Open air history classes “Adventures in a medieval city”
Description of the success story
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Name of the project: Open air history classes “Adventures in a medieval city” Subjects: History, ICT, Mathematics, Psychology Supervising teacher: Margarita Sendetskaja School: Kohtla-Järve Tammiku Gymnasium |
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Short description of the project: Project involved year 10 students from Kohtla-Järve Tammiku Gymnasium (Estonia) and members of Rezekne Youth Centre “Jacis” (Latvia). On the 2nd December 2010 at the same time in Tallinn and Riga students photographed historical objects, made mathematical calculations about streets and towers, listened to organ music and sampled medieval cuisine. For the preparation and reflection of the project ICT tools were used (Windows, Movie Maker, Tondoo com, Galameo). Cross-curricular links between mathematics, history, ICT and psychology were used. In the last stage there was a video conference between two countries. Students were organised in teams trying to find similarities and differences between Tallinn and Riga. Students also discussed the role of both capitals through history. CDs with project’s materials can be used for excursions (including virtual excursions) and other tourism related events for both schools and families. |
Project’s motto : “To love your country, you must really know it” (Roerich) 1. Through different practical activities and ICT tools to revise and broaden students knowledge on the topic “Medieval city” . 2. Find similarities between medieval Tallinn and other European cities, mainly Riga. 3. Through different practical activities help students feel like citizens of a medieval city and this way grow their interest in history. 4.Instil caring attitude towards historical heritage and make students feel proud of their capital which belongs to UNESCO heritage 5. Develop students’ knowledge of Estonian language through using different sources of information. Project’s activities are supporting school’s transition to teaching in Estonian language. |
Activity 1: preparations Results:
Activity 2: Project Day • Photographing at Tall Hermann • The Aleksander Nevski Cathedral: lighting a candle to honour one’s parents. •Listening to organ music. • Activities with a professional guide. • Orienteering in medieval Tallinn. • Photo hunt “I was here and saw it” • Sampling garlic cuisine • Interview on the Town Hall Square “What do you know about Latvia and Latvians?” • Fles-mob Student’s activities:
Teacher’s activities: 1. Co-ordinates 2. is a member of the team of teachers and parents, does all the tasks students do Results: • All the goals have been reached, everyone has enjoyed the tasks Activity 3: Final stage: • presenting final papers • Photo competition “I was here and saw it” • creating top 5 of “Most memorable objects from the project” • project’s advertising • video conference with Latvian partners “There is no present without future” • using materials in Mathematics and ICT lessons Students’ activities:
Teacher’s activities:
Results: • papers are published in blog • best photos and objects from each team are chosen and published in blog • a film “TOP 5” has been made and published in YouTube • successful video conference • CD with materials has been made |
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3. Project’s curricular links 1. Subject: History Implemented skills and knowledge: • Students know main stages in Estonian history, place and importance of medieval era, can relate it to their own local history • Are able to see the world like the people from the past. Students understand the way of life and thinking of medieval people • Students can generate ideas and use them creatively • S can present charts and tables orally, visually and in written way; compile researchers, write essays related to history, participate in discussions and work with a map • S are familiar with most important culture events and continuity • S understand changes in society and continuity in history Methods: • Orienteering • Photo hunt • Group work • Visualising • Interview •Finding partners from different areas to fulfil projects aims • Individual work • Video conference • Excursion • Brainstorming
2. Subject: ICT Implemented skills and knowledge: • S can use computer for work and study • S can work with OC Windows • S can find information online using different search engines • S can draw up text documents and make presentations • S can work with blogs and weebly Methods: Programming. Scratch Making videos. Windows Movie Maker Publishing your work –YouTube
3. Subject: Mathematics Implemented skills and knowledge: Student can: •calculate distance between two objects based on coordinates •calculate area of geometric shapes Methods: • Practical work, program GeoGebra • Measuring outside • Group work • Visualising
3. Subject: Psychology Implemented skills and knowledge: Students: •can choose their learning styles according to their goal an situation •understand difference between people, their uniqueness Methods: • Interview • Group work • Fles - mob • Brainstorming |
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4. Project’s links to real life and the world of work Group work was the most suitable from for our project. There are different forms of group work:
• Five teams were made as students had wanted. • Main rules were set: need to communicate, desire to learn something, will to use one’s skills, responsibility for common success • Each team chose administrative director who was responsible for organising work, meeting deadlines and using money. They also chose technical director who was responsible for technical issues and decisions. • Everyone could choose their role, means and method of work. Each student had his/her topic/subtopic. • Each team member had a substitute member • During project discussions, team consultations were used. Individual and collective responsibility were both important. Requirements and instructions were in teachers’ blog. •Students shared their knowledge through their research • Each student’s contribution was important in each stage of the project • Students are familiarised with marking scale and this increases their responsibility • Project Day wouldn’t have been interesting without proper preparations. If the work hadn’t been properly presented on CD it wouldn’t have been possible to present it to Latvian partners through video conferencing. • Project needs skills like not getting lost in a big city, reading a map, finding all necessary objects. All this takes courage and independence in making decisions. • Information about one’s local area help to popularise Estonia and make it more attractive to tourists. • Video conferencing with Rezekie city’s young people continues in future international projects. Current project has grown into long- lasting partnership. • Caring attitude towards historical heritage • Students have experience of doing research – finding material, use their knowledge in solving practical tasks • Communicative skills in group work and communicating with teachers • Skills valued by employers eg teamwork, decision making •Sponsors were used to maximum extent • Raising student’s level of self-confidence
Activities related to world of work: • Information about Tallinn and importance of its history has made same students think about taking up guiding as a future job, some students want to learn tourism management Tartu University Pärnu College • visiting restaurant Balthasar Russow and sampling medieval dishes impressed many students and they have thought about learning in tourism and catering management in Kuressaare College • many students got interested in restorer’s job. We have many historic buildings which need restoring Student’s opinions:
Results It is important that students:
Project gave chance to connect Estonian history to world history and to change teacher centred teaching more student centred. Also this project encourages being enterprising. Participants said the project to be interesting since it involved many different subjects and helps students think “out of the box” also in the future. |
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5. Involving partners 1. Rezekne Youth Centre “Jacis” (Latvia) and Viia Grisina Video meeting, video conference “There is no future without past” 2. Impact Ideas UÜ Sponsor for museum tickets 3. Natalja Barajeva, Team Manager Microsoft CSS Baltics ConsumerSupport IT consultant 4. L.K.W. Service OÜ Sponsor for museum tickets 5. Invik Reisid Financial support for travel expenses 6. Reborn Design OÜ Sponsor for museum tickets 7. Bo UÜ Sponsor for museum tickets 8.Omega OÜ Financial support for travel expenses 9. Parents Financing visit to restaurant Participating actively in a team (4 people) 10. Balttrans OÜ Financial support for travel expenses
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| Attachment |
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 Ajaloo tunnid1.doc |