Developing mathematical-related competencesin eTwinning projects

Urszula Utnicka, Gimnazjum w Krempachach

eTwinning project„GOAL! Go Outside And Learn”

• A main idea of the project:

lessons outdoors

• Teachers and pupils from 6 schools: Poland, Finland, Croatia, France, Spain and Slovenia

• Lessons led within school timetables

• Topics implemented into curriculums

• 24 teachers, 44 lessons, 22 classes, 420 pupils

GOAL! eTwinning website

Lesson topics and mathematics

• Ramps → slope, right triangle

• Steps → mean, decimals

• Trees → estimation, Fermi problem

• Solids → volume, area of surface

• Height → proportionality

• Circles → diameter, π

• Earth → circumference of the Earth

• Symmetry → axial symmetry

• Geometry outside → geometry, constructions

• Apple pie → proportion, fractions, rounding

• Cartesius & Parking → coordinate system

• Solar System → scale, ball

Lesson „Ramps”

Students' tasks:

• find information, use MS Office,

• communicate via e-mails,

• calculate a slope of the ramp,

• learn and use Geogebra,

• do the project of the ramp,

• take photos and resize them,

• understand the problems of the handicapped people,

• cooperate in the group,

• present results of work.

Lesson „Solids”

Pupils divided into groups had to:

• discuss and choose solids to work on: cube, prism, pyramid, frustum, ball, cylinder, cone,

• make solids of snow on a school court,

• measure necessary dimensions,

• calculate volume and a total area of solids,

• do drawings and calculations on a paper,

• present the results of their research,

• do slide presentation in English.

Example of pupils’ work

Pupils' achievements (1)

• solving problems in a real situation,

• joining knowledge and skills,

• better language skills,

• effective use of ICT,

• interdisciplinary learning,

• ability to discuss and present own ideas,

• assertiveness,

• creativity, taking decisions,

• ability to analyse, to plan, to execute and evaluate

• better attitude to learning,

• social awareness, ability to work in a team,

• cultural awareness, openness to other countries.

Pupils' achievements (2)

8 key competences

1) Communication in the mother tongue

2) Communication in foreign languages

3) Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology

4) Digital competence

5) Learning to learn

6) Social and civic competences

7) Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship

8) Cultural awareness and expression

Transversal skills• critical thinking

• creativity

• Initiative

• problem solving

• risk assessment

• decision taking

• constructive management of feelings

What did the pupils finddifficult/easy?Difficult:• Computer programmes

e.g. graphics edition

• Sharing tasks

• Public speaking

• Problem solving

Easy / most satisfied:• Going outside a classroom

• Collaboration with pupils from abroad

• Successful public PP presentation

• Working in a group

• Carrying out their tasks

What did the teachers find difficult/easy?Difficult:• Finding additional time

• Detailed planning and preparation

• Implementing the project into curriculum and a lesson plan

Easy / most satisfied:• International cooperation

• Sharing ideas, experience and knowledge

• Working in teachers’ team

• Relationships with pupils

Teachers' new or developed skills and competences

• Self-management

• ICT skills

• Foreign language skills

• Project management

• Coaching; new role of a teacher in the process of learning

• Using various learning/teaching techniques

• Cultural awareness

• Creativity and innovation

• Planning, organising and assessing pupil’s learning

• Ability to collaboration with local community

Summary

• eTwinning project is a good method to develop students' and teachers’ competences

• Educational projects are often related to real life issues, in consequence pupils are more motivated to learn

• eTwinning project develops more then one key competence, as well as the transversal skills

• eTwinning project is more effective if integrates many subjects (interdisciplinarity)