On June 12th and 13th the third transnational project meeting for Eurospectives 2.0 took place in Vigo, hosted by the CFR centre. The CFR is the organization that organizes and runs professional development activities for trainee and experienced teachers (workshops, courses, etc.).
Our meeting began with a light lunch to welcome everyone after their travels and to get to know each other a little more (as not everybody had met previously). The first day involved a great deal of discussion, beginning with an overview on the project and the meeting agenda led by Tatjana (CB). It was established that there was a need for a project plan detailing the packages and tasks.
Hayley (PVM), Vani (CB) and Martin (CRN) then presented two old practices in digital storytelling which was useful. A local guest teacher delighted and enthralled us with an interesting treasure hunt-type game called ‘Welcome to Heaven’ which also helped us to break the ice and show us that even activities designed for children or basic learners can be used effectively with older participants, and this feedback was shared. Gabi(C21) then presented a new story-telling video and the idea of exactly what storytelling is was further discussed.
We then moved on to discuss and review the Evaluation Grid 2.0 document which is used to evaluate the practice and how it should be used and by whom. Although this was time-consuming and painstaking, the result was a much improved and exact edition of the document and a greater agreement on its layout. We also discussed exactly who the document is aimed at and what it is for (project partners internally, independent teachers to evaluate their practice, people from different organizations and for external evaluation). There was also discussion regarding the curriculum and its target group (trainers and educator, formal and informal). The Evaluation Grid may be used during research to identify key points and best practice. We came to the conclusion that the grid could be customized in each country, according to language and cultural issues. It was also decided not to use numerical scoring as it evaluates quantity and not quality. Trainers will be able to cross check with the curriculum and adapt the practice to their needs. Feedback was given on the old evaluation grid and the team unanimously agreed on adding the ‘Factbox’ and decided that it is necessary to have the same grid guidelines for all partners to add in the smart practice handbook. Finally, the new version of the grid was created and shared. Then, Stephanos (EA) presented the skeleton of the modules for the curricula, which will be built based on the smart practices.
After our hard day’s work, we later went out to dinner all together to wind down and try out some local Galician traditional food. A well-earned reward!
The following day, Martin presented the Project Plan document and it was modified. The timeline chart and distribution of work package tasks was also reviewed and clarified (IO, Labs, Multiplier Events, Presentation of Curriculum Building Module, Dissemination). Action items were decided on for each partner for the next stage. Discussion points were also proposed for the next meeting including reviewing the IO, how to structure the training program for the Berlin LAB, a review of the Curriculum Building Module, work with practices and how to review them using the new grid. IO 1 role is to be replaced with IO7. The relevant target groups will be adapted and new stories will be reviewed using the new evaluation grid. The partners will review and co-create the needs assessment proposal and the project website is to be reviewed also.
We look forward to our next meeting which is to take place on September 24th and 25th in Liverpool, hosted by PVM.
Written by Fiona Brennan, Collaborator at CFR Vigo.