Cross-Border Classroom
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The aim of the project was to raise the quality and versatility of teaching in small schools in Russian Karelia and Finland and develop them as learning environments. By creating a ”network classroom” between the small schools they would have an opportunity to exploit information and communication technologies and to expand their own tuition capacities.

Main activities

• Networking between the Russian and Finnish schools and planning cooperative pedagogical projects together • Development of new learning units • Supplementary training for teachers • Supporting the establishment of a clinic for Virtual Pedagogy in the Pedagogical University of Karelia to offer free pedagogical guidance to teachers in scarcely populated areas.

Achievements

The project involved eight small primary schools from Finland, ten somewhat larger schools from Russian Karelia and pupils aged between both primary and secondary education. The schools took an active part in the project, and the goals of the project were achieved. The school network turned out to be a workable model, which created a larger base for development activities. The project increased the versatility of teaching in the participating schools, the professional skills of the teachers, the development of an information society and expanded the international network of the schools. The schools’ development activities gained strength. The project made it possible for the schools to familiarise themselves with each others’ teaching work and everyday routines. During the project, five development projects between small Finnish and Karelian schools were implemented. The content and the themes of the projects were developed based on the needs and wishes of the schools. The results are also available for other schools. The infrastructure of the participating schools was complemented as required and then utilised in the activities. The project also studied what kind of services related to the school activities could be consolidated. Complementary training was organised and made to be genuinely available for the teachers and directly applicable for use in the development projects. Joint online lectures and Internet meetings, among other things, were implemented in the network classroom activities. Certain substantial areas of tuition – such as languages, multiculturalism and history – were perceived to have benefited directly from cross-border cooperation. It was considered that, in the future, understanding neighbouring languages, culture and society would increase in significance. Further activities planned for the project included a project application for the Nordplus Russia programme, aimed at expanding the network of schools developed in the current project.