i-School is on! – Cultural Heritage in action

Imagine a world that would begin again from scratch, with each day. Every time the sun went up, everything in our minds would be wiped clean. All the experience, knowledge, trial-and-error, and know-how of thousands and thousands of years, gone. Concepts like evolution and progress would of course be alien language, and people would have just a few hours to understand and embrace the basics of survival; societal structures, let alone culture, would be out of the picture.

What was (and still is) the behavior that led humans to evolve, learn, and effectively develop societies, if not respect for the lessons of the past and its heritage? Even though our world transforms rapidly with each passing day, the above concept stands concrete. Knowledge and perception of Cultural Heritage carries a lesson of its own.

i-school project - Cultural Heritage

The idea for i-School was inspired by that exact concept. According to research (2017 Special Eurobarometer report on cultural heritage), Europeans believe, and in great numbers too, that cultural heritage has a crucial role to play in schools, and education in general. Responding to that need, the i-School project came to life, as an organized framework towards integrating European cultural heritage in primary and secondary education, via setting a network between schools and cultural institutions, and developing engaging and innovative digital tools.

The project aims to build on educators’ competences on integrating cultural heritage matters in the educational procedure, as well as engage students on the subject, by developing courses based on blended teaching methodologies. Traditional teaching methods co-exist with fresh, creative, and engaging digital tools in the educational eco-system, a process that works towards the transformation of education. A network between schools, cultural institutions, and the partnership will also be created via i-School.

The duration of i-School is 30 months. The project started on 12-2021 and will come to an end on 06-2024.

Our first online meeting!

More of a ‘get to know each other’ rendezvous, rather than an official gathering, after the essential greetings and introductions, and the quick catching up between familiar faces, the meeting finally started rolling. Partners created a framework with aims, responsibilities, and timelines, regarding the project’s results and activities. Everybody spoke their minds, exchanging opinions, comments, and views on every aspect of the project. Digital tools development, educational material research, ways of communicating the project to interested parts, transnational and multiplier events. After a few hours, all was set, and i-School was at last ready to come to life!

The Kick – off Meeting

Upon closure, and after our digital seal gave concrete substance to our just completed online conversation, we renewed our rendezvous, for a face to face meeting this time, in Cyprus, on the 12.05.2022, where, as you understand, things will get serious! Keep in track, and we promise to let you know of everything fresh about i-School!

The partners

  1. EUROSUCCESS – G.G. EuroSuccess Consulting Limited – Cyprus
  2. BOCCF – Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation – Cyprus
  3. p-consulting.gr – M. Skoulidi & SIA E.E. – Greece
  4. Antalya Provincial Directorate for National Education – Antalya Il Milli Egitim Mudurlugu – Turkey
  5. Patrizio Paoletti Foundation – ASSISI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL + FONDAZIONE PATRIZIO PAOLETTI PER LO SVILUPPO E LA COMUNICAZIONE – Italy
  6. Olympion – Cyprus

The project is addressed to:

  • Primary and secondary school teachers
  • Primary and secondary school students (10-15 years old)
  • Primary and Secondary Schools (private and public)
  • Creative and cultural institutions (e.g., museums, galleries, archaeological sites, monuments, national parks, etc.)
  • Ministry officials (Ministries of Education, Pedagogical Institutes, etc.)
  • Trainers and other professional educators
  • Youth NGOs and youth workers working in the field of culture and cultural education
  • Any other kind of institutions/actors in the field of cultural heritage

The Project Results are:

  • An Online Course for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, focusing on teachers’ skills and competencies on how to integrate heritage and culture in everyday school practices, as well as on collaboration opportunities with cultural and creative institutions.
  • A Cultural Heritage Toolkit consisting of educational sessions regarding cultural heritage, applicable either in class, or at cultural sites.
  • An E-Learning Platform, which will host all the educational materials produced.
  • Digital Game “Cultural Warriors”: A web-based interactive game as a way to engage teachers and students on the subject.

Stay tuned for more info and news!

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