Action Track Grand Tour
Bridging
the gaps of digital literacy, strengthening European partnerships,
fostering more attractive learning: these are just a few of the
ambitious goals of the Project "DiscovertwoCities" promoted by Kallion
Lukio, Helsinki (Principal: Helena Helenius Lamminparras) together with
Liceo Ugo Foscolo Albano Laziale ( Headmaster: Lucio Mariani).
The
project, funded by the European Union within the framework of Erasmus+
Programme was launched in September 2014 and will last until August
2016.
So
far, there have been nearly 200 Italian and Finnish students directly
involved and more are expected through the EU Twinspace on etwinning,
which is temporarily serving as the project platform along with
discover2cities.blogspot.com.
An
intensive research work of IV G Liceo Ugo Foscolo students,under the
guidance of their teacher Mrs. Elena Montani, has been turned into an
amusing treasure hunt through the alleys of Mediaeval Albano.
Ms.Niina,
Vantanen, Ms.Aija Viita, Mrs.Pia Carolla, Mrs.Giuseppina Febbraro and
Mrs.Maria Vittoria Marini Bettolo Marconi, subject teachers have been
busy, instead, with the technicalities of the TAZ-ACTION TRACK APP and
the project management.
Foreign
students will become familiar with CASTRUM Albanensis (Castro Partico)
or the CASTELLUM in the area of CELLOMAIO THERMAE.Targeted tasks will
ease orienteering now in Albano Laziale and Rome, and next year in
Porvoo and Helsinki making the user active part of the tour.
So
in the next days, if you seeteams of 17-year-olds walking nose
up,holding their tablets or mobile phones at historical sites or city
landmarks- don't worry, this is not digital addiction, but a new way of
developing co-operative learning.
Tuesday 14th April
The map over Albano Laziale with the landmaks that the groups were supposed to visit. |
The teachers of Liceo Ugo Foscolo had organized an activity in the surroundings. The groups were searching for the spots and answering questions about the history of Albano Laziale using the mobile devices. About 50 students were involved in the activity that lasted for about three hours.
The activity started from the school yard |
The teams walked up and down the hill |
We visited the Amphitheatre as a big group |
Mobile devices were used for finding the landmarks, searching for information and answering the questions. Taking pictures and making short videos was also possible. |
Examples of the evaluation of the teams:
"For us Finns it was really interesting to hear Italians students’ thoughts about the places we went. The places became more personal when we had the guidance from the locals. Our team is communication, and we definitely learned how to communicate better with each other."
"The Italian and the Finnish members of Everyday life - team were satisfied with the walking in the city and the discussions."
"One problem was that we felt like everyone was following the same road at the same time, which created bit mass. It would have been nicer to go different roads."
"It is an interesting way to learn, because we are more active in the learning process"
"It is a practical way to learn and a beautiful experience because we interact with each other. It is an more effective way of learning"
"Internet did not work so the use of iPad was not possible."
"The whole idea is very good, and being the first time, it worked quite fine."
/photos and text prof. Aija Viita
/photos and text prof. Aija Viita