Think Wisely Take the Best Decision

We addressed a target group of 300 students of different specialisations in our schools, boys and girls, mainstream students or students belonging to disadvantaged groups, who were 10-13 years old. They were at the core of the activities, as we intended to make a long-lasting impact on them. The project also addressed 35 teachers in our schools, they turned the project results into long-term practices at local levels, coordinated students' activity and guide them, monitored them and act as a resource.ObjectivesThe objectives of the project were as follows:- to develop students' critical thinking, leadership, communication and social skills- to make student gets more involved in the community life- to lay the basis for students' autonomy in thinking and action- to promote European values - tolerance, respect, democracy, active citizenship- to promote intercultural learning- to facilitate the exchange of ideas and the cooperation between European studentsMain activitiesThe project included four exchanges during which students interacted, communicated, exchanged ideas, put forwards arguments and counterarguments based on statistical data, assessed the situations comparatively, participated in role-plays, simulations, interviews. Each team of students researched on the topic of the exchange, so that the meeting could be productive and a qualitative exchange of information was facilitated.There were 4 exchanges with the following topics:C1 - Immigration C2 - Democracy - human rightsC3 - Discrimination C4 - Civic involvementMethodologyBefore the exchanges, students worked intensively on the topic of the exchange and will collect data at local level in order to provide an informed presentation of the situattion during the exchange. To do this, they researched, applied surveys, took interviews, contacted NGOs active in that field, collected data, analysed, assessed and drawn conclusions. During the exchanges, they presented their research work, analyse the data from other countries comparatively, participate in debates, in engaging activities which were meant to improve their critical thinking skills, met local authorities and discussed the issues to see the opinion of a politician on those matters.Results and impactStudents developed an autonomy and critical thinking, they became more aware of their rights, duties and their power to decide for themselves, got involved in the community life, developed professional, personal, interpersonal skills and intercultural competence. They acquired European values, such as tolerance, respect, active citizenship.Tangible results were included the recordings of debates, presentations, research work, the collection of activities for developing critical thinking skills (for teachers), the platform for students.The project had a wide impact through the students' platform, dissemination activities and materials were published on a variety of online spaces. Besides students, there were teachers, parents, institutions and local communities who benefited from the project results in one way or another. Teachers diversified their teaching materials and improved their communication, organisational and team work skills. Schools improved their human resources, attained more cohesion, gained a positive image and strengthened the relations with local authorities and NGOs, parents became more involved in the school life and appreciated the role of the school in the shaping of their children's individuality. The following link of the project website is: http://sp19erasmus.mojaszkola.net/