Microsoft International ‘Tech for Good’ Competition
E. Mandoulides Schools (Microsoft Showcase School) in cooperation with Zografeio Senior High School participated in the International Competition "Tech for Good", organized by Microsoft, as part of the International Conference "E2 Education Exchange". 1st Grade students as well as Junior High School students of Mandoulides and Zografeio schools joined their forces in the implementation of the project "Bosphorus - Thermaikos: Environment, History, Culture".
The aim of the competition was for students to use technology in order to offer to their community through the educational practice "Service Learning". According to this educational approach, the learning objectives are combined with social benefit or interest. Students make a research and find solutions to existing problems.
Bosphorus and Thermaikos are two sister seas with strong bonds and great geographical, environmental, historical, and cultural interest. They associate their name with two cities, Istanbul and Thessaloniki, and since the Hellenistic years they have been writing their own unique history with a common course over time.
Taking advantage of the possibilities offered by technology, the students came into contact with the history and culture of the common seas and through their cooperation, they established links. Thus, they learned about the history of the two gulfs, but at the same time, they studied the local flora and fauna and the reasons of pollution. Then, they turned to the residents and environmental organizations to raise awareness of the local community to take action.
Through this project, they focused on two goals for sustainable development, as defined by the UN, No. 7 "Clean Water" and No. 14 "Life in Water". An important focus of their study was the pandemic and how it has affected the environment in both positive and negative ways.
They successfully met the objectives of the competition, and managed to include their project in the final selection, receiving the internationally recognized certificate that proves the innovative use of technology to solve real problems in the world.
