SignMedia is an innovative online learning resource that teaches elements of broadcast media industry-specific English through Sign Language video and interactive tasks, created by the international SignMedia project led by the University of Wolverhampton (UK). The video narrative and gameplay immerses learners into an alternative reality where learners start to work for the fictional Deaf production company Sunrise Media Productions as the production manager for the soap opera ‘Beautiful Days’.
The European Chain Reaction
Winner of the special Award for European Collaboration in the creation of Educational Media 2011
The European Chain Reaction is a science/art project and competition for primary schools that was created in 2011 by Dave Schrauwen, a teacher in the primary school Qworzó in Belgium.
Through this initiative, primary schools across Europe are challenged to create, film and upload a "Rube-Goldberg/Robert Storm Petersen-like" chain reaction, for which the best chain reaction receives a trophy. In the end all submitted chain videos are merged into a big cross-border European chain reaction.
The showcase video of The European Chain Reaction, including an interview Dave Schrauwen
Through this project, children in primary schools present their school in an introductory video before they start with their chain reaction. During the project, children learn more about science and computers in a fun way.
They can watch the different creations from all over Europe, learn about other cultures and languages when watching the introduction videos of the other contestants, and write a comment about the videos sent in by the other contestants.
About the creation of The European Chain Reaction
Dave Schrauwen on the background of The European Chain Reaction: “After thinking out the concept of the competition/collaboration, I began searching for participants on the eTwinning-forum. I also set up a blog and e-mailed all guidelines and the timetable to all contestants.
In total, thirteen teachers worked together in this eTwinning project. I am happy to say that everything went perfect: they were each given access to the blog and everyone could upload their own video, the children could then watch the new entries on their digital school board or at home. Through entering, the children learned about science (creating the chain reaction), ICT (filming, blogging, ...), languages (commenting in English when their mother tongue was non-English) and other cultures (when watching the introduction videos of the other classes).
All participating teachers were very enthusiastic about the project and most of them will re-enter the contest. We want to let the project grow until we have 20 or more contestants. If you are interested in entering the European Chain Reaction 2012, please visit www.ecr2012.blogspot.com!”
In 2011, the European Chain Reaction received the UK National Award for cross-curricular integration of eTwinning and the European Quality Label.
About Dave Schrauwen
Dave Schrauwen is a teacher in the 6th grade in a primary school in Belgium.
In May 2010 Dave and his class were allowed to participate in Schoolovision 2010. This Eurovision song festival for primary schools is a European Quality Label winning eTwinning project.
Dave and his class enjoyed being in this project so much that Dave decided he wanted to create an eTwinning project on his own. After he worked in the classroom on a science-assignment he and his class loved, he decided to ask Michael Purves (organisor of Schoolovision) to be his mentor and create The European Chain Reaction together. This was the first time Dave set up an eTwinning-project and some advice would be very welcome.
Dave talked about the European Chain Reaction in further detail during a presentation at the Media & Learning Conference 2011 Brussels in November 2011. He represented this finalist entry at the MEDEA Awards 2011 Ceremony where this entry was announced the Winner of the special Award for European Collaboration in the creation of Educational Media 2011, sponsored by SMART. Dave received prizes including a MEDEA Medal and all 13 participating schools received a SMART Classroom Suite sponsored by SMART.