It Has Lasted for Two Years, Beginning in the Fall of 2009 and Ending in the Summer of 2011

E1 Summary

The Comenius partnership Interaction event – ideology – literature in European societies throughout the 20th century aimed at the achievement of an analysis of the historical and literary evolutions within several European countries, during the 20th century. The ultimate goal of the project was to create the awareness of all stakeholders (students, teachers, parents, local communities’ members) in relation to the similarities and differences of the represented cultures that shape our present. It has lasted for two years, beginning in the fall of 2009 and ending in the summer of 2011. The project analysed the history and culture of European countries in the 20th century pointing out the influences of the political and social conditions of different ages on the evolution of the representative literary works. Before each mobility, a series of materials was made by the three countries analysing and comparing each country’s historical and literary events representative for the period. Different activities have been organised during the mobilities: presentations, workshops, conferences with historians, literary critics, witnesses of the events, film directors etc., sightseeing and representative museum visits (e.g. detention and extermination camps). The side benefits of the project included inter-cultural exchanges, web-based and interpersonal communication, on-site visits, English language skill development (as official language of the project), development of ITC skills, interdisciplinary interaction, intercultural interaction The project produced various results, including presentations, reports, exhibitions, an Internet site, impression files.

E2 Outcomes

1. Type: Brochure Title: Thematic Files Description: 10 to 20 page documents about the history, society and literature of the three countries Date: 31 January 2010 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), History and social science (TOPIC-37), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Comenius.cnlazar.ro, electronic and printed in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: Paper brochures (BRC), CD, DVD

2. Type: Presentation of results Title: History and literature case study of the three countries Description: 10 to 20 slides of Power Point presentations about a specific period and literary work of the three countries Date: 23 March 2010 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), History and social science (TOPIC-37), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Comenius.cnlazar.ro, electronic and printed in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: Paper brochures (BRC), CD, DVD

3. Type: Other products Title: Films on the three participating schools Description: 5 to 15 minute films made by the partners presenting the three participating schools Date: 23 March 2010 Educational field: New technologies (010i) Topics: Intercultural education (TOPIC-27), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29), New technologies, ICT (TOPIC-25) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Comenius.cnlazar.ro, electronic and printed in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: CD, DVD

4. Type: Conference Title: Conference on history and literature of Romania Description: 4 guests lecturing on Romanian communist history and literature and responding to questions from students Date: 24 March 2010 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: History and social science (TOPIC-37), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29), Regional identity (TOPIC-50) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Electronic in Colegiul National Gheorghe Lazar Creator: Participants at the conference Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: CD, DVD 5. Type: Workshop Title: Compared analysis of the case studies of the three countries Description: 3 groups workshop analyzing the three case studies Date: 24 March 2010 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), History and social science (TOPIC-37), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Electronic in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: CD, DVD

6. Type: Report Title: Similarities and differences of case studies on history and literature of the three countries Description: 6 page PowerPoint presentation of the comparison between the three case studies Date: 25 March 2010 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), History and social science (TOPIC-37), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: Printed in Colegiul National Gheorghe Lazar and electronic in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: Paper brochures (BRC), CD, DVD

7. Type: Conference Cy Title: The influence of history on cinema production Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

8. Type: Debate Cy Title: The influence of history on cinema production Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

9. Type: Comparative study Cy Title: History and cinematography Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

10. Type: Presentation of results Cy Title: Film presentations and analysis reports Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

11. Type: Workshop Cy Title: The influence of history on the films screened Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

12. Type: Report Cy Title: Conclusions on the influence of history on the films screened Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

13. Type: Other products Cy Title: Films of the previous visits in Romania and Cyprus Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

14. Type: Presentation of results Cy Title: Historical and literary analysis of poems, prose passages and posters Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

15. Type: Workshop Cy Title: Historical and literary analysis of poems Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

16. Type: Report Cy Title: Historical and literary analysis of poems Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

17. Type: Handbook Pl Title: Vocabulary on literary and historical terms Description: Date: 31 March 2011 Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

18. Type: Other products Pl Title: Presentation of films on the previous visit in Cyprus Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

19. Type: Presentation of results Pl Title: Biographies of history and literary personalities Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

20. Type: Workshop Pl Title: Analysis on the influence of history on personalities Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

21. Type: Report Pl Title: Mental maps and tables on comparative studies of biographies Description: Date: Educational field: Topics: Target groups: Languages: Source: Creator: Copyright: Target sectors: Medias:

22. Type: Other products Title: Presentation of films on the previous visit in Poland Description: Description: 5 to 60 minute films made by the partners presenting their visit in Poland Date: 13 June 2011 Educational field: New technologies (010i) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29), New technologies, ICT (TOPIC-25) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: electronic in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: CD, DVD

