Teacher/ mentor: Isabel Marques

Teachers in the job shadowing: Nicoleta Militaru, Alina Nedelcu

Job shadowing, generally viewed as the calmer relative of internships or training, is an important but underappreciated tool in the toolbox of career development. Unlike typical internships, in which participants are directly involved in tasks and projects, job shadowing involves following professionals in their daily work. While it may appear to be passive at first appearance, it has a significant impact on job progression and personal development.

One of the key benefits of job shadowing is learning about the practical application of theoretical knowledge. Classroom learning gives a foundation, but seeing professionals utilize that information in real-world situations provides priceless insight. This direct experience can bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice, allowing individuals to understand the complexities and problems of their chosen sector. We had the opportunity to observe true professionals at work, ask them questions about their daily activities and interactions. about the challenges they face.  

Observing professionals in action offers more than just theoretical knowledge—it provides a platform for skill development. Whether it’s learning technical skills specific to the industry or honing soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and time management, job shadowing allows individuals to identify areas for improvement and learn from experienced practitioners. And that is what we have experienced with our Portuguese hosts. We have seen dedicated professionals who were willing to show us the way they do their work and to exchange examples of good practice from our schools. 

Step up! Learning and evolving, a new story to be written

Our story with Erasmus has been so wonderful due to our partners from different European countrie. And now, we feel lucky that we can continue to see them and to work with them during the Accreditation. The first part of the story happens in Trikala, Greece where our team of students and teachers met with the Greek team with the purpose of working together on the topic of digital tools. Out hosts, Mr. Nikos Ntogkas and Mrs. Dora Falagara from the 1st Laboratory Centre of Trikala opened the doors of their institution with the purpose of showing us their examples in the domain.

Once classes are over, students have the opportunity to explore the surrondings and learn more about the cultural, social and econonimcal life of their partners, thus enriching their personal experience and exapding their horizons. 

Romanian team

Students: Baranga Tudor, Constantin Eduard, Dinca Alexandra, Ene Anamaria,and Nitu Andra

Teachers: Constantin Diana and Grecu Magdalena

Writers are like architects of worlds, using words to build stories that captivate and inspire us. They come from all walks of life, offering diverse perspectives and voices that enrich our literary landscape. On this day, we take a moment to appreciate their creativity and dedication to their craft. One of the most beautiful aspects of literature is its diversity. Writers from different cultures and backgrounds contribute their unique stories, shedding light on experiences we may never have encountered otherwise. The International Day of Writers celebrates this diversity and encourages us to embrace stories from all corners of the globe.

The workshop organised by the Erasmus+ team, Step up! Learning and Evolving and the Council of Students from Arts High School „Ionel Perlea” had the participants reflecting upon the importance of literary texts in our lives as well as the way the job of a writer is seen in our society. For this pupose , we invited  Mrs. Corina Paun, one of our former students and present day writer, to have a dilogue with out students.

Witnessing the success of a writer can ignite a spark of inspiration in aspiring writers. Writers frequently share their personal journeys, demonstrating that achievement is attainable through persistence and effort. They possess a wealth of experience and wisdom, which they generously impart. Their guidance can enhance writing skills through the sharing of techniques, practical advice, and insightful responses to inquiries.

We want our students to be more aware of the importane of culture in our lives, on the importance of books, of reading and even writing for the shaping of different skills. Workshops like this one help bring together people with a shared interest in writing. Participants can connect with each other, forming valuable connections and potential collaborations while the writer can help them expand their creative horizons. 

• să lărgească și să completeze orizontul de cultural, îmbogățind cunoștintele din anumite domenii

• să creeze condiții pentru “desavârșirea profesională sau inițierea într-o noua activitate”

• să sprijine alfabetizarea grupurilor sociale defavorizate și   integrarea tinerilor

•  să contribuie la recreerea și la destinderea participantilor precum și la petrecerea organizata a timpului liber

• să asigure cadrul de exersare si de cultivare a diferitelor inclinatii, aptitudini si capacitati, de manifestare a talentelor.

