OPEN MIND SKILLFUL HANDS

The second short-term meeting devoted to learning and teaching as part of the "Open minds, skillful hands” project was held on March 6-12, 2021 at the Primary School of Kartal Prof. Dr. Şaban Teoman Duralı Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi in Istabul, Turkey. Its motif was: "Art & Culture Expression". It was attended by 11 teachers and 19 students of all partner schools.

Project activities were conducted according to planned timetable and had various forms from workshops of creative expression, educational visits, dancing, activating games, problem-solving tasks, mind games, to tasks aimed at making the project products by students.

First two days of mobility were destined for getting to know the school community and base , integration of the international team, team – building activities and creating good team atmosphere.

Activities aimed at art and culture expression included photography workshops conducted on Prince Island and the centre of the city. Students’ tasks were to catch the places, elements, sizes, shapes and colours about which they learnt at the stage of preparations to the mobility and at the beginning of mobility. They compared and discussed their results. During the art classes they sketched a selected building. They visited the traditional art gallery Sadberg Hanim Museum and get the general info about Turkish art. One of the workshops let students learn how to make a marble paper ( Ebru- Turkish art of Marbling) and create own ornaments on it. There was also music and dancing workshops for all participants. National groups presented their national songs and dances and learnt traditional Turkish song and dance. The participants also learnt a few useful Turkish expressions in Turkish language.  Turkish students were learning expressions in other languages.

Some activities aimed at observing everyday life of Turkey. During the cruise of Bosphorus by boat students could observe characteristic natural elements along the shore and the way they are combined with the urbane building of European and Asian sides. They visited the Grand Bazar and apart from admiring a wealth of handicrafts they learnt  how to bargain while shopping.

A lot of attention was put on the contact with Turkish families. They took care of all participants during two evenings. Students enjoyed their time with Turkish friends and their families in private houses, places of interest and places of entertainment.

 During these evening and the whole stay they met local culinary traditions, tasted many Turkish sweets, delicacies and meals. They had a tea break at Yakacik Hill and observed the process of producing local sweets Kunafah.

Students took part in the lesson of English. They learnt English phrases, expressions and facts about the history, culture and religion of turkey. The topic of cultural distinctness was also discussed.

They had also an ICT workshop – joint work which was aimed at preparing the first part of common project result- the promotional e-book. Students learnt how to use Canva and download the needed information, images and films for creating teh common book.

The last group of activities was dedicated to the evaluation of our mobility and certificates ceremony

Students took part in activities which developed their creativity and thinking skills.  They learnt a lot about rich multicultural traditions, history and culture heritage of the region situated on the border between Europe and Asia. They work out the code of behaviour in places of various religious temples (Mosques, Church of St. George) and realized the need of respect to other religions.

Participants had a chance to admire and analyse the characteristic elements of the most beautiful products of Turkish culture (architecture, size, colour, shape). They immortalized their observations in photos in order to exhibit them in own school communities. They could try their artistic skills in aimed photo-taking; sketching, painting and get the general info about Turkish art admire it at the art gallery and in the historical centre of Istanbul.

Participants learnt the rules of traditional Turkish intelligence game Mandala. They practised searching internet for specific information- movies shot in Istanbul

Teachers got to know with this specific kind of educational centre created for talented students. They watched its didactic base, were informed about the status and financing of the school, syllabus, books used for teaching, teaching methods and innovations. They could see all modern equipment used for lessons and projects conducted by the school in different areas.  They could also observe lessons. They shared their impressions both in the mobility team and at the meetings with the headteacher of the school as well as representatives of local educational authorities – Manager of National Educational Directorate of Kartal District and the Governor of Kartal District.

All participants gained new skills, learnt interesting information about the traditions of other countries, religions and cultures. Students developed their self-esteem and learnt to express themselves through art. They worked out planned products: a part of e-book, art works, marble paper image & others.