Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Report on the 1st transnational meeting held in Slovakia



The first transnational took place in Nové Zámky, Slovakia from 18th to 19th January 2018. Various countries arrived by different means of transport – planes (transfer from/to Vienna or Budapest airport was arranged) or train (Polish partners). On Wednesday, the day of arrivals, most of the project group met in the afternoon and greeted each other.

The first day we started with a trip to Bratislava, the capital. We organised a lecture in English language in the Slovak National Bank (NBS) – The roles of NBS after entering the eurozone. Unfortunately, the responsible officer forgot about it, so the whole group (students of the Erasmus+ group were also present) had a look at the permanent exhibition about money in the lobby. We had lunch in a traditional Slovak restaurant offering domestic food specialities: bryndzové halušky, pirohy, placky, lokše with roasted duck and cabbage and lot more. After lunch everybody had free time to walk around in the old part of the town.
The second day of the meeting continued in our school Gymnázium P. Pázmáňa where the headmaster, Norbert Beták greeted all partners and the mayor of the town Otokar Klein was also present. Students introduced the school, the town and the country via presentations. Before lunch, we had a short sightseeing tour led by our students (visiting famous parts of Nové Zámky including the Jewish Synagogue). The second part of the day we focused on work: sharing reports on activities, discussion of the project activities from September 2017 to January 2018, planning forthcoming project activities and mobilities and introducing Mobility Tool.
Later, in the evening, we tasted some good local wine in a family winery and had some specialities to eat.
The third day almost all partners departed home early in the morning.

Activities done in the first half year of the project

Slovakia
1.      School coordinator informed school staff and students about the project.
2.      Website of the school was uploaded with new and relevant info about the project.
3.      A group of students was formed which would work on project activities after school time (26 students from 3 classes). More or less all teachers of the school are involved in the project (there are altogether only 12 teachers).
4.      The same group of students created a closed facebook group for national level usage (Money Matters PPG) for sharing info, better communication and easier management of the project.
5.      An eTwinning project was set up and all partners joined. Every partner registered, invited students to participate as well and constantly upload numerous materials.
6.      An Erasmus+ board was made by students.
7.      Logos were made and uploaded to TwinSpace.
8.      MM presentations were made by students about school, Slovakia and euro + uploaded to TwinSpace
9.      School headmaster attended National Erasmus conference in Bratislava in September 2017 and promoted school.
10.  Lesson scenarios were prepared and taught in various classes on topics as family budget, planning of finances, saving money, pocket money, etc. Scenarios are not uploaded yet!!!
11.  A project day was held at school on 16th November 2017. Experts on investments and banking were invited and had an interactive lecture with students.
12.  Portfolio of historical events: had activities and a discussion on Slovak commemorative 2 euro coins. Each of them represents either a famous historical person´s birth/death (Ľ. Štúr, Ciril and Metod) or events anniversary (setting up Academia Istropolitana – first university in Slovakia, 25th anniversary of the Slovak Republic, etc.). No materials have been created so far.
13.  Had a quizz on Spanish culture and Money Matters project in order to choose 4 students going to the Spanish mobility.
14.  Two numismatics visited school and talked to students about their hobby. They showed coins and banknotes from all over the world, some of them dating back as far as the 16th century.
15.  Students visited the Slovak National Bank in Bratislava on 18th January 2018, attended a lecture on euro currency and EU´s monetary policy, saw an exhibition on Slovak currency.

