eTwinning Hidden Voices, Stolen Minds - Part 6

In April, the eTwinning project "Hidden Voices, Stolen Minds" took on a particularly creative and vibrant character through an original activity. The students were asked to explore an intriguing question: what would have happened if women from the past, whose work was overshadowed or even "stolen," had had access to social media?

Working with enthusiasm and imagination, the students selected one of the significant female scientists, doctors, artists, or other personalities who had already been featured in a collaborative presentation by all the participating schools—women who never received the recognition they deserved. Using the Classtools web application and specifically the Fakebook tool, they created a “Facebook”-style digital profile for the unsung heroine of their choice.

Each profile included personal information, historical facts, and "friends" chosen from the other "hidden heroines" they had studied. The most creative part of the activity was the status update: each class wrote a post as if they were the woman herself at the moment of a major discovery, creation, or achievement.

All the posts were gathered on a shared Padlet board, creating a digital space filled with stories that "came to life." There, the students from the partner schools could view the various projects, leave comments or feedback and interact with their peers, strengthening cooperation and the exchange of ideas.

This activity helped the students develop not only their digital and collaborative skills but also their awareness of issues regarding equality, justice, and recognition. In a modern and inventive way, they managed to give a voice to women whom history had left on the sidelines.

Setting the stage for next month’s grand finale, a transnational poll invited students to cast their votes. Drawing from the extensive research previously conducted on a total of 27 women in science and the arts, students from all schools voted for the five personalities that piqued their interest the most.

These five women will be the central figures of the virtual interviews to follow, offering an opportunity for a deeper dialogue with history. Through this exchange, their long-silenced stories will finally reclaim the spotlight. It is more than just a project; it is a step toward restoring the balance of historical recognition.