Modulul 3 este dedicat educației non-formale prin proiectele eTwinning și mi-a oferit ocazia de a prezenta platforma, cu toate oportunitățile ei și de a demonstra diverse funcții în scrierea, organizarea și implementarea poriectelor eTwinning. 

Participanții la curs au explorat avantajele implementării proiectelor eTwinning, descoperind astfel o comunitate minunată. 

• eTwinning conectează școli din diferite națiuni, permitând elevilor și profesorilor să colaboreze cu colegii lor din diverse contexte culturale și sisteme educaționale.
• Prin participarea la proiecte eTwinning, elevii își lărgesc orizonturile, apreciază și respectă diferitele culturi. De asemenea, își dezvoltă abilitățile de comunicare și colaborare în medii internaționale.
• Proiectele eTwinning încorporează adesea tehnologia și spațiile online, permițând elevilor să își îmbunătățească abilitățile digitale și să devină mai familiarizați cu utilizarea dispozitivelor digitale pentru învățare.
• Prin participarea la proiectele eTwinning alături de elevi și profesori internaționali, participanții își dezvoltă abilitățile de colaborare într-un spațiu de lucru comun, schimbând idei și depășind împreună provocările.
• eTwinning oferă o platformă pentru ca profesorii să colaboreze, să facă schimb de idei și materiale didactice valoroase. Acest lucru le permite să învețe unii de la alții, îmbogățindu-și propriile practici de predare.

They used the site https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/eu_career_profiles to investigate and select useful information. Then, in teams , they used the information to create informative posters and an educational game on WordWall.

We plan on different activities to include the topic in the daily activities:

1. debates and presentations

2. sessions in which students reflect upon well-being

3. watching TED talks on well-being and stress

4. team work

5. reflecting upon themselves using different tools ( eg the health triangle)

They are very eager to take part in activities which empower them and which give them a voice in the matter. They have to analyse what they have in reality and not the dream school or the ideal school. This leads to them being anchored in their reality, in their community and being realistic when making suggestions. 

Schools, institutions, organizations, and individuals arrange a range of events and activities during Erasmus Days to promote the advantages of global mobility and cross-cultural interaction. Seminars, workshops, conferences, cultural exhibitions, and social gatherings are among these occasions.

We organised some interesting events meant to present oour Erasmus+ accreditation, Erasmus+ previous experiences as well as the new eTwinning projects in our school, Hands across countries, European Values and Youth Culture. 

Students also created and played a Kahoot! games based on European insititutions and their main characteristics as learnt on our  optional class. the eTwinning project, European Values.

Erasmus Days aim to raise awareness about the Erasmus+ program and its contributions to personal and professional development, as well as fostering a sense of European citizenship and unity among participants. Our students shared their Erasmus experiences, highlighting the positive impact it has had on their lives and careers and at the same tome encouragin new comers to join the teams.

#Erasmusdays2023 remains an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the program and inspire more people to participate in international mobility activities, fostering a more interconnected and understanding Europe.

#erasmusdays2023  #ambasadorerasmus #etwinning ambassador #liceuldearteionelperlea #erasmusarte

Thsi year, our team has got into the partnership with the County Sports Department for the thrid time and has been present to various events promoting healthy lifestyle and activities which are meant to bring well-being. Doing sports has numerous benefits on the short and on the long term for all participants, no matter their ages. This year's edition was under the motto "Sports in any form, at any age and for everyone" and it has included a variety of activity to suit all ages and tastes. 

We also said "yes" to their TAG challenge and had our eTwinning team work on the challenges promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Andy: "Sports help us be more belanced especially when we have very stressful situations at school. We can either go to a gym or do sports in the park or on the stadium. We have places and people to go with us and we find no excuses."

Cosmina: " I think the main benefit of sports participation is stress reduction. Exercise is a great technique to release endorphins and reduce tension after doing a stressful task under pressure. They allow aggression and repressed energy to be let out. They aid you in turning your attention away from your worries. They offer support and relationships."

Sebi: " Playing sports creates friendships, keeps you physically fit, teaches you how to manage your time, and helps you connect with adults and your peers. You develop abilities through athletics that are best learned on a court, track, or field."

