Hello Spring (Tere Kevad)
Estonia , 2001 to 2007
Compendium: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Background
The Hello Spring project is a nature and science project which integrates Internet use into day-to-day teaching. The pupils have to observe changes in nature and afterwards be able to find additional information on specially designed websites on the Internet. This includes the ability to recognise sounds from frogs and birds on the Internet. The project also includes looking back to former times and thus integrates ICT, biology and history in such a way that the pupils will obtain a more thorough understanding of their local nature and its history.
The motivation
To make natural sciences for students more interesting and attractive.
Participants
Schools (primary education).
Location of participants:
http://tere.kevad.edu.ee/2007/skriptid/osalejad.phpAims and targets
Objectives of the initiative
- For students to observe and study wildlife and nature throughout springtime, sharing the results with students from other schools using a special web environment.
- To learn more about local nature and its history and be able to use the Internet for this purpose. A subsidiary objective of the project could be said to be the mainstreaming of ICT applications into the teaching process.
Target group
Mostly 7 to 14 years of age.
Methods applied to reach the objective
The pedagogical method is observation of nature, recognising species and subsequently searching the Internet for additional information. Moreover, the project has integrated ICT into biology and history. The technological method is a project web-based database.
Strategy and actions
Level of implementation
Mainly national.
Implementation
- Pupils take field trips and identify the species of plants and animals that indicate the arrival of spring.
- Pupils compile the descriptions of the species and create web-pages with stories, pictures and sounds where possible.
Monitoring and evaluation
Funding/Cost effectiveness
Budget
€15 500 — 2007.
Sustainability/Transferability
Outcomes/impacts
Achievements
Specific results
In 2007 the project database contains observation results from 4 837 pupils and it can be used by all pupils, teachers and other interested people. The project has also resulted in web-pages created by participants with their project work.
Success factors
Lessons learnt
In order to ensure the success of a project on integrating the application of ICT into everyday teaching it is vital to have a clear vision and a good team of leaders. Moreover, the activities have to be interesting and attractive enough for pupils to participate while remaining meaningful in a learning context.
Print this page