Working with Comenius Networks

Pavlos Koulouris

Ellinogermaniki Agogi

Network

Netzwerk

Δίκτυο

Individual, organisation

Relation, exchange

Comenius Networks

• Part of the Comenius Action of the Socrates Programme of EC for Education

A century before the Enlightenment, one of the founding fathers of modern education said:

“…only through education can man achieve his full potential and lead a truly harmonious life...”

Johann Amos Comenius (1592-1670)

The Objectives of COMENIUS

• To enhance the quality and reinforce the European dimension of school education– by encouraging transnational cooperation between schools,– contributing to the improved professional development of staff

directly involved in the school education sector– promoting the learning of languages and intercultural

awareness.

• Help develop a sense of belonging to a broader and outward-looking European community – diverse traditions, cultures and regional identities– rooted nevertheless in a common history of European

development.

enhancing the quality & reinforcing the European dimension

of school education• Promoting transnational cooperation and exchanges between

schools and teacher training establishments;

• encouraging innovation in pedagogical methods and materials;

• promoting the transnational dissemination of good practice and innovation in the management of schools;

• developing and disseminating methods for combating educational exclusion and school failure, promoting the integration of pupils with special educational needs, and promoting equal opportunities in all sectors of education;

• promoting the use of information and communication technology in school education and in the training of staff working in this sector.

promoting the learning of languages in school education

• Improve the quality of the teaching of European languages as foreign languages;

• improve the pedagogical skills of language teachers;

• improve the language skills of teachers of less widely used and less taught languages;

• increase the diversity of foreign languages taught;

• motivate all teachers and learners to increase the number of foreign languages they speak and improve the standard to which they speak them.

promoting intercultural awareness in school education

• Promote enhanced awareness of different cultures;

• develop intercultural education initiatives for the school education sector;

• improve the skills of teachers in the area of intercultural education;

• support the fight against racism and xenophobia;

• improve the education of children of migrant workers, occupational travellers, Romanies and travellers.

Themes relevant to COMENIUS• Training of School Education Staff (initial and in-service)

• Language Learning

• Intercultural Education and fight against racism and xenophobia

• Education for Children of Migrant Workers, Occupational Travellers, Gypsies, and Travellers

• Education for Children with special educational needs (handicapped children)

• School Management

• Education Networks

• Violence in School

School Partnerships (Comenius 1)

• School Projects• promote transnational co-operation between

schools

• Language Projects• seek to increase young people's motivation,

capacity and confidence to communicate in other European languages

• School Development Projects• give school managers and teachers an opportunity

to exchange experience and information

Training of School Education Staff (Comenius 2)

• Promote the professional development of all types of staff involved in school education.

• Supporting transnational cooperation projects and mobility activities.

• All phases and aspects are covered:– initial training – induction– in-service training.

Comenius Networks

(Comenius 3)

Comenius Networks (Comenius 3)

• The main goal:– To create links between projects carried out

by school partnerships and those relating to the training of school education staff.

• Based on subjects of common interest – with the aim of promoting European co-

operation and innovation in school education in various thematic areas.

A Comenius Network can be:

• A platform to assist persons and institutions involved in Comenius to strengthen their co-operation, and to enable them to maintain and consolidate their European co-operation beyond the period of Community support for their specific projects

• A forum for joint reflection and cooperation in identifying and promoting innovation and best practice in the thematic area concerned.

Comenius Network participants

• Institutions currently taking part in projects, initiating new projects or having completed projects under Comenius 1 or 2

• Other organisations with particular expertise in the field concerned.

EA in Comenius Networks

Network for Multigrade Education

MUSE (MUltigrade School Education)Comenius 2.1, 2002-2004

NEMEDComenius 3, 2004-2007

Network for Multigrade Education• Networking, at the European level, of

educationists and school practitioners sharing an interest in multigrade schools, either as a field of research or as a space of educational practice that deserves attention and support

• A trans-national network active in ten European countries

• Studies the characteristics and the needs of multigrade schools

• Promotes the upgrading of multigrade education in educational policy-making

• Proposes ways to improve the education provided by multigrade schools

• Offers support to multigrade school teachers • Fosters the development of communication

among them• Regularly organises international workshops

and conferences

The NEMED portal on the web

The working groups

A joint collection of resources

Comenius in the future

In the Integrated Programme for lifelong learning (2007-2013), Comenius:

• Addresses the teaching and learning needs of all those in pre-school and school education.

• Develops understanding among young people and educational staff of the diversity of European cultures and its value

• Helps young people acquire the basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship.

Thank you for your attention!