Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2017 Newsletter------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teaching peace and tolerance through eTwinning projects by Svitlana Dyka
Introduction Teaching Peace and Tolerance is an actual and urgent task of modern education. Nelson Mandela claimed that“ education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, and it is true. If we educate our children on the best human values, then we will shorten half of the problems of this world. globalized world which is highly integrated. From the other hand, the modern world is becoming less peaceful and safe. It is full of tension, violence, injustice, reducing of tolerance and respect for human rights. There is no doubt that today we have a greater need for creating a conflict free environment.
Furthermore, modern realities require from us, teachers, new, non-traditional approaches for teaching pupils the art to live in peace, stimulate to look for more effective forms and methods of shaping their peacekeeping views.
The analysis of pedagogical literature and the latest researches on the problem show that there is a rather large experience in the field of Peace Education in Ukraine.
The main methodological approaches to Peace Education of schoolchildren can be found in the works of M. V. Kabatchenko, A. S. Kapto and Z. I. Shnekendorff. Formation of the concept of education in the spirit of peace and tolerance is also reflecting in the writings of I. D. Bekh, O. V. Bezkorovayna, I. I. Brynzov, L. V. Iskra and others.
In this article I would like to share how Peace Education can be effectively used in school classes as a Peacebuilding Method with the help of European educational platform eTwinning.
This material can be helpful both for understanding of importance of Peace Education and for generating future projects on this theme.
Building bridges of peace and tolerance“ If we are to teach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with children”. I fully agree with these words of Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent Indian political leader. The greatest potential and hope of any country is its young generation. And the main task of education is to bring up the growing generation as real leaders who think, aspire, create and are ready to change for better the present and future of the countries.
Struggling for peace in the world is the next eternal issue. But nowadays it is even more important than it has ever been. From the one hand, we live in a
As to me, I am also standing for principles of friendly, tolerant attitudes toward others and for the importance of international collaboration. I believe that problems of respect to other cultures are solved when we all work together and are interested in getting a mutual result.“ Peace " is a very important issue which I am constantly trying to incorporate in my English lessons and extracurricular activities. I widely involve my pupils into the international projects where they can act as advocates for peace and tolerance. With joining of our country to eTwinningPlus community pedagogues and youth of Ukraine have received a wonderful opportunity to communicate and collaborate with their European peers through various eTwinning projects.
Our educational establishment became a part of eTwinning community in January, 2016. Since then we took part in 20 eTwinning projects and 201 events. There are such projects as“ Be KIND”,“ Let’ s play!”,“ Open Ukraine with postcards”,“ STEAM in teaching English”,“ We love what we do” and others among them.
In eTwinning net our Educational Complex # 31 have initiated such projects as“ Let’ s Give Peace a Chance!”,“ Let’ s Be Tolerant!” and“ Festivals reflect us as mirrors”. We hope that they have helped to build the bridges of peace and tolerance in our communities.
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