Thematic Cultural Network “Dreaming of the future: Transforming Creative Writing into Digital Creation!”

The Science and Technology Museum of the University of Patras with the Primary and Secondary Education of Cultural Issues, the Panhellenic Association of Informatics Schools, of the Achaia Branch and the Patras Visual Arts Association co-organize for the school / academic year 2021-2022, the Cultural Network “Dreaming of the future: Transforming Creative Writing into Digital Creation!”

The main goal of the network is to strengthen the Museum-School relationship in the context of co-creating events with the Science and Technology Museum, which will be a source of inspiration and education. It will support teachers in the use of digital storytelling in teaching literature and in the production of literary texts.

It mainly concerns Cultural Programs that are related to literacy, creative writing, literature (e.g. poetry, fairy tales, and comics), school library, technology and related visual or performing arts.

Objectives of the Network:

The aim is for students to:

• think about how they dream about the future (through themselves, communication, technology, social issues - such as diversity, equality, and inclusion, etc.) and what is the role of the Museum in shaping it
• understand that:
• the book is a tool for exploring contemporary issues, understanding and interpreting ourselves and the world around us
• technology is constantly evolving and this fact has an imprint on many aspects of our lives, such as human relationships, the structure of society, human communication and daily life
• enrich language experiences and types of texts that can be edited or reproduced
• familiarization with:
• the reading and writing-literary act
• the digital tools of creative expression and writing
• cultivate imagination and critical thinking
• convert creative writing texts to digital creation through appropriate digital tools

Methodology:

As a teaching methodology experiential laboratory and group work, which enhances participatory and active learning, is suggested. This action is based on the principles of the pedagogical theory of constructivism, which emphasizes the interaction of (students, teachers, and books), as well as the socio-cultural environment in which the learning process takes place.

Network Activities / Actions:

• Educational Seminars / Workshops for teachers on creative writing and digital creation. (They will be implemented live or through a platform - depending on the prevailing conditions, in the afternoon hours)
• Selection of 1-3 literary books dealing with the present or the past, personal relationships, social issues, technology, etc. which will be worked out jointly by teachers and students
• Participation of students-teachers in at least one educational program in the permanent or periodic exhibition of the STM –either live or through a platform depending on the prevailing conditions. The purpose of this visit will be to engage the students with some of the permanent exhibitions of the STM, in order to:
• see how technology has evolved in various fields
• realize that this has affected human life
• inspire and experiment with innovation
• Engaging students with creative writing in order to express and capture how they dream of the future and what they believe may be the role of the Museum in shaping the future (educational, scientific, informative, informational, etc.)
• Convert Creative Writing to Digital Creation
• Final Event and digital exhibition of works for the International Museum Day, in May 2022, live or through a platform, depending on the prevailing conditions.

Proposed collaborations with government agencies, individuals, and non-governmental organizations:

• Authors / Writers
• Municipal Library of Patras
• Library & Information Center of the University of Patras
• Association of Philologists of Achaia
• Society of Writers of Southwestern Greece