Playing Beyond CLIL: Opening our Minds through an Erasmus+ Project

Abstract

Playing beyond CLIL (PbC) is an Erasmus+ project which has the purpose to offer the teaching commu nity different tools for the application of both innovative teaching and assessment methods in content and language integrated learning contexts. The work carried out by the eight partners in the project (Humboldt University of Berlin-Germany, the University of Edinburgh-UK, University of Helsinki-Finland, Espoo Teacher Training Centre-Finland, Interacting UK Limited, the Regional Ministry of Education from the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands-Spain, the Europaberatung Consulting Company-Berlin and the University of las Palmas de Gran Canaria-Spain) is very closely linked to the latest trend in research on CLIL, that is, the holistic Pluriliteracies Teaching Model for Deeper Learning (PTDL). According to this model, developed by the Graz Group, becoming proficient in discipline-specific ways of constructing and communicating knowledge is the most effective way for learners to improve both their transferable knowledge and their problem-solving skills. Apart from the cognitive skills, the model considers inter- and intrapersonal factors, which play a key role in learners’ personal growth. PbC will provide training and advice for teachers to guide them in the use of activity- interaction- and performance-based teaching methods in their classroom. At present, teachers interested in adopting the PTDL model in their lessons have difficulties in finding the right tools and formats for the assessment of the learning process.