Greece
1.      The principal of the school and the program-coordinator attended the national conference for Erasmus+, that took place in October 2017 in Athens.
2.      During a special meeting, the principal informed the teachers, the students and their parents about the program “Money matters”.
3.      The students created logos that were exhibited in the school (in special showcases). Then, the whole school community voted and the three best logos were uploaded on our school’s site and on TwinSpace.
4.      All the students and teachers committed themselves to the program, undertaking, not only projects directly related to the main and formal targeting, but also sub-projects about money and coins, in collaboration with the “primary education office” (department of Ministry, responsible for all primary schools in our area) of our prefecture.
The following sub-projects are in progress:
Grades A+B (7-8 years old): Familiarity with the “Euro” coins (developing skills of using and calculating money, family budget, saving…)
Grade C (9 years old): Knowing the Twelve Olympians through the ancient Greek coins.
Grade D (10 years old): The expansion of “coin” through the ancient Greek colonization. First indications of globalized economy.
Grade E (11 years old): History of coins
Grade F (12 years old): The coin as a jewel and indication of wealth in the traditional Greek costume.
5.      Contacts and collaboration in high level between our school and:
Ø  The monetary collection of Alpha Bank
Ø  The Monetary Museum of Athens
Ø  The Acropolis Museum
Ø  The Museum of Cycladic Art
Ø  The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Ø  The Ethnographic Museum “G. Melikis”
6.      There was also an attempt to involve other schools in activities, in order to diffuse the knowledge and the targets of the program titled, “Money matters”. For example, a team of teachers from the school organized and presented a sub-project in a nearby school (Neokastro). The subject of this work had to do with coins, and it was based on educational material – a museum kit – that was offered to our school from the monetary collection of Alpha Bank.
7.      Creation of an Erasmus board (the main board).
8.      Creation of Erasmus thematic corners.
9.      On the occasion of the “saving’ day (October 31st) the school organized and realized:
Ø  A game of “hidden treasure”
Ø  Reading and dramatization of stories and fairy tales concerning money/ creative writing and text production
Ø  Construction and use of simple board games (hidden words, labyrinth)
Ø  Creation of book markers with messages about “saving”
Ø  Construction of money boxes using cheap recyclable materials
Ø  Creation of puzzles inspired from the world of economy (Euro, coins, banknotes, Scrooge etc.)
Ø  In collaboration with Eurobank, special metal money boxes were offered to the students as a reward for their efforts
Ø  Creation of a poster about “Saving” and its importance
10.  Two educational scenarios were created (with worksheets) and uploaded on TwinSpace. They had to do with:
Ø  The illustration of the Euro banknotes
Ø  The national aspects of the Euro coins
These scenarios, apart from the economic and cognitive information, were also giving the possibility for artistic and literary extensions.
11.  The actions related to “Money matters” program, are constantly presented through the schools’ website, and the sites and papers of the town. Emphasis was placed on the use of the program’s tools: FB and e-twinning.

Romania
1.      They formed a group of teachers and students to work on the project, the project team.
2.      The corrdinator informed school staff and students, local authorities and the media about the new project.
3.      They worked together for the „Money Matters“ logo.
4.      Students have begun to make presentations of their school, country and the money Romania uses.
5.      They presented the new project to the Regional Meeting of Teachers. They received a certificate for that activity.
6.      They are working on the students´presentation sheets who will participate in mobilities.

Poland

1. School coordinator informed school staff and students about the project, the project team was formed and the duties shared/distributed, there are 8 teachers in a school team
2. Website of the school was uploaded with new and relevant info about the project including recruit ation rules and terms
3. A group of students was formed which would work on project activities after school time (26 students from 3 classes , students aged 13-15).
4. Erasmus+ corner was created and is updated.
5. There organised a meeting for both students and their parents  to inform them about more project details and to present the history of money
6. Students were invited to a closed facebook group for national level usage (Money Matters PPG) for sharing info, better communication and easier management of the project.
7. An eTwinning project was set up and we joined.
8. A logo competition was announced, Logos were made and uploaded to TwinSpace.
9. MM presentation was made by  a students about school,  uploaded to TwinSpace
10. Lesson scenarios – developed and realized lessons on these topics:
- Christmas shopping/family budget
- History of money
- Euro banknotes
- How the money is made and secured
Only one scenario has been uploaded so far
11. School headmaster attended Regional Erasmus workshop in Rzeszów in November 2017 and promoted the school.
12. Students took part in educational trips to National Bank in Reszów and Etnographic Museum where the workshop on Ethnobusiness was done
13. Portfolio of Polish banknotes was prepared by a students
14. Students profiles were completed by them and placed on project wall
15. Dissemination on FB, eTwinning and the blog
16. Students prepare for National Contest about finances ( via Kahoot)

