Description
Every day, teachers and educators search for new materials, new methods, and new ideas.
What they look for, however, is not new. They are effective solutions to the everlasting challenge of teaching and learning.
What if some answers have always lain before our eyes? What if all we needed are not new solutions to old problems but a different approach and reflection upon already existing strategies?
The course will bet on this alternative. Taking a collegial approach and supported by the trainer’s facilitation, participants will share what makes their school system better.
Thus, the course proposes looking for novel solutions through collective discussion and problem-solving. Participants will present the challenges of their educational systems, and trust debate and shared reflection to identify adequate answers to their specific difficulties.
The trainer will also support the discussion by presenting the particularities of different educational systems around the world, and recent educational reforms: from Finland to Seychelles, from Japan to Canada.
Participants will have time to consider how information about other educational systems, their context, culture, and history can help form new approaches to problems they have in their classes and schools.
Hence, the course will offer a variety of answers to questions such as:
- What is the role of a learning culture? If an approach works in one country, will it work in another?
- What are the motivational factors for teachers and students in totally different conditions?
- How do school systems in other countries prepare students for the future? What skills and life competencies do they aim to transfer?
- How do other countries integrate and blend technology in their schools?
This course will heavily rely on social interaction and reflection based on visible thinking methodology.
On each day, the trainer will introduce two new thinking routines to deepen participants’ understanding of the successful educational system. The trainer will guide the group in using the thinking routines to evaluate the assigned educational system, perceive its complexity, and establish connections.
Come prepared for sharing and engaging in discussion and collaborative learning!
By the end of the week, you will have plenty of ideas about how a good educational system scaffolds learning by putting teachers and students in the best condition to operate.
You will achieve comprehensive conclusions about expectations, standards, assessments, professional development, technology usage, and school autonomy in an effective educational system.
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants to:
- Understand the cons and pros of globalization and localization in education;
- Learn about how to build a productive school culture;
- Identify characteristics of an effective educational system;
- Relate and encourage constructive dialogues and debates;
- Integrate and evaluate diverse approaches and solutions in the classrooms;
- Identify and employ a variety of thinking routines.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Education and educational systems
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools;
- A conceptual introduction to learning, teaching, and education;
- The crucial elements of effective educational systems;
- Education today: challenges ahead;
- Thinking Routines: the thinking toolbox of the day: circle of viewpoints and Creative Question Starts.
Day 2 – Education in Europe
- Education in the Netherlands;
- Education in the UK;
- Education in the participants’ national systems;
- Thinking Routines: the thinking toolbox of the day: I used to think… Now, I think… See, think, wonder.
Day 3 – Education in the North
- The Finnish educational system;
- Education in Norway;
- Education in Canada;
- Education in the participants’ national systems;
- Thinking Routines: the thinking toolbox of the day. compass points and step in, step out, step back.
Day 4 – Education in the East and South
- Education in Singapore and Japan;
- Education in Seychelles;
- Education in the participants’ national systems;
- Thinking Routines: the thinking toolbox of the day: values, identities, actions, and generate-sort-connect-elaborate.
Day 5 – Reforming education?
- What educational reforms do we need?
- Round-table and final discussion;
- Thinking Routines: the thinking toolbox of the day: what makes you say that? Connect, extend, and challenge.
Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities
- Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
- Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
- Excursion and other external cultural activities.