Netd@ys Europe: United Kingdom

Netd@ys Europe: United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Project: Belonging

The aim is to develop an understanding and awareness of cultural diversity and identity across disparate communities. By using interactive activities and with the help of the Internet, it is intended to challenge national stereotypical views and to encourage an appreciation and celebration of diversity. A permanent online "Cultural Identity WebBook" will be produced. It will contain a wealth of information relevant to young people across a broad spectrum of cultures and societies. There will also be an interactive "quiz creator" which will provide a framework for investigative research into other cultures.

European cultural diversity and identityComparing and contrasting a sense of belonging and what it means to be a citizen in diverse cultures and societies.

Project: My coastline

A partnership between public and private organisations in six EU countries and schools in the USA, Mexico and Turkey. New technologies will be utilised between schools and will incorporate an online platform for discussions on issues about the environment, pollution and culture. The participants will be encouraged to find out more about oil pollution by investigating real case studies, to look at solutions to environmental problems in their own areas and to role play around the issue of a virtual oil spill on a fictitious area of coastline.

European cultural identity and diversityInteractive role-play will be encouraged with the integration of ICT combining photography and poetry within the virtual gallery. Teachers will provide materials and exemplars of the integration of technology in the teaching of aesthetic subjects such as music and art. Pollution problems and environmental issues will be examined to see how they shape national customs and habits.

Education and training for improving digital literacyOne outcome will be a multilingual cross-platform of online material containing new pedagogical materials collected during the project. These will be included on a Web site. The project will expand the network of teachers trained in the method of technology integration.

Project: Increasing the incidence and effectiveness of using ICT

The project aims to increase knowledge of using ICT with particular reference to developing citizenship and to the promotion of equal opportunities. Three main initiatives are planned within the project and a major dissemination conference will be held on the outcomes.

CitizenshipThe state of the nation project will aim to develop an awareness of political institutions, both national and European, and young people's rights and responsibilities as citizens through an exchange of information and ideas through videoconferencing, leading to a mock election. Another project will develop functional numeracy as a key tool in citizenship and schools will exchange information on mathematical themes (surveys, votes and forecasts). The International Year of Maths will also be celebrated.

Equal opportunitiesA Web site will set up to identify young peoples' heroes and to question stereotypes of gender and ethnicity. One of the aims will be to develop positive images for young people with physical disabilities, who will be the main target group.