Sustaining Development in Early School Educaon 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 1 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission NEWSLETTER SUSTAIN Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Welcome to the SUSTAIN Newsleer, Issue 2, August 15 th , 2013 You are reading the latest issue of the hp://www.sustain-project.eu/ newsleer, presenng you the latest infor- maon and progresses about the “SUSTAIN” Project. Enjoy the newest SUSTAIN Newsleer! SUSTAIN is a Comenius Mullateral Project that was launched and implemented with the financial support from the EC under LLP. The project, called “Sustaining Development in Early School Educaon” gathers good pracces from four countries: Turkey (Doga Schools), Romania (Valahia University of Targoviste), Bulgaria (Centre for Creave Training Associaon) and Italy (Centre for Creave Development). The project aims to share, through an on-line collaborave plaorm, good pracces from partner countries on developing key com- petences for lifelong learning in pupils from pre-primary and primary school by using topics addressing the envi- ronmental themes. The roots of the internaonal project SUSTAIN are based on the Natural Learning Concept (NLC), which has been developed and implemented in Doga Schools for ten years and heavily emphasizes learners’ interests, creav- ity and self direcon by creang a smulang learning environment in which students can explore and come into direct contact with knowledge by using genial classrooms. NLC constutes more creave and movang teaching methods which are ‘open-classroom’
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Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 1 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
NEWSLETTER SUSTAIN
Sustaining Development in Early School Education
518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP
Welcome to the SUSTAIN Newsletter, Issue 2, August 15th, 2013 You are reading the latest issue of the http://www.sustain-project.eu/ newsletter, presenting you the latest infor-mation and progresses about the “SUSTAIN” Project. Enjoy the newest SUSTAIN Newsletter!
SUSTAIN is a Comenius Multilateral Project that was
launched and implemented with the financial support
from the EC under LLP. The project, called “Sustaining
Development in Early School Education” gathers good
practices from four countries: Turkey (Doga Schools),
Romania (Valahia University of Targoviste), Bulgaria
(Centre for Creative Training Association) and Italy
(Centre for Creative Development). The project aims to
share, through an on-line collaborative platform, good
practices from partner countries on developing key com-
petences for lifelong learning in pupils from pre-primary
and primary school by using topics addressing the envi-
ronmental themes.
The roots of the international project SUSTAIN are based
on the Natural Learning Concept (NLC), which has been
developed and implemented in Doga Schools for ten
years and heavily emphasizes learners’ interests, creativ-
ity and self direction by creating a stimulating learning
environment in which students can explore and come
into direct contact with knowledge by using genial
classrooms. NLC constitutes more creative and
motivating teaching methods which are ‘open-classroom’
The NLC also gives importance to ecological intelli-
gence that allows for the application of what stu-
dents learn about human activities affecting eco-
systems. In order to do less harm and to live sus-
tainably in our environment, ecological intelligence
blends the knowledge with empathy for all life.
Through the Sustain Project Database, we aspire
to equip the teachers with resources and materi-
als to support the growing interest in early child-
hood issues and Education for Sustainable Devel-
opment (ESD) Methods. SUSTAIN Lesson Plans
which are promoting the development of Key
Competences (KC) relevant to Education for De-
velopment (ESD) have been created by the im-
plementer teachers from the project’s partner
countries to be available on SUSTAIN Database.
Most of the lesson plans were cross implement-
ed via peer-coaching and video conference ses-
sions to test and refine the applicability of the
Sustain Lesson Plans. Now 50 Good Practices are
available on our Good Practices Database that is
accessible for all teachers who are willing to im-
plement them in their classes and share their
experiences with their colleagues.
You can access the database from the link:
http://www.sustain-project.eu/
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 2 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
In Italy, the approbation seminar was realized on the
30th of April in the III Didactic Circle “Maggiore Guida”
in Partinico with 25 teachers from pre-primary and pri-
mary schools.
In Bulgaria, the approbation seminar was realized on
the 4th of April in Aytos, Bulgaria in “Nikola Vaptsarov”
school, with more than 80 primary school teachers.
Following the local workshops, there have been Teacher
Approbation Seminars with different departments and
teachers, in order to review the process. The aim of these
meetings was to direct the development works for the pro-
cess including the International Training Course. This was
done by gathering the teachers’ suggestions and also
getting their recommendations for making necessary
changes and adaptations on the existing good practices to
correspond the needs of the pre-primary & primary school
teachers, as well as to train them in the methodology and
teaching resources’ achieved.
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 3 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
Between June 2nd and 9th, the International Teacher Training Course (ITTC) was realized in İstanbul, Turkey. It was de-
signed for 20-25 participants and comprised 5 days.
The aims of the International Teacher Training Course (ITTC) are:
Improving the knowledge of key competences (KC) for lifelong learning and the sustainable development concept;
Empowering teachers in structuring teaching processes aimed at promoting the development of KC relevant to Edu-
cation for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the school curriculum;
Providing teachers with theoretical and practical tools (innovative methodologies, ITC, Good Practices) to support
ESD;
Encouraging the participants to use the SUSTAIN Lesson Plan Database (and the selected part of this Database -
Good Practice Database) and to keep in contact and collaborate through the SUSTAIN Platform (a collaborative
platform).