Dan:"There are numerous activities that exist where you can meet people who are passionate about what they do. activities help us explore new things on land, in the water, and in the air. Doctors advise us to engage in sports for an hour each day. Get ready , steady, go!"

#beactive #AmbasadorErasmus #behealthy

• The main method of communication is language. You can communicate with people from various linguistic origins by learning new languages, resulting in greater understanding and communication in both personal and professional relationships.
• Languages and culture have a close relationship. You may learn about the cultures, beliefs, values, and history of a people by studying its language. This cultural awareness encourages respect and tolerance for various lifestyles.
• Knowing various languages enables you to participate more completely in global issues, events, and viewpoints in our increasingly interconnected world. You can use it to acquire information from a variety of sources and participate in a bigger global conversation.

• Multilingual employees are highly valued by many employers. Being bilingual or multilingual can help you get jobs, especially in professions like tourism, business, and diplomacy that require working with foreign clients.
• When you travel, speaking the language can substantially improve your experiences. It makes it simpler for you to get around, interact with locals, and fully experience the cultures of the countries you travel to.
• Learning a new language is a difficult but rewarding task. Your self-esteem, confidence, and sense of accomplishment can all rise as a result. The process of learning a language additionally encourages endurance, resiliency, and flexibility.
• You become a more informed and active global citizen when you can converse in a variety of languages. It enables you to comprehend and value many points of view and interact with global concerns more skillfully.

They played games and also created their own ones  and challenged colleagues from other classes, they took part in debates about the importance of sturding languages and favourite methods of learning them, they made posters and drawings in which they included the most valuble findings of the workshops: the value of learning languages goes beyond just being able to communicate. It enhances your life by giving you useful abilities, cultural understanding, and possibilities. Language ability is a potent tool for success on the personal, intellectual, and professional levels in a world that is more linked and diverse than ever.

We learnt more about our responsabilities during the Annual Meeting of the eTwinning Ambassadors which was held in August 2023 in Constanta. Here are some of our conclusions!

• Promoting the eTwinning initiative in their home countries or regions encourages educators to work on projects with colleagues in other European countries. Additionally, they provide guidance and support to instructors who are new to eTwinning, helping them to navigate the website, utilize the tools, and develop winning project ideas. Additionally, ambassadors facilitate communication between educators and institutions interested in collaborating on eTwinning projects. They aid in the growth of a group of educators who are enthusiastic about working abroad.

• To inform teachers and students about the advantages of eTwinning and how to use its resources effectively, ambassadors may plan and carry out workshops, webinars, or training sessions. Additionally, they aid in the marketing of eTwinning projects and their results, providing other educators with effective illustrations of collaborative work. Additionally, ambassadors frequently give the eTwinning Central Support Service suggestions on how to make the platform and program better. They provide helpful feedback for program improvements.

• They represent eTwinning in conferences, seminars, and other educational events and share information about the program's effects on teaching and learning. Additionally, Ambassadors can keep a regular presence on social media and other websites to offer eTwinning-related facts, tools, and success stories.

eTwinning Ambassadors are often experienced educators who have successfully completed their own eTwinning projects and are enthusiastic about promoting international collaboration in education. They are essential for developing intercultural awareness, enhancing instructional methods, and enhancing the educational opportunities for both teachers and students throughout Europe.

This year, the annual meeting was held in Constanta and the ambassadors had the opportunity to exchange examples of good practice from their activity as well as activities learnt in other events. Ialomita county was represented by two Ambassadors, Militaru Nicoleta and Craciun Catalin. The main focus was to better understand the mission of being an ambassador. So here are a frew of our responsabilities:

• Erasmus Ambassadors advise students, teachers, and other potential participants about the Erasmus+ program. They give information about the application procedure, qualifications, and opportunities that are available.

• Ambassadors frequently serve as mentors or consultants to people who are thinking about taking part in Erasmus+. They can provide assistance with deciding on appropriate locations, creating application materials, and utilizing the program.

• To encourage others, ambassadors share their personal Erasmus+ experiences. To highlight the advantages of joining the program on a personal and professional level, they might publish blog articles, make videos, or organize events.

