March 19-25, 2023
Our first Learning Activity Mobility to Antalya, Turkiye
Arrival of delegations
On Sunday, March 19, 2023 all teachers' and students' delegations arrived in Antalya. Teachers and students from schools from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece met in order to set it in motion the actual cooperative part of the project. Two teachers and four students for each partner school were selected according to clear criteria in each participating country.
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Selection Criteria for Participants in Delegations
The teachers selection was done according to their skills and expertise in the fields required for the planned activities, their availability to travel, their open-mindedness, focus on their professional development and participation in lifelong learning activities. They were teachers of the subjects involved in the project, like Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Sciences of the Earth, Foreign Languages, Art and Literature. In their selection, a major criterion was their ability to create and carry out lessons, workshops, seminars about the project topics with the use of new methodologies according to the distributions of roles in the partnership.
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Participating students were selected in accordance to their interest in the project topic and sub-topics, skills and merits and their inclination towards multiculturalism. They were winners of internal competitions (logo, art , poetry, articles) and had created outputs of great value. Moreover, special attention was paid to participation of students belonging to fewer opportunities groups due to cultural, economic, social or educational disadvantages. Therefore, strong motivation, passion and ability was guaranteed through the main features of the participants profiles.
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Preparation & Deliverables
The defined agenda for the Learning Activity in Turkey included focused on "Forests, poetry and art" in Turkey. In the months prior to the mobility, students had analyzed not only the causes and effects of forest fires, the value of forests in the biodiversity and ecosystems but also dealt with poems about forests from national and English and /or American literature. Before the mobility to Turkey they had produced paintings and drawings about forests, trees, leaves and written poems to be collected in a digital Anthology. These poems were acted in Antalya and the works of Art were exhibited.
Day 1: Monday, March 20, 2023
On the first day of this Learning Mobility, after the friendship breakfast among teachers & students, all delegations were welcomed in the
Neriman Erol Yilmaz Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi by the Headmaster and members of the Faculty. The opening ceremony was a great chance for both students & teachers to get to know each other, meet with colleagues and peers from European schools and start the creation of personal and intercultural bonds. First each student delegation presented their background, specifically their country, town & school. Then, the schools' presentations followed on the topic "Causes and effects of forest fires" .
Neriman Erol Yilmaz Sosyal Bilimler Lisesi by the Headmaster and members of the Faculty. The opening ceremony was a great chance for both students & teachers to get to know each other, meet with colleagues and peers from European schools and start the creation of personal and intercultural bonds. First each student delegation presented their background, specifically their country, town & school. Then, the schools' presentations followed on the topic "Causes and effects of forest fires" .
A delightful musical performance by the talented students of the Turkish school choir helped the breaking of the ice and put everybody into a festive mood.
Talented students' creations on exhibition
Sightseeing in the beautiful town of Antalya
.After lunch all delegations had the unique chance to walk in the picturesque narrow streets of the old town of Antalya called Kaleici, visit the gate of Hadrian, the Clock Tower, the Fluted Minaret , the Yivli Minaret and the ancient harbor
Day2: Tuesday, March 21, 2022
On the second day, all delegations went on a cultural field trip, during which they visited the ancient theatet of Aspendos which is known as being the best preserved theater of antiquity. Aspendos or Aspendus was an ancient Greco-Roman city in the Antalya province of Turkiye. The site is located 40 km east of the modern city of Antalya. It was situated on the Eurymedon River about 16 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. It shared a border with the ancient city of Side. Aspendos, as previously mentioned, is known for having the best-preserved theater of antiquity. With a diameter of 96 metres (315 ft), it provided seating for 7,000. It was built in 155 by the Greek architect Zenon, a native of the city. It was periodically repaired by the Seljuqs, who used it as a caravanserai (a roadside inn where travelers, known as caravaners could rest and recover from the day's journey). In the 13th century the stage building was converted into a palace by the Seljuqs of Rum. Today, the theatre hosts the annual Aspendos International Opera & Ballet Festival organized by the Turkish State Opera & Ballet since 1994, with international participation of opera and ballet companies and an audience of about 10,000.
Day 3: Wednesday, March 21, 2023
On the third day of our educational visit to Antalya, we visited the Antalya Internaional Training Center of the Ministry of Forestry where students from all European schools were informed about the operation in action when forest fires need to be put out, the training of firefighters and were also given a detailed tour of the Center. The Antalya Internaional Training Center of the Ministry of Forestry is an international center set up in the southern province of Antalya is offering comprehensive training for forest firefighters from around the world. Run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the center, established in 2012, is teaching how to prevent forest fires, extinguish them and rehabilitate the burned areas. It serves to improve the vocational skills of hundreds of personnel working in forestry preservation.
Since its inception, the center has trained 5,392 people, including 357 foreign personnel from 16 countries.Sprawled across a wide area, the site includes a driving course for fire truck drivers, obstacle courses for firefighters, a pentathlon court, as well as simulators developed by Turkey. Vedat Dikici, head of the Directorate of Forestry in Antalya, said that the center, with its environment simulating different terrains, provides a good opportunity for practical training. “We train our trainees for different conditions, be it climbing a mountain, jumping off a helicopter or how to drive to reach a rough terrain where a forest fire is burning”. Turkey, which seeks to increase the number of its forests, also faces a heightened threat of forest fires, especially in the summer. In recent years, it modernized its crews responding to fires and improved training for firefighters.
