ViBes – Vlogging Beyond Classrooms
Vlogging beyond classrooms (ViBes) is an Erasmus+ project where primary school pupils and teachers from different countries exchange video blogs (vlogs).
The project can be compared to the traditional pen pal activity. The difference is that the communication form isn’t through traditional writing, but through vlogging. Both pupils and teachers will plan, film, edit and publish their own vlogs on relevant topics. This way, they will both develop new digital skills, and broaden their perspectives when seeing the world from other people’s point of view. This can increase their self awareness on their own thoughts, attitudes and values.
Another objective of the project is to inspire primary schools around the world to adopt a vlogging practice to achieve a more diverse and inclusive primary school education. It enables pupils to communicate their knowledge in new ways. Teachers are offered a new way of assessing and discovering their pupils’ knowledge and skills.
The project has a two year duration. In the first year, three primary schools will participate – one in Norway, Ireland and Belgium. The second year will be an exchange between schools on a regional level. Results from both exchanges will be shared in conferences, workshops and online.
We believe that vlogging is a communication form that speaks directly to young people today. Many youngsters already produce their own vlogs and even more are consuming them.
To offer a tool and method that seem relevant to young people’s lives may contribute to combat the worldwide trend where a lack of motivation for learning is prevalent. This project aims to encourage participatory learning – the pupils will be both consumers and producers of content. With vlogging going beyond classrooms we hope that it can inspire and nourish learning in meaningful, participatory ways that motivates pupils to stay in school and become participating citizens in society.
