Summary

This report summarises the responses to the questionnaire included in the Teacher’s Guide that accompanied the 2009/2010 edition of the Europa Diary, whose free distribution to over 22,000 schools throughout the European Union was funded by the European Union. A total of 6,127 responses had at the time of writing, been received from teachers in 27 EU Member States

Context in which the Diary and Teachers’ Guide are used

• The Europa Diary is used in a wide range of classes, however the greatest category remains ‘other’. For the 2010-2011 evaluation, we will make a ‘fill-in’ option available in order to find out what this is. Otherwise, used in Citizenship/PSHE (31%).
• Diaries mostly used with students aged 15-18 (85%)
• 61% of teachers indicate that they use other teaching resources published by the European Commission: 37% of these paper-based, 48% of these web-based.

The Teachers’ Guide

• The types of teaching resources preferred by teachers are fairly evenly split between games/activities (36%) and prompts for classroom discussions (49%).
• The “best” activities were considered to be those on The European Union (25%), The EU’s countries (16%), The Charter of Fundamental Rights (11%) and Cybercrime (10%). The “least useful” activities were found to be Dolceta (11% - not an activity per se), Causes of Obesity (13%), Budgeting and debt (12%)... and The European Union (10%).

The Diary

• 87% of students and 59% of teachers use the calendar pages.
• Editorial pages are used by 69% of teachers and 74% of students.
• Suggested web sites are used by 71% of teachers and 67% of students.
• 92% of teachers use the Guide.
• All sections of the Diary are considered to be ‘OK’ or ‘Very Useful’ by 98% of teachers. The section About the European Union is considered to be ‘Very Useful’ by 67% of teachers, and My rights, my choices by 62%.
• In addition to the issues already addressed in the Diary, a majority of teachers believe that the topics ‘Career Guidance’ (73%) ‘Further studies opportunities’ (66%) and ‘Culture and Languages’ (60%) would be useful to students. 53% of teachers consider ‘Managing finances’ would be a useful teaching resource.
• 62% of teachers have colleagues that use the Guide although they don’t use the Diary.
• 99% would like to receive the Diary again next year.
• 98% would recommend the Diary to their colleagues teaching other years.
  

Analysis of Questionnaire Responses

Update: 29/06/2010