23. Presentation of results Title: Exhibitions with all the products of the project Description: Photos and brochures exhibited with all the products from the mobilities Date: 13 June 2011 Educational field: Museum studies, conservation (3222) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29), European citizenship and European dimension (TOPIC-17) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec) Languages: English Source: printed in Colegiul National Gheorghe Lazar and electronic in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education Medias: Exhibition (EXH)

24. Type: Report Title: Report on the activities and the products of the project Description: 30 pages document including the cover of all the products developed in the project Date: 13 June 2011 Educational field: History (0105) Topics: Cultural heritage (TOPIC-10), Learning about the European countries (TOPIC-29), European citizenship and European dimension (TOPIC-17) Target groups: General Secondary School (EDU-SCHSec), Other (OTH) Languages: English Source: printed in Colegiul National Gheorghe Lazar and electronic in partner schools Creator: Students and teachers of partner schools Copyright: freeware Target sectors: P85.31 - General secondary education, Medias: Paper brochures (BRC), CD, DVD

E3. European Added Value

The added value towards European cooperation can be measured at different levels, concerning the students, teachers, institutions and communities involved in the project. The students have learned about the historical realities of the 20th century in different European countries. They have understood and compared the social realities of each participating country. They have retained information on the literature (prose, poetry), films (movies), artistic works (photos, art albums) and vocabulary of each participating country. By doing so, they have improved their knowledge about the culture of each participating country and about the system of education of each participating country. In this manner a growth of tolerance and empathy to individuals coming for a different cultural and social environment has been achieved. The teachers also improved their knowledge about other systems of education (methods, curricula, subjects etc.). They have understood and compared the specific mentalities of each country. In this manner a better acceptance of diversity throughout Europe has been achieved. All the Comenius partners have learned to work as an actual European team. At the institutional level, the European added value consisted in the cooperation between teachers and institutions involved in the project, an improvement of European recognition of each institution and a better understanding of precise realities concerning the institutional evolution in each country’s context. The community of each partner has also beneficiated of a better cooperation with their school and the partner schools by involving parents to hosting visiting students , the schools’ cooperation with other state institutions and private companies in organising the activities, the schools’ cooperation with local authorities in organising the activities and involving the school population interested in future European projects which lead to a development of an European conscience for each factor involved.

E4. Partnership objectives achievements

The partnership had three main objectives which were all achieved. The first one was t o point out the cultural heritage (ideology, literature, patrimony) of each country involved in the project. The second one was to develop the sense of belonging to the European space referring to both the similarities and differences between the four countries. The third one was to emphasize the similar and different mentalities related to the same cultural topic. At student level, three objectives were followed and achieved. The first one, to study the historical events and the representative literary works of each country involved in the project throughout the 20th century. The second one was to emphasize the connections between the historical events and the literary works of each country in the analysed period by identifying the separate influences and analysing them in order to understand better our societies. The third one was to encourage the learning of modern foreign languages and to support the development of innovative ICT -based content, services, pedagogies and practice in lifelong learning. English, the common language of the partnership, was used by all the participants, which allowing them to improve their skills; also, students had the opportunity to get acquainted to the language of each country. The project was based on ITC products (presentations, internet site) which allowed students to improve the use of this type of methods. At teacher level, the project aimed and succeeded to compare the social and cultural differences of the participating countries in the 20th century by acknowledging the social and cultural differences and learn from the one another’s experience. Also, the project made possible an improvement of pedagogical proficiency and project management skills. By coordinating the pupils in their tasks, the teachers had the opportunity to develop their pedagogical skills (working not only with their own students, but with students coming from other countries). Also they were able to develop their management skills by organising the activities assigned to their country. Third, the project allowed the teachers an improvement of the use of foreign languages and of modern technology methods. Teachers were permanently connected through an English-based work group on the Internet, which allowed them to improve their English skills and their ITC experience. The main topics of the project were historical events and literary production throughout the 20th century in each participating country. We analysed the way that historical events and political ideology influenced literature (prose, poetry) and culture (films, architecture) of each European country involved in the project. We started with the idea that in order to understand the contemporary European dimension of our societies it’s a must to get familiarised first to the past on different levels; historical background and its projection in literature were considered some of the most relevant ones. In order to achieve our objectives, different methods were implemented: analysis, comparison, synthesis, defining problems, debate, exposition, presentations. The analysis of historical influence on literary production and culture in the given period of time were assured through different activities. An interdisciplinary conference in Romania involving personalities from the field of history and literature offered an understanding of the topics that have to be approached throughout the project. Teachers and students organised workshops during each mobility analysing the historical events and literary works. In Cyprus, a very insightful debate has been organised about the interaction between history, society and cinema. Analysis of representative works of art gave students, during the mobility in Cyrus, the possibility to understand each society and culture better. Following biographies of literary and historical personalities during the mobility in Poland made the connection between the two more visible. At the end of the project an exhibition in Romania was organised including all the project products. Throughout the project, the activities proposed took place in each of the countries involved, such as visits of teams from each institution to the other participating countries. The visits included also sightseeing tours to understand the cultural background of each society. By doing so, the partnership achieved some of the general objectives of the Comenius program, as to improve the quality and to increase the volume of mobility involving pupils and educational staff in different Member States, to improve the quality and to increase the volume of partnerships between schools in different Member States, to encourage the learning of modern foreign languages, to support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practice in lifelong learning.

