In Europe, too many young people leave school prematurely without those basic skills that an active involvement in the knowledge society requires and that are necessary to shift into the labor market. These boys and girls stand before the risk of social exclusion; they have been effectively excluded from lifelong learning since they were born.

In 2007, the average of early school leavers rate was 14,8% for EU-27, 2.8 percentage points lower than 2000. Progress is slow and at the current rate of improvement, the benchmark of no more that 10% of early school leavers will not be attained by 2010. (Progress Report 2008 - Commission Staff Working Document, Progress Towards the Lisbon Objectives in Education and Training, Inidcators and benchmarks – 2008)

Objectives of the Project

tackle school drop out and improve key-competence learning through an alternative study approach (computer – music) identify and apply in an innovative way the new music technologies so that lifelong learning is more interesting, in particular to the young at risk of social exclusion.

Change and innovation of didactic methodology are two of the essential successful elements to reduce school drop out, in particular of groups at risk of social exclusion (migrants, ethnic minorities, poor socio-economic backgrounds). E-Motion intends to pick out possible and alternative approaches that almost suit the motivations and attitudes of at-risk young poeple. Motivation, that is the magic word.

Music and particularly electronic music, musical technologies are our lever to approach the youth and lead them to learn those basic competences society requires to be part of it (maths, physics, history, physical education etc). If we change the way knowledge and competence are transfered with an innovative use of ITC (namely computer music), this will surely cause some interest in children with difficulties to learn.

- Enhance the standards of competences is a priority EU wide. Testing a new pedagogic approach might bring interesting data to reflect and to achieve the new goals, which will be set in Europe. The turning point could be to try and integrate and/or modify the learning methods.

Expected results:
Elaboration and pilot implementation in 3 Countries (Italy, Romania and UK) of a new learning approach (the E-Motion pathway) for young people at risk of social exclusion, in particular those with difficulties and possibile school dropouts.

This apprach exploits the potential of ICT applied on music, namely on those kinds the youth loves (rock, hip-hop etc.). as a lever for innovation and change: combination of music and ICTs, two elements the youth are strongly interested in.
The use of ICTs is an extraordinary and fundamental element against exclusion. The creation of a social network of digital music the students (and not only them) of the experimentation will use, let them be in touch and express their ideas about what they are learning and musical tracks they are composing.

The innovative use of ICTs in music make the youngsters cope with maths, physics and informatics, which are of diverse complexity. The participation in the E-Motion approach require they learn other subjects i.e. history and geography, face social and political issues of other Countries and meet diverse cultures.

Our Pilot Projects are to show that the binomial ICT-Music contributes to higher attention of students to learning, if handled in a specific way. They are more involved and have a better attitude to learn further subjects. The project E-Motion uses the creative energies and the determination of students and take them to the final goal, which is catering cultural and practical competences that help their involvement in the society.

We would also like to encourage policy-makers to reflect and to invest on a learning system that is more brilliant and accesible.

Activitis
The Project E-Motion has started up in January 2009; it will last 2 years and is structured into 3 phases:
1- Development of a methodology of new teaching models (the pathway E-Motion). The methodology is coordinated by the ICCMR – Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research, University of Plymouth. ICCMR, directed by Prof. Eduardo Miranda. They are pioneers in digital music research.

2- Implementation of pilot projects in sample schools in the partner Countries (UK, Romania and Italy).
To “test” the validity of pathway E-Motion, the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Tehne and Acsi will implement the model in schools of their Countries. The implementation of the pilot projects should induce to some modernization in the dydactic systems and prove the importance of investiments on technologies and on training teachers.

3- Analysis of data : monitoring, assessment of the pilot expriences – coordinated by Barcelona Media (ES).

Indicators and more precisely monitoring the results of the 3 pilot projects are a key element in the success of the project. The main steps of the pilot projects will be monitored in order to assess the validity of the methodology adopted.