Schools Now and Then (LS-HR-636)

Background

Schools are a big and very important part of students’ lives. Every school is special in some way, in some ways all schools are similar. They are places for acquiring knowledge, but also a microcosmos of the communities in which they exist. Children acquire in schools not only academic knowledge, but also civic and democratic values. The pandemic context of education has also brought forth awareness of the importance of schools for the whole society and made students reflect about the positive aspects of school in their own lives.

Activities

In this learning scenario students develop their critical thinking skills, describe, compare and give opinion about schools today and in the past. They communicate with each other and with older generations, do research on Europeana platform, develop collaboration and communication skills. They make interviews with their grandparents about what was school like in their time. Thus, they become more respectful and appreciative of the older generation of their parents and grandparents. They make conclusions about changes that have happened and develop understanding and respect for the way of life of their grandparents.

Through different activities with digital applications students also develop their ICT skills and in the activity of making a collaborative e-book they can also show their creativity and their language skills. The activities encourage students to develop all language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and digital competencies, but also to be creative, resourceful and independent.

By investigating images on Europeana, students reflect on how schools have been changing across cultures and time. They become aware of importance of school and education in the past and now. They compare, reflect and make their own conclusions about the changes that have happened.

Outcomes

As the learning outcome students present their interviews with their grandparents and have a class discussion about all they have learned about schools in the past and now. They can express their attitude towards school and talk about the importance of education.

Would you like to know more about this learning scenario? You can download it below:

Did you find this learning scenario interesting? You might also like:

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• Distance Education: Cultural Heritage is ‘New’ Normal!

Public Domain Mark 1.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Deutsche Fotothek.