 2016

France: 13^th-19^th of March 2016

Spain: 29^th of May- 4^th of June 2016

Austria: 2^nd -8^th of October 2016

Portugal: 22^nd- 29^th of January 2017

Italy: Should decide on either 19^th-25^th of March 2017, 26^th of February-4^th of march 2017 or 23^rd-29^th of April 2017.

1. Social come together on Thursday evening

Thursday evening we had a Potluck Party with students, teachers, parents, siblings etc. at school. After the dining, the students enjoyed themselves with dance and music and the adults socialized in the staff room with coffee etc.

1. Cultural/ social trip to Copenhagen on Friday

Friday was dedicated to a trip to Copenhagen starting with sightseeing on the canals, getting a view of the city from the seaside with Nyhavn, Opera house, the little mermaid, Christianshavn etc.

After the canal trip, the students had a treasure hunt in Copenhagen, finding famous places. The teachers had free time and at 1. p.m. teachers had lunch at Fyrtøjet (the tinderbox) in Nyhavn with traditional Danish dishes.

Finally, all students and teachers went for a final evening at Tivoli (amusement park) that had Halloween evening with spooky things and rides. Teachers also had a final social dinner to round up on the mobility and say goodbye.

1. Departing

Saturday the guest students were brought to the airport by their host families, and met with their teachers at the airport for the transport home again.

Conclusion:

The mobility worked out, from a Danish point of view, mostly as planned. The goals set on introducing innovation and entrepreneurship in education and carry it out by working in international groups, using innovative tools worked fine and as described in the application. 

Although, as many never had tried it before, we choose to put it on a very basic level, focusing on product and own contribution to the solutions. The important thing was to show, another way to work at school and focusing on that the students should have a feeling of ownership to the work and result. Therefore as the students presented their work, the main question was: “What is your part in the solution?” having the students to understand that finding a solution on a problem also includes themselves and should have a value both for themselves and for others.

We as teachers also recognized that groups of 10 students were too big. We already knew that, but had to make this compromise as we meant it was important to mix the students so every group had students from all the schools. From earlier work in Denmark we have concluded that groups of three are the most effective and dynamic groups. Using an innovative profile/ interview and a modified Belbin test makes it even better to put the groups together as you can uncover hidden talents and strengths / weaknesses at the individual making the group flow better.

Evaluation from the Danish students: 

Positive: 

• Forced to speak English made an improvement.
• New friends
• More knowledge
• New knowledge of other nationalities
• Small groups in Copenhagen
• More cross country unity 
• Good experience
• To hear histories from other countries

Negative:

Communication problems

Suggestions to improve:

More common activities and not divided into different rooms.

Bjørn C. Langmann

Coordinator Usserød skole, Hørsholm Denmark.

Complementary comments from:

Finland

Spain:

France:

Italy:

Austria:

Attachment 1