The project was funded by the ERASMUS+ program of the European Commission (KA220-SCH) and its consortium included three (3) main partners from three (3) EU member-states, namely the: Educational Research Institute-ERI (Slovenia), International Step by Step Association-ISSA (Netherlands), and DAISSy Research Group of Hellenic Open University (HOU) as the sole Greek and Academic partner. In addition, it involved eight (8) Kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries, namely, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia.

The DAISSy Research Group of HOU was actively involved in all five (5) Work Packages (WPs) of the project as well as in all major intellectual products and deliverables. Specifically, DAISSy-HOU had the responsibility of coordinating WP2 “Training on digital competencies” which was successfully implemented with additional activities that expanded its scope and accessibility, while maintaining high quality and alignment with project objectives. The training activity involved more than forty (40) kindergarten professionals, was conducted mainly online, and enhanced digital literacy, pedagogical understanding, and environmental sustainability, benefiting participants, partner organizations, and the broader professional community, through intercultural networking and sustainable educational resources.

Additionally, DAISSy-HOU was the leader also of the WP3 “Platform”, assuming the lead role and responsibility for the design, development and effective operation of the GREELCO online platform addressed primarily to Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals across Europe and everyone interested in the topic. The GREELCO platform overcame the planned results making it a high-quality digital tool that supports, professional development, networking, and access to innovative pedagogical resources. With currently 1,325 users from 63 countries worldwide, the platform has had a significant impact on digital literacy and international collaboration and it keeps on growing.

On behalf of DAISSy-HOU, the GREELCO project was coordinated by Mr. Achilles Kameas, Professor at HOU and Director of DAISSy, managed by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager and Lead Researcher, and implemented by Ms. Panagiota Polymeropoulou, Senior Researcher, Ms. Elisavet Pirounia, Media Producer, and Mr. Anastasis Papadopoulos, Developer and Technician.

As per the high evaluation score and the Agency remarks indicate, the GREELCO project was highly successful, fully achieving its objectives and even exceeding the planned indicators in several points. The GREELCO team of the DAISSy-HOU and the whole partnership are extremely proud, as the ERASMUS+ Managing Authority praised the project’s deliverables as of “high quality” and in general provided highly positive feedback.

For more information on the GREELCO project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

• Websites: https://daissy.eu/ and https://www.greelco.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

More specifically, the GREELCO online educational platform is offered for free and it is accessed easily, through a simple registration. Up to now, it has been utilized by more than one thousand (1,000) registered users, including education professionals. A series of tools, such as a Training Webinar, practices and Online Study Visits are available to the registered members. Therefore, the platform is highly accessible and open to everyone, functioning already as a highly visited online communication and collaboration tool that links ECEC professionals throughout Greece, Europe and beyond.

Furthermore, from January 2024 until mid of October 2024, a series of eight (8) Virtual Study Visits has been planned by respective project’s kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia), one for each unit. The Virtual study visits are designed interactively, a fact that makes it easier for participants to get to know each other, connect and cooperate, as well as exchange knowledge, experience and examples of good practices, which can contribute to increasing the level of connection between kindergarten professionals from different countries.

There is a number of reasons why registering to the GREELCO platform is important, namely:

Connect and Collaborate

GREELCO is more than just a platform; it’s a hub for connecting and sharing ideas. Collaborate on projects, exchange insights, and join a dynamic network that values collective creativity.

Access to Webinars

Participate in the GREELCO Webinar to gain essential knowledge, guidelines, and technical instructions for creating videos of pedagogical practices. These webinars cater to the needs of kindergarten teachers, educators, preschool managers, and ECEC professionals across Europe.

Exclusive Opportunities

Enjoy exclusive access to events and opportunities. Stay informed about the latest trends, participate in online study visits, and lead in innovation. Attendees can access both live and on-demand study visits and stay updated on future events.

Learn About Diverse ECEC Systems

Gain insights into various preschool and early childhood education systems, including teacher profiles, department sizes, organizational structures, funding, national curricula, and more.

Explore Pedagogical Practices

Learn about daily routines, quality interactions, inspiring learning environments, and inclusive practices from kindergartens in different countries.

Enhance Reflective Competence

Increase your ability to reflect on pedagogical practices, improving your professional competence in evaluating and refining educational methods.

Raise ECEC Practice Quality

Improve your competencies in ensuring high-quality ECEC practices, with a special emphasis on inclusion.

More precisely, registering to the GREELCO platform is a pre-requisite for accessing it, and creating a private account. Verifying a private email address, allows the launch of collaborating and innovating in the GREELCO forums. Evaluating the platform by completing an anonymous questionnaire, is precious since, it provides the users with the possibility to suggest improvements.

As we enter a new era of collaborative possibilities, every professional in early childhood education is encouraged to join by registering on the platform and becoming a part of the dynamic GREELCO community!