• Through a variety of platforms, including social media, university events, and seminars, ambassadors support the promotion of Erasmus+. Additionally, they could represent the program at seminars, fairs, and conferences.

• Ambassadors frequently establish connections with other people and groups engaged in international education and mobility. The Erasmus+ program's reach and impact may be increased with the aid of this networking.

The Erasmus Ambassadors are enthusiastic about global experiences and education, whether they are participants in the program now or have completed it in the past. They help to promote greater intercultural understanding and collaboration throughout Europe by actively encouraging more people to take advantage of the opportunities offered by Erasmus+.

Necesitatea de a forma şi dezvolta competenţe prin procesul de învăţământ este ”sine-qua-non” în contextul educațional actual, aceste competenţe  pot fi specifice unei discipline şcolare şi transversale (învăţarea pe tot parcursul vieţii, gândirea complexă şi critică, comunicarea efectivă, colaborarea/lucrul în echipă, cetăţenia responsabilă, abilitatea pentru găsirea şi ocuparea unui loc de muncă). În acest context, în cadrul consorțiului Erasmus+ al Casei Corpului Didactic, anul I de acreditare, au fost derulate activități de jobshadowing în vederea formării (prin intermediul mobilităților în străinătate)  a cinci cadre didactice cu statut de formator, care să dezvolte un program de perfecționare, cu această tematică a formării competențelor transversale, destinat cadrelor didactice membre ale consorțiului dar și pentru toate cadrele didactice din învățământul preuniversitar care doresc să participe la acest program.

Obiectivele de învățare:
- Explorarea și implementarea strategiilor secolului al XXI-lea pentru dezvoltarea celor 4 C ( creativitatea, colaborarea, comunicarea, gândirea critică) în procesul de predare-învățarea evaluare
- Crearea a 2-4 activități care să contribuie la dezvoltarea celor 4C prin utilizarea instrumentelor digitale
- Facilitarea participării la activități și proiecte prin folosirea platformelor și aplicațiilor
- Dezvoltarea oportunităților de colaborare și învățare reciprocă prin folosirea strategiilor și instrumentelor digitale

Informatii utile

The project is a great opportunity for two of our schools to work together : Arts High School "Ionel Perlea" ( teacher Militaru Nicoleta) and "Al.I Cuza high School" ( teacher Rotaru Aida), bringing together teachers and students who want to explore this wonderful world together. 

AIM:

develop the key competences from the European framework: the ability to communicate in a foreign language, the ability to analyze facts and opinions, the ability to work in a team, negotiate and collaborate in order to finalize tasks, the ability to use different digital tools to make presentations and to engage partners, the ability to identify different cultural elements which are representative for national and European culture.

Students will work in multinational teams every week. Each partner is responsible with the completion of the tasks in accordance with their school timetable and responsibilities. They will also suggest different digital tools and activities that can be done in order to develop the skills mentioned. They will also create games to promote European values using different online tools such as WordWall or Quizziz. All these will be considered examples of good practice among European teachers and students.

October- Nice to meet you! – partners present themselves and try to find more about one another ( the forum of the project). They also set up the code of online behavior and discuss e-safety aspects.
November- Human dignity- find examples of how people can promote human dignity- students write their examples in a collaborative Linoit document.
December- Freedom- I am thankful for my freedom to…- students write notes and include them in a Digipad document
January- Democracy- Did you know?- Students find different aspects regarding the concept of democracy in their countries and share in a Padlet
February- Equality- How do we show equality in everyday life? Students find examples from their lives and share in posters and collaborative tools.

March- Rule of Law- Students present different rules of law in their countries and include them in a Google presentation
April- May – Human rights – Students find examples when human rights were not respected in the world and post them in the Padlet of the project
June- It is not the end – Evaluation and Feedback using Google forms/ Mentimeter

RESULTS:

- posters promoting the targeted European values
- collaborative documents which can be used as didactic materials and examples of good practice
- games to promote European Values

Clasa a X-a B, Liceul de Arte "Ionel Perlea"- Denisa A, Teodora A, Alina A, Daniela A, Bianca B, Marian B, Denisa C, Laurentiu C, Marta C, Corina C, Bogdan D, Larisa F, Gabriel F, Mario I, Florin I, Mirela L, Ana M, Adina P, Emilia P, Ionut S, Nicoleta S, Cristian S, Yasmine Z. 