Spain
1.      Worked on project logo and did a contest
2.      Lesson scenarios – developed and realized lessons on these topics:
-          EU countries, when and how they joined, youngest members, to be members, what is needed for a country to join the EU countries
-          EU countries, when and how they joined EU, last members. conditions for a country to join the EU
-          Currencies before euro, what currency they used before euro
-          List of countries that use euro currency - similarities and differences of these currencies
-          The common side of euro coins
3.      Created website/A4 blog: https://moneymatters-e-plus.blogspot.com.es/
4.      Created a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/moneymattersplus/
5.      Working on Erasmus+ school corners
6.      Working on MM presentations, video about Madrid and school background
7.      Portfolio of historical events: Miguel de Cervantes depiction in Spanish euro coins, video
8.      Dissemination on FB and school´s website
There are 14 students + 6 students + 6 teachers involved in the project.

Common findings
1.      Each country´s coordinators informed that project money was received by all participants in time, no problems regarding budget issue.
2.      All activities are being done and realized according to the planned schedule.
3.      Communication via emails (sometimes FB) is managable, all partners react and respond in time.
4.      No problems or serious issues have arisen so far.

Comments, arrangements, activities to be done agreed on the meeting

1.      There is some problem with eTwinning logging in of students. If preserves, teachers should contact local eTwinning NSS.
2.      Spanish partner will make sure any partner who wishes to have access to the website to allow it – send password and all relevant info in order to help them log in and upload materials personally.
3.      Whenever a material or project activity is prepared, it should be uploaded immediately to project website and TwinSpace as well. If possible, write comments as well.
4.      Regarding logos – each partner choose 3 best logos and send to Zoltan until 31st January. He will create an online voting system for the project´s logo until 10th February. Deadline for voting for logos is 25th February.
5.      For Spanish mobility which will be from 26th February to 2nd March:
-          Romania and Poland will choose 3 events from their history which will be used for euro coin design and dramatisation of those events.
-          Each partner has to bring a set of coins (from smallest to biggest amount) for students to show in groups.
-          Photos taken during the mobility will be immediately uploaded by students at school, they will also use Kahoot and/or QR coding for activities.
-          Each partner should make sure students write a report about the mobility!
6.      Polish mobility will be held 7-11th May 2018.
7.      Keep a record of activities organised on local level for mid term report!!! (due in June 2018)
8.      Keep uploading info about meetings and mobilities in Mobility Tool.
9.      Partners agreed that for students´s mobilities there will be 5 day programmes and same designed certificates given (Zoltan will send template to partners).
10.  Partners agreed that a students profile will be always sent to host school before mobility.
11.  Make sure project info and Erasmus+ logo is on each article (printed or electronic) – school website, FB, blog, etc.
12.  When disseminating, include the following text: „The project has been financed by the European Comission.“ AND „European Comission does not take responsibility for the content.“
13.  If there is an interesting activity prepared by the school it might be useful inviting the National Agency´s representative as well.

After the management meeting an anonymous online questionnaire was sent to the partners. Altogether 9 people attended the meeting, 5 of them sent back their answers. It consisted of 5 parts rated as follows:
1.      How do you evaluate host organisation´s help with your travel to Nové Zámky? 2 partners (out of 5 respondents) found it highly satisfying, one found it satisfying and two stated they had all the relevant information.
2.      How do you evaluate accomodation in Stardust Hotel? All partners stated they had comfortable, clean and worth the price accomodation, one commented that it was very good and the service was nice.
3.      How do you evaluate the meeting programme by the host organisation? 4 partners found the atmosphere, morning session at school, afternoon meeting at school, wine tasting and organisation highly satisfying and one only satisfying. The lecture in the Slovak National Bank was highly satisfying for 2 partners, satisfying for two partners. We assume this might have been caused by the fact that in spite of previous arrangements they were not prepared enough (the bank forgot about the lecture and had to improvise).
4.      Any comments, inconvenience, questions, remarks that would help organise the next meeting better. - All partners gave positive feedback, they were contented with the meeting.
5.      General impression of the meeting. - 3 partners rated 5 stars out of 5, two partners 4/5.

Zoltan Soóky
Project Coordinator

Slovakia

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