GAMMA project activity in Croatia

GAMMA (GAMe based learning in MAthematics) is a three-year long Erasmus+ project coordinated by the Department of Mathematics of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (MATHOS). The project started on 1 October 2020. The project brings together universities and schools from Croatia, Finland, the Netherlands and Greece to develop methodical materials for mathematics teachers focus on learning based on digital games. The GAMMA transnational learning, teaching and training activity was held from 26 – 30 September 2022 at the Department of Mathematics of the University in Osijek (MATHOS) and in the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering and Traffic Osijek (ELPROS). The activity was organised by the GAMMA MATHOS and ELPROS teams and the Education and Training Agency (AZOO). There were 33 participants from nine partner organisations from Croatia, the Netherlands, Finland and Greece. It was the second transnational activity of the project that was held physically. The first was held at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Philosophy, Department of Educational Studies (NKUA), in Athens, Greece, from 6-9 June 2022. That meeting was organised by GAMMA partners from Greece, i.e. teams of ETL, NKUA and the First Senior High School of Peristeri Athens. The main purpose of the activity held in Croatia was to present the Croatian education system and to work on eight GAMMA teaching scenarios, i.e. two from each partner university. The first day of the activity started at the Department of Mathematics with a welcome section, followed by the AZOO presentation about the Croatian education system. After that, MATHOS team held two workshops on teaching scenarios, in which the ELPROS students described their impressions of the teaching scenarios referring to the games for learning mathematics developed within the project. Workshops were organised in small groups to facilitate easier exchange of ideas and experiences among the participants. The same model of workshops on teaching scenarios continued in the following days of activities. On the second day, there were two more workshops on teaching scenarios led by team members from Finland. This was followed by a presentation of the GAMMA manual for teachers delivered by the team from the Netherlands, after which participants discussed in small groups how to improve the manual and create promotional videos for each chapter. On the third day, four workshops on teaching scenarios were held: the first two were led by the team from Greece, while the remaining two were led by partners from the Netherlands. The model of those workshops was the same as of the previous days. On the fourth day, the activities were organised at ELPROS. The morning session began with a welcome and an introductory presentation about the school. Team members of MATHOS and ELPROS presented the e-School project, and then the ELPROS team introduced the participants to the e-Twinning projects they participated in, as well as the GAMMA e-Twinning project. There was a lesson delivered by a teacher from the ELPROS team according to one of the developed teaching scenarios within which students played a game. On the last day, the participants discussed the lesson and took part in the workshop led by the MATHOS team related to the questionnaires for teachers and students that are be used during piloting of the teaching scenarios. Results were evaluated and future steps and plans were discussed for the next transnational activity to be held in Amsterdam from 7-10 November 2022. Within this GAMMA activity, there were social events organised for the participants, such as sightseeing tour of Osijek and an excursion to Baranja, which also contributed to strengthening of partner cooperation.