The participant teachers also shared their feedback for the lesson plans on the database and during the school visit
at the Beykoz Doga School, they had chance to experience the hands on activities in nature.
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 4 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
TEACHERS’ REFLECTIONS
Rebiana Petrescu, Romania
The project Sustain Development in Early School Education meant for me, since the beginning, an opportunity to share
a part of my teaching experiences with colleagues from my country and other countries as well. It was interesting and
creative, equally, to elaborate lessons/activities from an interdisciplinary perspective and to appeal to a range of skills
and abilities, knowledge and attitudes of my students. My students were very excited about the lessons implemented
and they especially have appreciated the practical part of each activity. I found very useful the Sustain Database and
I’ll use it in the future to get ideas for my future lessons. The International course experience in Istanbul was valuable
and fruitful for each of us. I gained a lot since I worked with colleagues from other countries to plan successful activi-
ties and becoming a great and useful team. I believe that this project is successful and is within the coordinates of a
project well thought and very well organized and that is why I congratulate the coordinating team.
Serafina Turdo, Italy
After several years dedicated to the children’s education through the experimentation of extracurricular activities be-
side the curricular ones, it is a great pleasure to have the possibility to share these with foreign colleagues and get
back their feedback, professional observations and suggestions. After all the work done this SUSTAIN project repre-
sented a further step in my professional career, it enriched me and somehow rewarded the work done so far.
Gökçe Hilal Göbekçin, Turkey
My adventure with SUSTAIN began with writing lesson plans. It made me reflect on my lessons and design them with a
different point of view. Writing lesson plans from the SUSTAIN point of view was a challenging process, forcing me to
use my creativity. After the practice of this lesson plan, I realized how affective this project could be as my students
took an active part in it and excitedly I implemented the lesson plan of another teacher from another country. As an
English teacher, this was a very meaningful process for me, as it meant removing the boundaries through education. I
also had the chance to participate in the International Teacher Training Course in Istanbul. It was an important experi-
ence for me to meet my colleagues from different countries and work with them. I feel myself lucky to take part in this
project.
Vesela Ruseva, Bulgaria
I am very proud I have a chance to be part of Bulgarian team. I was a participant in the SUSTAIN ITTC in Istanbul and I
realized the SUSTAIN Project is a way to improve my teacher’s skills in a few ways. I learned more about how to make
my lesson plans more detailed, practical and useful and ways of work in other countries and schools. I have a chance
to learn more about Sustaining Development and use SUSTAIN Platform, which means that I can get ideas for future
lessons and see what other colleagues do.
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 5 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
Upcoming Events
The Sustain Biennial will be held from the 23rd to 30th of November,
2013. The arts and crafts will be exhibited in our Topkapi Doga School’
Hamam for 8 days. The focus of this year’s biennial will be “World Citi-
zenship and Democracy” as one of the sub themes of Sustainable De-
velopment Education. The aim of the biennial will be raising people’s
awareness about the interrelation between sustainable development
and key competencies, and presenting a different perspective on envi-
ronmental problems in order to create active, informed and responsi-
ble citizens who are willing and able to take responsibility for them-
selves and their communities.
Dissemination Seminars will be organized in each partner country to
disseminate the project and the booklet will be delivered to teachers
as a teaching tool with exemplary content and incentive for them to
visit the project web-site.
Dissemination Seminar in Bulgaria on 20th September 2013
Dissemination Seminar in Italy on 26th September 2013
Dissemination Seminar in Romania on 15th September 2013
Dissemination Seminar in Turkey on 30th November 2013
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 6 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission
Currently more than 70 Lesson Plans exist on our Lesson Plan Database for implementation. You can easily register on our
platform http://www.sustain-project.eu and reach any pre- primary and primary school teachers and their implementa-
tions from SUSTAIN Partner Countries (Italy , Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey).
To obtain the approbation of the Lesson Plans as the Project Good Practices we kindly invite the teachers to visit the
project database to implement and adapt the Lesson Plans in their local context. This crossed implementation process will
prove the effectiveness and adaptability of SUSTAIN Lesson Plans.
Upcoming Events
Sustain International Teacher Training Course (ITTC) ,which will be held
between 6-13 April, 2014, is addressed to teachers and educators of pre-
primary and primary school. It is designed for 20-25 participants and is
integrated with a school visit to observe sustainable development activi-
ties in real classes. The Course uses blended methods of training – it in-
volves distance activities (self-preparation and work with the content of
the SUSTAIN Database and SUSTAIN Platform) and face-to-face training.
Both the course fee and travel expenses can be fully covered by the Co-
menius grant from the LLP National Agency of your country.
The next DEADLINE for the Comenius grant is on the 17th September
2013.
For more information please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/education/
Universitatea Valahia din Targovişte Center for Creative Training Centro Per Lo Sviluppo Creativo
(UVT) Romania www.valahia.ro (CCTA) Bulgaria www.cct.bg Italy www.daniladolci.it
Sustaining Development in Early School Education 518321-LLP-2011-TR-COMENIUS-CMP Issue 2 Page Number 7 This project has been funded with support from the European Commission