The most valuable aspect of the EUPress project is that it focuses on students as the main protagonists. Teachers encourage students to be independent by expressing their own ideas and suggestions, and by taking the final decisions themselves. Students from Liceo Machiavelli in Rome are very committed to this EU co-funded project and work both passionately and dynamically, whilst benefiting from teamwork and developing a new set of skills.
Two months ago the students from classes 3D, 3F and 3L, that familiarized with the EUPress project for months with EU-focused activities, decided to create a video to present their own school.
To begin, students brainstormed ideas on how best to present themselves and the school along with their teachers. Some students, stepping out of the box, proposed a podcast, noting it has become a very popular digital medium. Others thought of interviews, presentations, or radio interviews.
Eventually, they all agreed that a video was the best option since it would have provided valuable context that cannot be gained from text, images, or voice alone.
link a youtube
Students were divided into groups and the classes involved were mixed, in order to decide what to highlight in their presentation about their school and activities carried on.
Afterwards, as little reporters, they filmed some shots in the main buildings of Liceo Machiavelli: they focused on the areas and features most important to them. English was chosen as the language to present the high school, so they worked on the voice-over of the video, improving pronunciation and intonation along with their English teacher.
Finally, a team of students worked on the editing of all the videos into a final one. In addition, students also put together videos of their experiences, activities and projects completed during the current academic year and shared their expectations on this new challenging and inspiring Erasmus project.
Overall, the experience helped them in many aspects. Not only did it allow them to engage in processing information, and evaluating and solving problems, but it also made it possible for students to strengthen the bond with the place in which they are growing as pupils and teenagers. Most importantly, students felt part of something bigger: working for their first production of EUPress, enhanced a sort of pride and excitement for the journey they are going to begin and eagerness to become a new generation of EU-Aware Journalists.