A natural wonder: The Düden Waterfall
The Duden Waterfalls, located in the Antalya Province of southern Turkey, are a beautiful natural wonder . Lower Düden Waterfall is definitely one of the most dazzling natural sights in the city of Antalya. It is located in Düden Park in the Lara district of Antalya. It's a powerful water attraction to see from the sidewalk and also from a boat in the water. One interesting thing to know about the Lower Düden Waterfall is that since the name of the region is Karpuzkaldıran, the waterfall is also called Karpuzkaldıran Şelalesi which literally means the watermelon lifter waterfall. There are two waterfalls with the same name (Düden) in Antalya.
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These waterfalls are fed by the Duden River and have a long and fascinating history dating back to ancient times. The falls have been revered for their natural beauty and the power of the water for centuries. This waterfall pours water from the Düden River, one of the largest rivers in southern Anatolia, into the sea from a natural formation at Karpuzkaldıran. It has an observation terrace that gives a special view of the waterfall. This terrace is not a recreation spot but a large green and pleasant area for visitors.
Getting in touch with marine biology
The Antalya Aquarium
As one of the biggest aquarium complexes of the world, Antalya Aquarium offers inspiration, entertainment and education all at once. After touring the 40 thematic aquariums, you will come across the biggest tunnel aquarium of the world with a length of 131 meters and a width of 3 meters.
Day 4: Thursday, March 22, 2023
On the fourth day of the Learning Mobility, the students of all visiting schools engaged in poetry reading to celebrate the International Day of Forests. Students had written their own poems which they presented to the assembly. It was a really exceptional event, particularly because it became evident that the project had managed to bring forth amazing creative energy in students who laid their talents in front of peers and teachers.
Dokumapark
Anadolu Sehitler Musesi: Anatolian Martyrs Museum
Kepez Municipality brought Turkey's first museum dedicated to all the heroes who became martyrs throughout history in these lands to Antalya, named Anatolian Martyrs Museum. Dokuma Park, transformed into a cultural and artistic hub by Kepez Municipality, has gained even more significance with the addition of the Anatolian Martyrs Museum, which houses the memories of the revered martyrs. The museum features 25 different thematic sections, 3 dioramas, and a recreated martyr's home, exhibiting numerous artifacts. Among them are historical objects unearthed from battlefields, war materials (cannonballs, mines, swords, rifles, bullets, pistols, hand grenades, bayonets), items donated by martyr families, particularly the last clothes worn by the martyrs imbued with their scent, and a room dedicated to one martyr.
Dokuma Park – Science Center
Designed as a place where young people can learn about the world of science by actually “doing” it, the Science Center offers six workshops and labs and various interactive exhibits. A mathematics workshop, a robotic coding and software workshop, an astronomy lab, a wood design workshop, a steam lab, and a biology-chemistry workshops are available for students to use in special courses, school field trips, or summer classes.
As of August 2022, the museum exhibits are split into two hour-long tours and can each be explored with a guide three times a day. One side of the museum features the history of science, aviation, and how science has been used in industry. The other half features geology, paleontology, space, and energy.
Dokumapark: The Miniature Monuments
Further activities of the day included a visit to Dokumapark where members of the delegations had the opportunity to tour the Toy museum, the Picture Gallery as well as the Mini-city Miniature Park and the Botanic Garden.A special place to learn about the most important monuments that are found in small size, as it includes many famous historical models in Turkey from mosques, museums, tombs, and the Taksim Street train. We had the chance to admire cultural sights in miniature size & relax in the open air under the shade of dense trees.
Antalya Archaeological Museum
A deep dive into multicultural history
The Antalya Museum is one of the largest archaeology museums in Turkey and is very special as it holds the traces three of the largest ancient regions: Lycia, Pamphylia, and Pisidia. The Antalya Museum has 2 floors and 14 exhibition halls displayed over 30,000 square meters. The sculptures and other artifacts are exhibited both indoors and in open air galleries. The exposition of the museum is organized chronologically and thematically.
The Antalya Regional Museum consists of 13 exhibition rooms, 1 open-air exhibition area, laboratories, a storeroom, repair shops, a photographic room, a conference hall, administrative offices, a cafeteria and living quarters for museum officials. The exhibition rooms are as follows:
Natural History Hall: Shows living creatures from man down to one celled animals, charts and pictures, fossils and bones.
Pre-History Hall : Here are exhibited works found in Karain, Okuzini and Sehahoyuk. Karain is a cave, which has been the scene of a continuous series of civilizations. The works range from those of the Paleolithic to those of the Roman Age. Works include animal fossils and kitchen utensils.
Proto-History Hall : Here are exhibited works from the Neolithic, Calcolithic, and Early Bronze Age found in Hacilar. Excavations at Semahoyuk and its surroundings found most of the works.