The GREELCO is a two-year project, co-funded by the ERASMUS+/ KA220-HED programme of the European Union. Its consortium includes three (3) main partners from three (3) EU member-states, namely the: Educational Research Institute-ERI (Slovenia), the International Step by Step Association-ISSA (Netherlands), and the Hellenic Open University-HOU (Greece). In addition, it involves eight (8) Kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia). The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU is involved in all project deliverables, having the responsibility for the design, development and the effective operation of the GREELCO platform, ensuring active collaboration of the participants and providing technical support (whenever needed).

For more information on the GREELCO project and other activities of the DAISSy-HOU:

• Website  : https://daissy.eu/  and  https://www.greelco.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin  : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram : @daissy_researchgroup
• Email   : info@daissy.eap.gr

The GREELCO Webinar is developed to meet the needs of kindergarten teachers, educators, preschool managers, and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals throughout Europe. The Webinar equips participants with essential knowledge, guidelines, and technical instructions for developing pedagogical practice videos in their kindergartens.

It regards a two-hour training video that stems from the content covered in the three-day (twenty-four pedagogical hours) online training called “Training on digital content production,” organized by the DAISSy Research Group at Hellenic Open University (HOU). The webinar, edited by Elisabeth Pirounia, Video Producer and Editor of DAISSy, covers various topics, including:

1. Inspiring ECEC Practice in Videos, led by trainers Petra Zgonec, Mateja Mlinar, and Petra Bozovičar, Researchers at the Educational Research Institute (ERI), project coordinator.
2. Quality Informed ECEC Practices, facilitated by Aljosa Rudas, ISSA Program Manager at the International Step by Step Association (ISSA), project partner.
3. Theory and practical application of editing tools in video production, presented by Elisabeth Pirounia, Video Producer and Editor of DAISSy-HOU, project partner.

The GREELCO Webinar is open to all and can be accessed through the GREELCO platform upon registration. The platform is easily accessible, open for all and serves as an online communication and collaboration tool that connects Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals across Europe.

The GREELCO is a two-year project, co-funded by the ERASMUS+/ KA220-HED programme of the European Union. Its consortium includes three (3) main partners from three (3) EU member-states, namely the: Educational Research Institute-ERI (Slovenia), the International Step by Step Association-ISSA (Netherlands), and the Hellenic Open University-HOU (Greece). In addition, it involves eight (8) Kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries, namely the: Elmer (Belgium), Kindergarten Šestajovice (Czech Republic), Tartu Lasteaed Pääsupesa (Estonia), Pitypangos Közösségért Alapítvány (Hungary), JUODG Femo Kulakov (Republic of North Macedonia), Granidita CU Program Prelungit nr.22 Botosani (Romania), Vrtec Bled (Slovenia), Predskolska Ustanova “Cukarica”(Serbia). The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, the Greek partner, is involved in all project deliverables, having the responsibility for the design, the development and the effective operation of the GRRELCO platform ensuring active collaboration of the participants and providing technical support (whenever needed).

For more information about the GREELCO project as well as other activities of the DAISSy-HOU:

• Websites : https://daissy.eu/  and https://www.greelco.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : @daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

The platform is easily accessible, open for all and serves as an online communication and collaboration tool that connects Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals across Europe. It offers them the opportunity to improve their digital competencies, share their expertise and reflect on their practices, since it is open to all kindergartens and early childhood professionals.

As a new era of collaborative possibilities is ahead, any professional in early childhood topics is more than welcome join in by registering to the platform and become part of the vibrant GREELCO community! 

Why Registering to the GREELCO platform?

1. Connect and Collaborate: GREELCO is not just a platform; it’s a common place for connecting and sharing your ideas! Collaborate in projects, share insights, and be a part of a dynamic network that believes in the power of collective creativity. 

2. Access a fruitful Webinar: The GREELCO Webinar provides you with necessary knowledge as well as guidelines and technical instructions on how to prepare and develop a video of pedagogical practices to be applied at your kindergarten! The webinar addresses the needs of kindergarten teachers, educators, preschool managers and ECEC professionals across Europe. 

3. Exclusive Opportunities: Gain access to exclusive opportunities and events! Stay updated on the latest trends, participate in online study visits, and be at the forefront of innovation. All participants will be able to attend and access the already conducted study visits and be informed about the upcoming visits, available both live (via zoom) and on-demand (video format).

How to Register:

• Visit the GREELCO platform through the link: https://www.greelco.eu/
• Click on the “Register” button.
• Let the community get to know you! Fill in your details to your account.
• Verify your email address.
• Start collaborating and innovating in Forums.
• Once you are familiar with the platform, complete the anonymous questionnaire!

