Reanimating Cultural 'Treasure'!

"“The strength (or quality) of a civilization lies in its ability to face new challenges with one eye to the future and one to the past. Climate change and migratory flux are two of the challenges of our time.The best solutions demand critical and innovative thinking – with both knowledge of the past and openness for what lies ahead”.The objective of the project is to promote young people’s ownership of Europe’s diverse cultural heritage while enhancing respect for both past and future, promoting civic engagement, innovation and environmental responsibilities. We propose to achieve these goals is by rethinking, reanimating and repurposing existing structures such as ruins, buildings, monuments, bridges within the students’ local and national surroundings. Abandoned structures reveal local history and historical, political and societal factors related to them; they can be repurposed into new concepts in an eco-friendly sustainable way, generating social use and cultural interest, as well as innovative job opportunities. In doing so students will learn from each other and also gain greater ownership of their cultural identity.THE PARTNER SCHOOLS:Sandnes videregående skole (upper secondary public school, Sandnes, Norway)Regionale Scholengemeenschap 't Rijks (comprehensive secondary school, Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands)A’ Arsakeio Tositseio Lykeio Ekalis (non-profit general upper secondary school,Athens, Greece)Loreto College Cavan (all-girl secondary school, Ireland)Agora Sant Cugat International School, (co-ed secondary school, Barcelona, Spain)Istituto di Istruzione Superiore ""G.A. Pischedda"", (general secondary school, Sardinia, Italy)Five schools are currently working together on the Erasmus+ project The Architecture of Society. This new project is a natural evolution of that previous project shifting the focus to emphasizing cultural heritage, environmental awareness, civic engagement and innovative problem-solving thinking. The sixth partner was invited on the basis of local characteristics (history, architecture, heritage, location) and experience in international projects.Meetings in partner schools will focus on local heritage: researching existing structures, successful examples of repurposed sites and buildings, rethinking, repurposing and reanimating abandoned structures, proposing ways to achieve this in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner regarding materials and energy sources.METHODOLOGIES:- task-based learning- developing skills in training activities - visual presentations to reflect and disseminate student experiences- surveys- comparative studies- conference/debate/public-speaking- dissemination activities(articles, videos, social media)- lectures/presentations/workshops/innovation camps- design of posters/visual presentations- artwork- visits to places of historical and cultural importance /local institutions/organizations- expert lecturesRESULTS:- project logo- multimedia presentations that document and reflect upon student research- artwork showcasing student’s views on preservation and reanimation of cultural heritage and their involvement in environmental issues- questionnaires/surveys to evaluate the outcomes of the project- exhibition of all project work- project website- eTwinning twinspace - workshops/innovation campsActivities are aimed at encouraging critical thinking, creativity and innovation regarding the preservation and reanimation of their cultural heritage and sustainable development.ACTIVITIES:- student research on the project topics and presentation of findings- workshops and innovation “camps” in relation to the project theme- tailored lectures by experts on the subject e.g. university professors and entrepreneurs- debates and discussions on the subject - artwork contest and exhibitions- surveys, questionnaires and polls to investigate different aspects of our theme- cultural visits to locations and landmarks that highlight the theme, e.g. preserved sites, emblematic buildings, repurposed structures- meetings with stakeholdersIMPACT ON STUDENTS: -enhanced awareness of the importance of cultural heritage -motivation to preserve cultural heritage, repurpose artefacts and products of intellectual effort while promoting a responsible, active, innovative mindset. -Critical-thinking, self-empowerment, analytical, speaking and ICT skillsIMPACT ON TEACHERS-increased motivation/strengthened professional profile-opportunities for networking and international collaborationIMPACT ON SCHOOLS-opportunities to trigger changes on sustainability and green life-style choices. -innovative tools and ideas on the preservation of cultural heritage in a responsible and innovative way giving life to old structures and showing how personal engagement can result to plans serving the whole community. Dissemination will be through presentation of the project in planned meetings within schools, publications on e-twinning"