What we have achieved during this project.

This project has explored the use of sound and picture for MDVI- children to enhance the teaching and learning within languages, activities, to motivate pupils, to truly collaborate with parents and partner institutions, to generally raise the profile of ICT and especially the use of sound & picture for MDVI-children.
We feel that we have achieved many of our aims despite different skills in ICT from country to country and despite also different software used by the participants.

For the pupils:

To develop ICT skills through a variety of topics which would not only engage them in controlling their own learning but also develop their technical skills.
We have seen that sound & picture is used in communication as pictogram, language skills, in mobility and could be used in other curriculum areas. Pupils could engage in peer assessment and also be encouraged to assess the use of ICT devices and impact on their own daily activities and learning.

For the teachers:

The collaborative aspect of the project has provided an excellent platform for the sharing of ideas and experiences using sound and picture as a method.
To work in a truly collaborative way providing a platform through which to link their subject expertise (using their schemes of work/long and short term plans) to their pupils’ language learning in an engaging and motivating way. They use innovative and emerging ICT technologies and sound and picture as a vehicle for teaching skills and producing and/or adapting appropriate resources to meet the needs of their pupils. They also show and demonstrate their pupils’ work in an advanced multimedia presentation. The project has indeed given us a chance for personal professional growing process and CPD (continuous professional development). Above all, we have made new connections and vital links around Europe.

For the partner institutions:

To give ICT a higher profile by showing how the pupils are performing and how the curriculum could be enhanced by the use of sound and picture when used with appropriate planning and closely linked to the 5 step model of activity planning.
The ICT is enforcing the partnership between home, school and others institutions, making the communication more effective and understandable.
For many countries, this project is the first in which employees from teaching, rehabilitation and residential worked together tightly.

For the parents:

We have seen that most schools have already begun to develop the effective use of ICT to engage parents in their children’s learning. Learning platforms, websites, portable devices and home access timetables are already starting to make an impact. Information about achievements, expectations and next steps in learning can easily be shared between home and school. ICT is giving parents more access to their child’s learning. The use of technologies such as emails, text messages, digital images, audio and video enables home and school to work closely in partnership, supporting learning and achievement.
Some parents say that the use of ICT is giving them a starting point for conversations with their child’s teacher and personal key worker.

The Sound and picture project has given new tools to involve pupils in their every day life: tools that increase their communication skills and help them integrate with the surrounding social network. The use of sound & picture was very different from one country to another. After the S&P project, all the project participants have shown a lot of interest in getting involved with ICT and S&P methods. The project has been giving some answers to different needs and we have been sharing knowledge and experiences with each other.

In summary, the project has indeed given us:

The opportunity to meet other professionals who work with MDVI-children.
Highly interesting discussions with other professionals.
Scope to achieve a whole new level of multidisciplinary work in our school.
The chance to made new connections around Europe.
A chance for staff to get more education and professional growing process.
New tools to involve our pupils in their everyday life.
A new curricular dimension to using ICT in class.
The ability to become more conversant and confident in the use of technology.
The knowledge and confidence to adjustment individual technical aid for MDVI- children.