Project EXCALIBUR

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

The theme of the Erasmus+ project EXCALIBUR (2021-1-FI01-KA220-SCH-000029713) is sustainability. With the help of different communication languages, learners from various countries explore this topic in an intercultural setting. They work online together in virtual 3D sandbox worlds in order to find innovative solutions to major environmental real-life challenges that unite the contemporary international world. 

The EXCALIBUR project combines the approaches of Content and Language Integrated Learning for English (CLIL) and Languages Other Than English (LOTE) to the STEM subjects and the overall theme of sustainability. Furthermore, the learners develop their information and media literacy skills, along with the 6Cs of Deep Learning (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, character and citizenship). Together, they combine their individual strengths to use their creativity, skills and interdisciplinary knowledge in order to find possible solutions to actual fundamental environmental problems in living environments. 

The project started in spring 2022. The project partner team (see separate page) coordinated by Tampere University consists of scientific and pedagogical experts from different European countries with expertise in language learning, virtual and game-based learning, CLIL and CLIL LOTE learning, information retrieval and STEM. The main focus lies on the societal interaction, meaning cooperation with mainly upper secondary schools. There are participating schools from Finland, Germany, Norway, France, Italy and Czechia. The participating learning groups consist of foreign language learners of English, German and French between CEFR levels A2-C1. The groups may consist of the whole class, or smaller subgroups.  

The learner-centeredness is the key element of the project and the learners are engaged in an intercultural dialogue and creativity. Even informal collaboration opportunities for learners are offered. The project team supports and guides their teachers throughout the project, for example in matters of organization and schedules and offers the collaboration environments and the approaches. 

Welcome to join and/or follow our innovative project, where we combine virtual game worlds, language learning and sustainability!