The GREELCO is a two-year project, co-funded by the ERASMUS+/ KA220-HED programme of the European Union. Its consortium includes three (3) main partners from three (3) EU member-states, namely the: Educational Research Institute-ERI (Slovenia), the International Step by Step Association-ISSA (Netherlands), and the Hellenic Open University-HOU (Greece). In addition, it involves eight (8) Kindergartens, from eight (8) European countries, namely the: Elmer (Belgium), Kindergarten Šestajovice (Czech Republic), Tartu Lasteaed Pääsupesa (Estonia), Pitypangos Közösségért Alapítvány (Hungary), JUODG Femo Kulakov (Republic of North Macedonia), Granidita CU Program Prelungit nr.22 Botosani (Romania), Vrtec Bled (Slovenia), Predskolska Ustanova “Cukarica”(Serbia). The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU, Greek partner, is involved in all project deliverables, having the responsibility for the design, the development and the effective operation of the GRRELCO platform ensuring active collaboration of the participants and providing technical support (whenever needed).

 For more information about the GREELCO project as well as other activities of the DAISSy-HOU:

• Website : https://daissy.eu/  and : https://www.greelco.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

The trainees have been preschool teachers, Directors, and/ or counselors at Kindergartens from Romania, Belgium, Estonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Czechia, and North Macedonia. 

During the first session, the trainees were introduced to video editing and learned how to download a free editing program and how to prepare the footage for editing. 

On the second Training session, the participants had the opportunity to discover the editing workspace program and use its basic tools.  The main objective of this session was to understand and familiarize themselves with the workspace of the editing program and to use specific tools for the basic editing of a video, such as: importing footage, selecting clips, cutting, copying, pasting, resizing, etc. 

On the last day, the trainees exercised the basic editing tools and produced their own final video. Specifically, it was the participants‘ first attempt to create a video for setting the stage for a learning session using the basic editing tools to edit titles, subtitles and music, and to export a High Quality video for online use.

The DAISSy research group of the HOU is the project partner responsible for both providing constant technical support to the childcare centers regarding the preparation and the design of their virtual Study Visits’ videos and for the technical design, development and piloting of the GREELCO educational platform. 

The GREELCO is a two-year, ERASMUS+/ KA220-HED co-funded project. Its consortium includes three (3) main partners, namely the: Educational Research Institute (ERI) (Slovenia), the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) (Netherlands), and the Hellenic Open University (Greece), as well as eight (8) Kindergartens, namely the: Elmer (Belgium), Kindergarten Šestajovice (Czech Republic), Tartu Lasteaed Pääsupesa (Estonia), Pitypangos Közösségért Alapítvány (Hungary), JUODG Femo Kulakov (Republic of North Macedonia), Granidita CU Program Prelungit nr.22 Botosani (Romania), Vrtec Bled (Slovenia),  Predskolska Ustanova “Cukarica”(Serbia). 

For more information on the GREELCO, and other projects and activities of the DAISSy Research Group:

• Website : https://daissy.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

Specifically, GREELCO aims at:

• improving the digital competencies of kindergarten professionals
• ensuring the professional development of early childhood and administration professionals through green education, taking into account equity and equal opportunities
• raising the awareness aboutthe different educational systems and pedagogical practices in kindergartens from different countries
• reflecting on the pedagogical practices and the competencies of these professionals to ensure the quality of education, with an emphasis on inclusion
• raising the awareness amongboth professionals and administrators about the importance of digital competencies and green education opportunities. 

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) is the Greek project partner of GREELCO and will be actively involved in its activities and deliverables. 

Specifically, DAISSy will be one of the partners responsible for the preparation and the implementation of a Training activity on digital and green skills, to be followed by a respective Webinar, while providing constant technical support to the childcare centers regarding the preparation and the design of their Study Visits videos. 

In addition, making use of its long-term experience, DAISSy will be responsible for the technical design, development and piloting of the GREELCO educational platform. 

It is noteworthy, that DAISSy will also contribute to the dissemination of the project. In particular, it will support the branding process as well as the organization and implementation of an international online event, and will consistently promote all GREELCO news and updates through its website and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn). 

Furthermore, given its role within the HOU, DAISSy will ensure the promotion of GREELCO through the University’s website, which has over one million hits, as well as through the Institution’s newspaper “OPEN2U”, which is printed and sent out in 300 copies and simultaneously forwarded by email to over 120,000 recipients. In addition, DAISSy plans to exploit its wide networking and reach out to corresponding stakeholders in Greece, in order to achieve multiple dissemination and sustainability of the project’s results and impact. 

The GREELCO is a two-year, ERASMUS+/KA220-HED co-funded, project. Its  consortium includes three (3) main partners, namely the: Educational Research Institute (ERI) (Slovenia), International Step by Step Association (ISSA) (Netherlands) and the Hellenic Open University (Greece), as well as eight (8) Kindergartens, namely the: Elmer (Belgium), Kindergarten Šestajovice (Czech Republic), Tartu Lasteaed Pääsupesa (Estonia), Pitypangos Közösségért Alapítvány (Hungary), JUODG Femo Kulakov (Republic of North Macedonia), Granidita CU Program Prelungitnr.22 Botosani (Romania), Vrtec Bled (Slovenia),  Predskolska Ustanova “Cukarica” (Serbia).

For more information on the GREELCO, and other projects and activities of DAISSy:

• Website : https://daissy.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr