Present:
Anita Romano Sintermeerten College – Heerlen.
Ivo Lipsch Sintermeerten College – Heerlen
Marielle Rooduijn Sintermeerten College – Heerlen
Wendy Schoonbrood intermeerten College – Heerlen
Thomas Schafer Carl Zeiss Schule – Berlin.
Christina Hertel Carl Zeiss Schule – Berlin.
Carlo Panizzon Liceo Gymnasio Augusto – Roma
Teresa Ciaffaroni Liceo Gymnasio Augusto – Roma
Paul Kaufmann Furtherwick Park – Canvey Island.
Norman Bambridge Furtherwick Park – Canvey island.
Students:
Students:
Sintermeerten
Anne Hermans
Danique Spierts
Thomas Zijlstra
Jace van hek
Dana Siebertz
Ghizlan el Barracki
Bas Ortmans.
Linda Mutze
Michelle Knol.
Carl Zeiss
Wiebke Haselbach
Sabrina Ramunke
Jasmin Mischke
Mats Paterman
Max Kramer
L.C.Augusto
Fiorella Marin
Andrea Costumato
Eleonara Lombardi
Giulia Sili
Flavia Torella.
Silvia Valentini
Maurizia Persia
Wednesday 18 March 2009.
1500 to 1700 hrs.
Following a welcome by Wim Horsch (Sintermeerten College Director of Education), the pre-course conference discussions were made to the delegations from FWP Canvey Island and LGA Roma.
This included noting that due to a misunderstanding it had become too short a notice to bring students from FWP for the conference but that both Paul Kaufmann and Norman Bambridge could support the students in their activities over the next two days and could take back those processes and systems the students present would use and develop.
The proposed agenda was presented by Anita Romano (Project Co-ordinator for SM) and in turn she introduced Ivo Lipsch (SM) who would be the project conference host. It was also mentioned that SM exam timetabling would affect her attending the Thursday sessions and similarly Marielle Rooduijn and Wendy Schoonbrood would attend between lessons.
Ivo Lipsch mentioned that he had only been involved in the project since November 2008 and recognised that sound advice given by Wim Horsch was to use the wealth of experience those attending (teachers and students) and that and he would endeavour put that into practice throughout the conference.
Thursday 19 March 2009.
0900 to 1100 hours.
Ivo Lipsch formally opened the conference and welcomed everyone before inviting Thomas Schafer to give a power point presentation of the project structure then inviting students from Roma and Berlin to similarly present presentations of their work, which would be the underpinning knowledge for the video handbook development.
He suggested the students split into five international mixed groups and that SM College had provided lap-tops and video cameras for their use and that a member of the IT support group was here to assist in this first session and then as required.
Delegates could use this main conference room as well as the adjacent student area and that the teachers would visit the groups towards the end of this session to review and support progress.
1100 to 1130 hours.
This was a planned student break session at which time the teachers discussed the observations made and Norman Bambridge suggested a simple support or production plan should be created and given to each student to apply their work to.
This included giving a maximum running time or around three minutes, noting that some
e-twinning and other computing systems have small margins of upload capability i.e. 5mb.
Teresa Ciaffaroni said the plan should highlight interviewer technique, clear questions and structured or linked answers which enable secondary questions to be asked either by that interviewee or other group members for continuity.
She also mentioned other ways of impacting on answers including music, pictures, screen design and text.
Any finally a question for the students to question themselves on does the product have the impact they set out to achieve.
1130 to 1300 hours.
Students reconvened in the conference room enabling Ivo Lipsch to compliment students on their progress during this session particularly in their scripting and filming plan. He gave a copy of the production plan to them and invited the teachers to support the groups by positive questioning and advice. This would become more apparent as filming was undertaken.
He then mentioned that although the programme has been changed for the afternoon session to include a group visit to Maastricht, this would enable everyone to discuss the project in a relaxed atmosphere whilst also taking a critical look at the way that energy is used in the city particularly if it was related to the topics they were developing for the video handbook.
1300 to 1330 Buffet lunch provided by SM College.
This session enabled students and teachers to both socialise and discuss with students. particularly the Dutch who were hosting German students before the arrangements for travelling from Heerlen Station to Maastricht by Bus and train were explained.
1400 to 2100 hours.
Combined group travel tickets were arranged by Ivo Lipsch and subsequent travel to Maastricht by bus and train which upon arrival he became an enthusiastic tour guide.
Students were allowed a central shopping area restriction whilst teachers visited the old part of the city including the walled area and city gates.
One of the visits was to the St. Servaas Basilica which includes 5th Century cemetery in the churchyard, the rebuilding of the church dates from around AD1039, cloisters and side chapels from around AD1475. St. Servaas was the first Bishop of Maastricht who died in AD384.
Teachers enjoyed an early evening meal hosted by SM College in one of the plaza restaurants before meeting up with all students for the return journey to Heerlen.
It was our combined pleasure to thank Ivo Lipsch for his amusing hosting, knowledge and enthusiasm shown to everyone present.
Friday 20 March 2009.
0900 to 1100 hours.
Students continued their filming productions throughout this session and were asked to be prepared to show preliminary filming product after the morning session break.
1100 to 1130 hours.
The break enabled discussions between groups about product stage and content and at which teacher input would enable further editing during the remaining morning session. It was appreciated that some final cutting and editing would be undertaken back at the various schools.
1130 to 1245 hours.
This session enabled viewing of some presentations, whilst further IT Technical support was also provided by the college.
1245 to 1315 Buffet lunch provided by SM College.
The lunch enabled students to interact again, not only in their working groups but with all students and teachers present.
1315 to 1415 hours.
The first part of this session enabled students to put the presentations into visual form although fine tuning and any necessary revisions, as mentioned, would be needed.
Upon completion Ivo Lipsch asked each group to comment both on the project work and on the interaction within the group and with other groups.
He noted that the original plan of having five groups was changed by necessity and two groups worked closely together but the feedback confirmed they had all completed their tasks with the final editing and fine tuning to be done.
All students commented positively on group interaction. Most saying they enjoyed working with students from other countries even though some students though the topics boring and a couple of students remarked on project co-ordination.
Ivo Lipsch then asked Teachers to briefly evaluate the two-day conference work. All agreed at had been positive, the environment excellent, supporting students views of the interaction between them.
The available working time put the students under pressure to complete their tasks, which as mentioned before, fine tuning and final editing apart, was achieved but they reiterated that
face-to-face meetings were a valuable feature of the European Union programme.
The Italian students had arranged an afternoon trip by train to Aachen and upon their return the Dutch students had arranged an unplanned social evening and this was a very pleasant gesture to finish the conference on.
Norman Bambridge and Teresa Ciaffaroni
Conference notes authors.
