IES PERDOURO is a myEUROPE school located in Burela, Lugo, Spain. Many teachers from this school are familiar with the Web-based tools and since 2001 they have introduced these tools to the students. Ana Robles, the school headmistress, tells us how the use of these tools has improved both on-line and face-to-face communication in her school.
Over the last few years we have built several Web pages with material prepared by students themselves. Last year we took part in Euro-scola and we won the first and second prize for our region, Galicia. Taking part in the competition was a rewarding experience for both teachers and pupils.
Our activities on the Internet are planned and implemented with schools from Spain and worldwide. By using Web based tools students have participated in more communication activities than ever before. They met on-line counterparts from other countries, so they needed to use English, Spanish and sometimes French to take part in some synchronous activities like chats.
Since last school year we have started to showcase the Web work of our students. The parents are invited to the school to see the results and we have opened a new way of communication among the school and the parents.
Students from different levels at our school have read each other articles and have collaborated to create a Web page. This has created unexpected connections among students and it has proved that students can use their past knowledge for new skills. For example, the articles published three years ago by our senior students are available on the Web for our junior students to study.
This helps our students to become aware of the fact that learning can be shared and they can contribute directly to enrich this tradition in our school. On the other hand, the author-students can read what they wrote in the past years and they see how much they have grown at all levels, including their knowledge and comprehension of foreign languages.
Last, but not least, Web based tools have helped us as teachers to expand our teaching techniques and to meet other teachers on-line. While looking for new ways to foster our students learning we find we have benefited and learnt at least as much as our students.
Our activities on the Internet are planned and implemented with schools from Spain and worldwide. By using Web based tools students have participated in more communication activities than ever before. They met on-line counterparts from other countries, so they needed to use English, Spanish and sometimes French to take part in some synchronous activities like chats.
Students from different levels at our school have read each other articles and have collaborated to create a Web page. This has created unexpected connections among students and it has proved that students can use their past knowledge for new skills. For example, the articles published three years ago by our senior students are available on the Web for our junior students to study.
