1. A European Children Manifesto Patrizia Corasaniti Primary Teacher Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione Italian Ministry of Education April 10th 2008

2. Year 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation Objective: to support the EU member States in promoting creativity and Innovation through lifelong learning Innovation as the main engine of economic expansion and social development Turning creative ideas into use (both products or active practices) Creativity as the prerequisite of Innovation it can be manifested in many fields; it is a cognitive ability because it involves the ability to combine and associate data and information. It implies CONFIDENCE TO TAKE RISKS

3. All children are creative but creativity has to be supported, encouraged and cultivated Otherwise it runs the risk to be suffocated/killed Stimulating creativity in education, especially at the earlier stages, can increase children’s motivation as well as self confidence helping them reach their full potential.

4. W Why a European Children Manifesto OECD Report (2005) points out the importance of: “Helping students feel safe and confident; recognising individual and cultural differences; “Active involvement of students in the learning process: helping students to develope a repertoire of learning strategies; building skills for peer and self-assessment; enhancing students’ roles in peer and self assessment” OECD/CERI Research “Learning Sciences and Brain research”: “Emotional states induced by fear or stress directly affect learning and memory”

5. W Why a European Children Manifesto The EU Commission emphasised the importance of innovation to the development of sustainable inclusive societies in Europe Among EU Recommendation on key competences : social and civic competences, cultural awareness and expression There cannot be creativity if we do not promote well-being of our children, critical thinking, initiative, problem solving, decision taking

6. W Why a European Children Manifesto The Manifesto for European Students was produced by a group of self organized High Secondary School students from all over Italy within the campaign on Education and Training 2010 Students show their vision of “unity in diversiry” and work out a wide range of concrete actions that every school, teacher, parent or student can undertake to make the Manifesto come to life

8. W Why a European Children Manifesto We are convinced that all the children are the same and that it is important to go to school both today and when we grow up. We European children ask for: 1) All European children should have the opportunity to learn everything they need to solve ordinary problems (reading, writing, calculating, going shopping, writing a letter, filling in forms, being understood by foreign children and so on) 2) All European children should have the opportunity to enjoy school with their teachers and their schoolmates and be helped to express themselves freely 3) All European children should have the opportunity to know where their classmates and their schoolmates come from and be able to share differences and similarities 4) All European children should have the opportunity to travel, know and be in touch with other European children 5) All European children should have the opportunity to learn how to use the resources from our planet and take care of them 6) All European children should have the opportunity to sing, listen to poems, dance, paint, play, and have a knowledge of songs, poems, dances, drawings and games by other European children to learn to enjoy to know to travel to learn to sing

9. 2) All European children should have the opportunity to enjoy school with their teachers and their schoolmates and be helped to express themselves freely

10. A A European Children Manifesto 2. Flexible training courses and open learning environments Aims  Supporting children become aware of their emotions/feelings in order to develop their full potential  Having children reflect on what can help their well-being at school

11. I don’t like my school… My ideal school is … 2. Learning activities

12. 3) All European children should have the opportunity to know where their classmates and their schoolmates come from and be able to share differences and similarities

13. 3. Identity Aims  enhancing children ’ s identity, language and traditions  encouraging, in children, an attitude of curiosity, respect and admiration towards differences in order to remove stereotypes and xenofobic behaviours  reflecting on rights/duties as well as on common and transversal values  becoming aware of similarities and differences as human being respects only what she/he understands and understands only what she/he knows A A European Children Manifesto

14. Where am I from? Traditional habits Near and far tastes and smells Tales and stories Roleplaying Games from all over the world History and Religion Music Arts and crafts 3. Learning activities

15. Our journeys An imaginary journey to….. Lets’ discover other countries Comenius School Partnerships eTwinning 4. Learning activities

16. 6) All European children should have the opportunity to sing, listen to poems, dance, paint, play, and have a knowledge of songs, poems, dances, drawings and games by other European children

17. 6. Expressive means Aims Supporting school, family, society reflect on different expressive means such us art, poetry, dance, music, sport and how these can help children develop their full potential

18. Example 1 6. Expressive means Suggested activities: 1. The teacher selects artworks from different countries. Then she/he asks children to compare them according to different elements such us colours, the use of light, shadows, the way nature/lasdscapes/different environments/people are represented, etc.

19. TROLLS- John Bauer The Disturbing Muses - Giorgio De Chirico The Vivian Girls with Windmills Paula Rego IN THE SUN NETS - Klavdij Tutta A FIGHT- Laurence S. Lowry The Persistence of Memory Salvador Dalí

25. Example 2 6. Expressive means Folk dance 1.Let’s exploit what PARENTS can teach us from their own traditions (local, nation and worldwide) 2.Learn from our partner schools in case we join any EU school partnership (Comenius Partnershipo/eTwinning)Comenius Partnershipo/eTwinning

26. A European Children Manifesto WE EUROPEAN CHILDREN, both boys and girls, are committed to making our demands come true, but we are asking everybody to help us turn all this into REALITY

27. W Why a European Children Manifesto Because... ...it involves all the pupils ... the activities are designed so that a lot of collaboration between the pupils is needed. ... it makes pupils aware and opens their eyes to new realities, new friends in different countries Cross curricular links All subjects Methodology - Learner centred approach - Personalised learning - Learning by doing - Brainstorming - Circle time - Role plays - Peer teaching - Collaborative learning - Clear educational and social topics

28. Why is this a BEST practice? The use of ICT Designing and creativity Using language, symbols and text interactively The ability to relate well to others The ability to cooperate The ability to manage and solve conflicts Study skills Learning to learn, problem solving, organizing work, using different ICT devices Social skills Cooperating, working in groups, managing a group, exchanging ideas and materials, Collaboration, internationalization, exchange, Communication S-S, T–T, S-T-S, T-S-T, risolving conflicts,

29.  It is a good chance for learners (both teachers and students) to enrich their knowledge and their social interaction skills  Constructivist vision of learning (active learning)  It fits in the Curricula  It is coherent with teachers’/students’ competences  It respects all limits and barriers of the context in whick it takes place That’s to say that.. IT is MANAGEABLE Why is this a BEST practice?

30. Teachers Didactical support for teachers Enhancing teachers’ pedagogical skills Improving teachers’ ICT skills Project community for teachers’ educational materials exchange and communication Personal/professional development Teacher as a PIONEER

31. A A European Children Manifesto Innovation is often introduced by restricted groups of pioneers who are able to identify the integration of new possibilities into their professional practices

32. A A European Children Manifesto But.....  What does internationalisation imply? Do schools have to cope with the same problems in all European countries?  What is a Best Practice in a country, can it be considered the same in all countries, or not?

33. A European Children Manifesto No school is an island!

34. A European Children Manifesto How can innovation be disseminated among schools? How can we help generating a multiplier effect of good practices developed by schools, among schools? Which are effective ways to spread the benefits of the action of pioneers among the wide community of schools?

35. W Why a European Children Manifesto  Share, use and enhance “ Good Practices ” carried out by other schools, easy to consult, freeware,  find assistance for the Educational use of ICT in their everyday practice  find meaning and value to their good practices within ICT and Collaborative Learning  Not to lose memories of the valuable materials and Projects realized in their schools A virtual community where schools can:

36. W Why a European Children Manifesto Putting alltogether valuable things we have built during the time MEANS Building something completely new and even of a greater value