Generation for
INNOVATION,
RESILIENCE,
LEADERSHIP and
SUSTAINABILITY
PROJECT MOTIVATION
This GIRLS project is presented as a partners’ proposal to promote several important aspects in Europe such as inclusion and diversity, equality, digital transformation and the sustainable development goals (SDG).
As was detailed throughout the proposal, we have proposed the project “GIRLS – Generation for innovation, resilience, leadership and sustainability. The game is on!” as a game since we think that the best way to learn is “by doing”, in this case “by playing”.
Currently, many teachers use innovative active methodologies in their classes to motivate and engage students in their own learning, but this is not the case in higher education, where it is not so common to change the classic system of lectures. The GIRLS project promotes the use of active methodologies in higher education and engage more teachers to use them.
The way to make this possible is to teach how to play by playing; i.e., we are going to focus on 4 methodologies (more may be included throughout the project): research-based learning (RBL), game-based learning (GBL), competency-based learning (CBL) and learning-service (LS), which will be used in different activities. For example, the entire project is organized as a game with work packages ranging from «the board» to «Game over!» going through «The rules of the game» and «The Game».
WHAT MAKES OUR PROPOSAL INNOVATIVE?
The first innovative aspect of the GIRLS project is that the project has been defined as a game, in which the work packages are specified by game elements: board, rules of the game, playing the game, and game over! The consortium that participates in this proposal wants to use active methodologies also in the design of all the activities that will be carried out during the project. In addition, this project will provide digital tools to higher education, from the approach of learning by doing. Each of the tools used will be duly documented and the necessary material will be provided to promote its use.
Another new aspect is the inclusion of anon-European entity from an associated country. The participation of the Vasco de Quiroga University of Morelia in Mexico will allow working on social, digital and educational innovation aspects, in a different environment. Additionally, this partner has experience working for the community. In Mexico they have established what they call internships, a year of social services that graduate students must give for community service. In this way they give to society what it has given them in the form of free university studies. The inclusion of this partner brings added value to the project, since university students and teachers will be able to learn from the service-learning projects and projects related to the SDGs that are being developed and with new ones that will be proposed from a different perspective than the European one, since these communities present a reality that does not exist in Europe.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the central part of the project is the goals of sustainable development and women. A specific objective is not established for these aspects since their use will be transversal and will be the background of the entire project.
