1. Erasmus+ Cooperation for the Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices Strategic Partnerships for School Education 1 September 2014 - 31 August 2016 “How to teach ICT and true usage of it?” www.erasmusplusbest.com

2. In the past, ıt was very difficult to reach technology and information, now, it is much easier to reach them. But, the criticial question is; Do we know how to use Technology or How to get information through technology during education processes?. In our partner countries,namely Turkey, Italy, Poland and Romania, different methods have been used to teach students how to use technology and how to get information easier and use it more effectively through technology. Providing schools with computer labs, having computer or ICT lessons in their curricula and forcing students to prepare project works by using technology can be given as examples to those methods.

3. - In partner countries, technolgy lessons mostly are studied along with crafts during primary school education. Students are asked to create some products using some simple tools during these lessons. The main idea of the lesson is to broaden their imagination and improve their ability to use all kind of materials around for an objective. - During upper secondary level education, the name of the lesson changes as Computer or ICT (Information and Communication Technologies). The main aim of the lesson is to teach students how to use the current technology and also how to get information by using that technology and how to use both of them effectively during teaching and learning activities. But, this lesson is not compulsory for all schools. In vacational schools, tehere are departments related to technology and those students have more lessons than the others while some schools do not have a lesson like that. The situation is not so clear in this pattern. - In order to achieve that aim, mostly governments build a computer lab to schools and students study thiese lessons in that lab. Sometimes, schools have computer or ICT lessons but they do not have a lab, so, studnets have to study this lesson without a computer ironically.

4. While we are discussing the topic, we have noticed that, mostly, the attempts for teaching students how to use technology at schools are unsuccessful. But, When we look around, we see that students are better technology users than the older generations. Even, a 3-4 year old child can use technology. So, How do they learn it? Or If they learn it automatically, why do we try to teach it at schools? The answers are so clear; Students learn how to use technology on their own because technology is very easy to reach now. They start to live with technology from the birth. We try to use them how to teach technology, because technology is a must for our life and we want all of them to know it and also, some students do not have a chance to use technology because of economical problems and we should also break this border at schools. We also, should try to teach them not only how to use technology but also how to use it effectively for teaching and learning acitivities.

5. Technology is growing rapidly, and, providing schools with technology, especially with an old technology, is noneless because All the equipment becomes a waste after a short time. So, schools always have to follow the last technology and should adapt themselves to that technology. May be, students know how to use technology better than teachers but, definitely, they do not know how to use it truely for teaching and learning acitivites, so, we should teach them how to use it truely former than teaching them how to use it. We should focus on how to reduce the disadvantages of technology and how to make students be aware of the good parts of technology. Teachers of course should renew of themselves according to the changes in life and education, so, if their students are a technology addict, they also should be good at technology in order to get a successfull interaction with their students.

6. Although students spend most of their time by dealing with a technological equipment such as smart phones, computers, tablets etc., they mostly spend their time with unneccessary orharmful activities. They use it for gaming, chatting, listening to music, taking photos etc. but not for reading a book or magazine or searching any topic related to their subjects etc. We should definitely teach them how to use technology in a true way during education activities. To achieve this, teachers should be a model for their students. They should use technology and internet in their lessons and also they should show their students how to use it for education by applying it firstly in front of them. Teachers also should communicate with their students through social media to achieve this aim. So, How can we get this?

7. We have discussed about different methods used in our partner countries from past to now. And, we have talked about their pros and cons, their results etc. And, we have made evaluation on them. In Turkey, the coordinator country of this project, there is a project named “FATIH” carried out and funded by the Government and Ministry of National Education. In this project, every classroom has been equipped with a Highly Technological Interactive Board and high speed internet access. And, also, the government gives a tablet pc to all students and teachers without any charge. Interactive boards are provided in some other schools but they are very limited and few. Even so, all teachers say that it is very beneficial to have interactive boards in school environment. So, just think how beneficial it is to have it in each classroom in a school.

8. In our opinion, this system is the BEST application to teach ICT and the true usage of technology. Because, The Interactive board functions like a samart phone or tablet pc that is very familiar to students and also, because all teachers and students have the same tools and equipments, they can understand each other better. Also, the control of the system is directed by the ministry, so, students cannot access some harmful sites or social media through their tablets or they cannot save unwanted applcaitons on it. Each of the tablet pcs can be controlled by the authorities. This forces students to use it just for education not for enjoyment. The project is the BEST, because teachers always have internet access in the class, so, they don’t need to carry computers, laptops etc., they do not waste time to open it, assembly it, adapt it to a screen etc.. They just click on the screen of the board, open the page or file and do their job. All these things happen in front of the students, so, students also learn how to use technology during teaching&learning activities and also teachers become a role-model for them easily. Students are automatically forced to do their project tasks or other works in a digital environment. By the help of this project, technology is used as a common part of teaching&learning activities. Technology becomes very easy to use during teaching&learning activities and students, of course, far more motivated to the lessons because they have in the class what they like in real life. Now, it is said that it is very beginning of the project but, so far, the benefits of the project can be observed easily. In future years, when the system is completely supplied, the interaction between students and teachers during the lesson or out of the classroom will be stoppless and more effective in accordance with the needs of the 21st century.

9. Here are some pictures related to the project “FATIH”

11. Additional Note: This project is an International Project funded by the European Union (European Commission) under the concept of Erasmus+ Programme (Key Action 2, Strategic School Partnership). The project is carried out by schools from the partner countries. The documents, thoughts, ideas or any other outputs related to this project are not under the responsibility of the European Union or other Authorities such as National Agencies, Governments etc.. All outputs are belonged to and under responsibility of the partner organisations of the project “BEST”.