E5. Key competences KC2 Communication in foreign languages KC8 Cultural awareness and expression KC4 Digital competence Communication in foreign languages was achieved by making all the presentation in the working language of the partnership, by arranging mixed teams during the workshops, by hosting students by their corresponding partners, by keeping in touch (both students and teachers) through social networks and the group mail on the Internet and by communicating in English with other teachers and students of the schools. Students and teachers acquired an amount of cultural awareness by analysing the social, historical and cultural realities of the partner countries through empirical study, but also through the sightseeing. Their impressions on the visits were published in press articles and on the Internet. The cultural expression has been made by specific presentations, public performances and artistic expression (poster making). The digital competence was acquired through the making of PowerPoint presentations, the conception of films (presentation of each high-school, films of previous visits, films intended to illustrate the case studies), through creating a dedicated Internet website, through working on a dedicated group mail, through using graphics design programs for making logos and posters.

E6. Horizontal issues x Promoting an awareness of the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity within Europe, as well as of the need to combat racism, prejudice and xenophobia (Div) x Cultural and linguistic diversity (CulDiv)

The two issues were tackled by presenting the literary passages not only in English, but also in mother tongue, by visiting the historical and cultural monuments of each country, by learning about diversity and understanding the similarities and differences between the three countries involved, by performing traditional music and dances.

E7. Workplan and tasks

During the application process, the original fourth partner, Latvia did not get approved. As a consequence the activities planned in Latvia were undertaken by the Cyprus team. During the development of the project we have decided to produce the vocabulary at the end of the project instead of the beginning because we felt the need to use more information and by doing so to have the occasion of using it as a sum-up of the subjects approached during the meetings. A series of extra-activities were conducted even if they were not included in the application form, such as public film screenings or school performances.

E8. Communication and cooperation Throughout the period of development of the project, between 2009 and 2001, cooperation and communication was assured between teachers, students, teachers and students. A series of ways of have facilitated the two actions. All the project members have communicated to one another in English, the official language of the project. Every participating institution shared their Thematic Files with the others in order to give them a better perspective of its historical / literary realities. Every participating institution assured, when hosting, good conditions so that the activity they had undertaken could be well organised. Student-to-student cooperation and communication was encouraged by hosting the students into the correspondent student’s home, which assured also their communication with the local communities they visited. Teacher-to-teacher communication and cooperation was assured through the internet group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Comenius_History_and_Literature/) which allowed the mutual agreement on every stage in the development of the project. Teachers were separately involved in the final activity of each year (June 2010 in Cyprus and June 2011 Romania). Teacher-to-student communication was assured through the guidance offered by every teacher to every student in performing the established activities, through official meetings, common e-mail addresses. Communication between institutions was assured by means of the representatives of each school who cooperated with the board of the hosting institution and the local community.

E9. Partnership languages

English

E10. Evaluation

E10.1 Progress monitoring

Other (Oth)

Progress monitoring has been fulfilled through various means of methods, as to measure the achievement of the proposed objectives and the expected impact. There has been a constant evaluation of the unrolling degree of the project reported to the activities established in the planning program. It has been realised by reporting to the established indicators (realising the contemplated products in due time). The indicators will be both quantitative (growth of number of students and teachers involved, renewal of the project, accomplishment of the proposed number of products) and qualitative (improvement in foreign languages, improvement in ICT skills, interdisciplinary interaction, intercultural interaction, approval by all the participants of the resulted products). Certain instruments were used in order to evaluate the involvement of the teachers and students during the partnership: essays, analysis studies, questionnaires (regarding the expectations and the achievements), impression files, discussion forum on the Internet. The evaluation showed that all the objectives and the activities have been fulfilled in due time. The number of students and teachers involved in the project exceeded the number of those involved in the mobilities. The project has been continued in all three countries after the first year. Although all the proposed products were made, the number of final products exceeds the number of the products proposed during application. The students and teachers improved their foreign languages and their ICT skills, teachers from all disciplines were involved, a growth of cultural awareness in all partners has been detected and all participants were satisfied by the resulted products.

E10.2 Results/ products/ outcomes achievements Totally accomplished (Tot) E10.3 Aims/ objectives achievements Totally accomplished (Tot)