ETAPA DE DOCUMENTARE:

Elevii au ales parcul din oraș pentru a desfășura activitățile propuse în proiectul din acest an. Le-am explicat în ce constă programul internațional LeaF și au decis ca activitatea principală să fie conceperea unor povești a căror acțiune să se desfășoare în pădure.

Echipele au fost stabilite prin Random Wheel iar ca metodă de lucru pentru povești, i-am provocat să folosească metoda zarului cu pictograme.

ETAPA DE LUCRU

STORY DICE
Fiecare echipă a rulat cele nouă zaruri cu pictograme și au ales cele nouă cartonașe cu imagini din natură. Acestea sunt folosite pentru a crea poveștile a căror acțiune are loc în pădure.

ȘTIAȚI CĂ…?
În Săptămâna Verde, echipa a organizat un eveniment la nivelul liceului unde l-au invitat pe dl inginer de la Ocolul Silvic, care le-a vorbit despre importanța pădurilor pentru planetă, despre defrișări și efectele lor asupra mediului și despre cum sunt toaletați/ tăiați anumiți copaci.

ATELIERUL DE SCRIERE
Elevii au lucrat în echipe și au  scris povești în care acțiunile au loc în pădure, văzută fie ca un spațiu de relaxare, fie ca un spațiu magic. Poveștile au fost trecut ulterior în aplicația Story Jumper.

ETAPA DE EVALUARE

Activitățile au fost incluse în programul din Săptămâna Verde și au fost încărcate și pe blogul https://healthandusblog.wordpress.com/leaf-proiect-international/ . De asemenea, activitățile au fost prezentate și pe pagina de Instagram, unde au devenit sursă de inspirație pentru alte cadre didactice și elevi.

https://healthandusblog.wordpress.com/leaf-proiect-international/

https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/160003311

https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/160003391

https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/160003451

The project is based on the Erasmus+ project with the same title. The activities mainly focus on raising awareness on the issues related to environment and global warming. We want our children to be better informed and to start taking small steps towards bigger changes in their future lives as adults. 

AIMS

- to work efficiently in national and multinational teams on the topics of the project
- to create digital materials that can be used as examples of good practice in European projects
-  to communicate in a foreign languages, expressing opinions and justifications of the opinions
- to improve their time management skills
- to identify different solutions to different problematic situations, providing solutions to problems

WORK PROCESS

1. Welcome back- Forum task on returning to the project and also welcoming new members
2. Online eSafety and Copyright rules
3. Between the river and the sea
3. Is our natural heritage in danger?
4. There is NO planet B! Save the environment!
5. Erasmus+ mobilities
6. In the press
7. Feedback and evaluation

EXPECTED RESULTS

1. Digital materials ( presentations, posters, brochures) promoting different measure which can be taken by youngsters when dealing with environmental issues
2. Collection of common games on the topics of the project- learning in a fun way.
3. Pedagogical materials which can be used when teaching topics related to nature and environment

These check points can be used as examples of good practice when it comes to international team collaboration and peer learning. They are also included in the eTwinning project, Be Active! which promotes European Values and competences from the European framework.

O reală oportunitate de dezvoltare profesională prin observarea activităților nonformale, desfășurate de cadre didactice din Italia:
-vizitarea clădirilor istorice sau a muzeelor-ce influențează valorile copiilor,  copiii își lărgesc orizonturile de cunoaștere și le dezvoltă toleranța și capacitatea de acceptare a diferențelor dintre civilizații
-vizite de investigare a mediului, deoarece contactul direct cu natura, explicarea fenomenelor naturale  și a biodiversității sprijină educația pentru grija față de mediu; au fost folosite aplicații digitale pentru  învățarea prin descoperire.