Classic Period Hall: Here there are works dating from the Mycenaean Age to the Hellenistic Age, including earthenware figurines, wine bowls, and dishes. In one of the Hellenistic showcases is an important statuette of Apollo. Besides these are statuary works from the Roman period, which make up the largest section of the museum.
Statuary Hall: In this room are exhibited statues of mythological figures dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, Roman period. They were found in excavations at Perge. The list of statues includes the following mythological figures Minerva, Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Asclepius, Tyche, Meleagar, Hecate, Hermes & Marsyas.
Hall of Imperial Statues: Here are exhibited statues portraying emperors, empresses and other personages from the Roman period. They were found in excavations at Perge. In the center of the room is a large statue of Plancia Magna, a great administrator who contributed much towards the development of Perge during that city's golden period. There are also statues of the Emperor Hadrian, the Emperor Septimius Severus and his wife Julia Donna, the co-emperor of Rome Lucius Verus, the emperor Trajan, the emperor Caracalla and the king Alexander the Great.
Sarcophagus Hall: Sarcophagi from the Roman period from Pamphilia and Sidemara are displayed here. The most beautiful of these are the Domitias sarcophagus, and the one showing the twelve labors of Hercules. The list of sarcophagi includes the Heracles Sarcophagus, the Sarcophagus of Domitias Julianus and Domita Philiska, the Sarcophagus of Aurelia Botiane and Demetria and the Dionysus Sarcophagus of the Attic Type.
The Mosaic Hall: Here are exhibited Byzantine period mosaics found in excavations at Ksantos, and icons, from the region around Antalya.
Hall of church artifacts: Wooden church illuminations depicting the life of Jesus Christ are on display lately. In addition, artifacts depicting Saint Nicholas and his sacred relics are on display preserved in its box.
Sarcophagus Hall: Sarcophagi from the Roman period from Pamphilia and Sidemara are displayed here. The most beautiful of these are the Domitias sarcophagus, and the one showing the twelve labors of Hercules. The list of sarcophagi includes the Heracles Sarcophagus, the Sarcophagus of Domitias Julianus and Domita Philiska, the Sarcophagus of Aurelia Botiane and Demetria and the Dionysus Sarcophagus of the Attic Type.
The Mosaic Hall: Here are exhibited Byzantine period mosaics found in excavations at Ksantos, and icons, from the region around Antalya.
Hall of church artifacts: Wooden church illuminations depicting the life of Jesus Christ are on display lately. In addition, artifacts depicting Saint Nicholas and his sacred relics are on display preserved in its box.
Hall of Small Objects: Here are exhibited lamps and glass objects dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods, a gold inlay silver tray found by treasure hunters at Kumluca, incense holders and lamps (6th century AD). To the front of the room are lintel figures from a tomb found opposite Lymira.
Hall of Coins: Examples of gold, electron, silver, and copper coins from the Hellenistic to Ottoman periods are displayed in here. The most interesting of these are the city and imperial coins.
Turkish – Islamic Period Works: This room contains examples of Seljuk and Ottoman tiles, Anatolian carpets from the Ottoman period, inscriptions, books, candlesticks, lamps, dervish paraphernalia, etc.
Ethnographic Hall: Here are exhibited clothes, embroidery, weapons, and metal objects from the region of Antalya. One corner of the room has been furnished as a typical Anatolian house.
Children's section: A hall in the entrance of the museum was organized as a Children's Museum, which is the first of its kind in Turkey. In the display windows of this section, there are various children's toys and antique moneyboxes. Simple restorations, and educational activity opportunities for ceramic sculpture and drawing are provided and their works are presented in the studio section, so as to make children enjoy museums and antique objects, and to awaken their interest.
Hall of Coins: Examples of gold, electron, silver, and copper coins from the Hellenistic to Ottoman periods are displayed in here. The most interesting of these are the city and imperial coins.
Turkish – Islamic Period Works: This room contains examples of Seljuk and Ottoman tiles, Anatolian carpets from the Ottoman period, inscriptions, books, candlesticks, lamps, dervish paraphernalia, etc.
Ethnographic Hall: Here are exhibited clothes, embroidery, weapons, and metal objects from the region of Antalya. One corner of the room has been furnished as a typical Anatolian house.
Children's section: A hall in the entrance of the museum was organized as a Children's Museum, which is the first of its kind in Turkey. In the display windows of this section, there are various children's toys and antique moneyboxes. Simple restorations, and educational activity opportunities for ceramic sculpture and drawing are provided and their works are presented in the studio section, so as to make children enjoy museums and antique objects, and to awaken their interest.
Day 5: Friday, March 24
On the last day of our visit to Antalya, the hosting school prepared a really moving Certificate Award Ceremony, during which all participants, hosts and visitors, had the opportunity to recollect, evaluate, empathize, have fun, feel touched by all the lovely memories that were created in the past week. It was the moment that we all realized how important the Erasmus cooperative projects are on multiple levels. This was definitely a moment to remember!
Evaluation & Outcomes
Knowledge & Intercultural Bonding
As concluded in the teachers' meeting for the evaluation & assessment of the mobility, all these activities realized the following objectives for both students and teachers:
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