I CO-COPE: Inclusion through Interprofessional Collaboration in a Community of Practice in Education
The Erasmus+ project I CO-COPE aims to create knowledge of how to make these collaboration processes more transparent and effective to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard, also the voices of the pupils themselves. To support these collaboration processes at secondary schools we intend to use a specific approach – Communities of Practice (CoP) – in which all actors are included in school development with a specific goal, based on the specific needs of the school.
Many schools work hard to promote learning and well-being for all of their pupils as vulnerable groups among them seem to be more at risk for learning delays and mental health problems. Research shows that a strong collaboration among teachers, pupils and pupil guidance providers is key to tackle these challenges.
The Erasmus+ project I CO-COPE aims to create knowledge of how to make these collaboration processes more transparent and effective to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard, also the voices of the pupils themselves. To support these collaboration processes at secondary schools we intend to use a specific approach – Communities of Practice (CoP) – in which all actors are included in school development with a specific goal, based on the specific needs of the school.
Partners from four countries collaborate in this project:
- Portugal (Politecnico Do Porto)
- Austria (University College of Teacher Education Styria and Chance B)
- Belgium (UC Leuven-Limburg and Arteveldehogeschool)
- Slovakia (Univerzita Komenskeho V Bratislave)
Objectives
In the course of the project the partners intend to:
- enhance the ability of schools to meet the challenges linked with providing inclusive education to pupils with diverse abilities and backgrounds
- generate knowledge on how interprofessional cooperation in schools can contribute to inclusion
- create knowledge of how school development for inclusion can be conducted within and across the four countries
- promote pupil agency and active participation in democratic life and prevent early school leaving and educational failure
Activities
The following activities will be implemented:
- a literature and practice-oriented review on the four key concepts inclusion, pupil agency, Community of Practice and interprofessional collaboration
- a needs analysis using a survey at 20 schools and focus groups in 2 schools per country
- development of online training modules which will be translated into all partner languages
- facilitation and evaluation of a Community of Practice at 2 schools per country
Expected results and outcomes
- a reflection tool and knowledge base on the four key concepts
- a professional development package including training modules
- podcasts for inspiration for secondary schools
- a CoP manual for secondary schools
- recommendations based on the experiences and results of the practical work of the communities of practice
Partners
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