Am avut parte de  schimb de experiență cu profesorii italieni, am aflat despre alte  metode de predare și de interacțiune cu elevii din diferite categorii de vârtă, instrumente de formare a adulților, metode de dezvoltare profesională și personală prin proiecte Erasmus+ sau prin proiecte în comunitate.

Adela P spoke about what it means to prepare for national competitions in which you present the eTwinning projects and the final results. She also spoke about the disesmination activities she took part on in our school , presenting teenagers with the benefits of European projects. 

Andy M spoke about what it means to handle social media channels and what responsabilities one has when choosing this task, adding that social media has a big impact and can lead to change. She also mentioned the partnership we created with other schools and how being present as a student to those meetings really helped motivate students more.

Anastasia G spoke about how her work in eTwinning and Erasmus projects covers some of the activities in the School Council, encouraging students to participate in European activities celebrating Europe day as well as eTwinning Day. She included the Be Active eTwinning project which offers students opportunities to work in national and multinational teams.

I am an eTwinning ambassador and an Erasmus AmbassaDOR and I think that we can make a bigger difference if we start involving our students in more aspects of the projects than simply doing tasks. Once they feel empowered they will find it easier to spring their wings, spreading their joy and knowledge to others. 

Alternative sources of energy is not an easy topic for teenagers but we organised interesting and challenging activities so that to make learning more attractive and easy to remember on the long term. 

4 CORNERS - Students were divided in international teams and worked on mind maps on different alternative sources of energy.

PEER LEARNING is an important step in our activities in Erasmus+ so we wanted students to be an active part in this respect.

TEAM WORK- is very important as it teaches them to listen to one another, to validate different opinions and to listen to others with respect. They learn that every opinion needs to be listened to and needs to be supported. 

BE ACTIVE CHALLENGES- international teams competed in a track of 5 challenge points - each check point inlcuded different challenges that all team members had to do or they had to make a contribution. The check points were supervised by our eTwinning collegues in Be Active project.

Team Work= Succes!

Erasmus enriching lives, opening minds!

Programul Erasmus + și proiectele eTwinning contribuie la toate aceste aspecte și aduce posibilitatea unei schimbări în școala în care este implementat – vorbim aici de o viziune diferită asupra educației, de o conștientizare a nevoilor pe care elevii le au și de  găsirea metodelor de lucru care să ducă la eficientizarea procesului educativ.

Proiectele eTwinning și programul Erasmus+ oferă posibilitatea elevilor participanți de a învăța din situații diverse, de a-și îmbunătăți abilitatea de a munci în echipă, de a exersa limba străină, de a asculta puncte de vedere diverse, de a exprima puncte de vedere personale despre temele supuse dezbaterilor și de a rezolva probleme.

Este un proces de învățare care permite reflecția asupra învățării, evaluarea efortului depus pe parcursul activităților - elevii oferă și primesc feedback pentru a putea să devină mai buni în ceea ce fac și pentru a primi confirmarea unor alegeri bine făcute.  Astfel, ei valorizează o experiență frumoasă în care sunt ambasadori ai școlilor lor, ai orașelor și țărilor, evoluând atât din punct de vedere personal cât și profesional.

Minunații ediției 2023 au fost:

Militaru Andreea și Popescu Adela de la Liceul de Arte ”Ionel Perlea”, Slobozia

Oprea Maria Melania de la Colegiul Național ”Mihai Viteazul”, Slobozia

Neagu Eric și Popa Catalia de la Gradinița cu program prelungit ”Dumbrava minunată”, Slobozia

Petre Iustina de la Școala gimnazială ”George Vîslan”, Amara 

Tudor Ioana Cristina de la Liceul Tehnologic de Industrie Alimentară, Fetești

Otreș Ștefania, David Mihaela și Pană Atena de la Liceul Tehnologic Sf. Ecaterina, Urziceni

Novac Adriana de la Școala profesională ”Areta Teodorescu”, Grivița

Insituția gazdă: Gradinița cu program prelungit ”Dumbrava minunată”, Slobozia, director, dna Turcea Nicoleta

Organizator: Inspector școlar proiecte educaționale, dna. Tonț Simona