ICT​ ​as​ ​a​ ​Tool​ ​for​ ​a Student-Centered​ ​Classroom

Concept by: Layla Dari

Description

The​ ​course​ ​has​ ​been​ ​created​ ​for​ ​teachers,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​school​ ​staff​ ​members,​ ​interested​ ​in ​using​ ​ICT​ ​in​ ​their​ ​teaching,​ ​but​ ​who​ ​don’t​ ​quite​ ​know​ ​where​ ​to​ ​start.​ ​The​ ​course aims​ ​to​ ​give​ ​concrete​ ​examples​ ​and​ ​ideas on​ ​how​ ​to​ ​use​ ​technology​ ​and​ ​different​ ​apps​ ​at​ ​school in a ​Student-Centered​ ​Classroom.

The​ ​main goal of this course is inspiring ​participants on how to effectively integrate ICT into their teaching,​ ​in​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​places​ ​the​ ​pupils​ ​in​ ​the​ ​center​ ​of​ ​the​ ​learning​ ​process. Participants​ ​will learn simple, tested​ ​, and effective ​examples​ ​from​ ​real​ ​school​ ​life on how to use technological​ ​devices​ ​and​ ​apps in education.​ ​

The​ ​course has been developed by trainers from ​Finland,​ ​where​ ​the​ ​new​ ​national​ ​curriculum emphasizes​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​ICT​ ​as​ ​a​ ​tool​ ​for​ ​student-centered​ ​and​ ​cross-curricular​ ​learning.​ ​

The​ ​course​ ​will​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​following​ ​topics:​ ​group​ ​work​ ​and cooperation in the ​Student-Centered​ ​Classroom,​ ​class​ ​management​ ​with​ ​Google​ ​Classroom,​ ​the different​ ​stages​ ​of​ ​the​ ​learning​ ​process,​ ​taking​ ​notes, the​ ​revision​ ​of learning, the rewarding​ ​systems,​ ​​ ​the collaboration​ ​between colleagues,​ ​coding​ ​and​ ​gaming,​ ​class​ ​breaks​, the​ ​creation​ ​of​ ​teaching material​ ​and​ ​presentations.

By​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​course, ​participants​ ​will​ ​have​ ​gathered​ ​a​ ​great​ ​deal​ ​of​ ​personal experience​ ​in​ ​using​ ​different​ ​apps​ ​and​ ​devices​ ​and​ will have​ ​greater​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​courage​ ​to use​ ​them​ ​in​ ​their​ ​work.

Learning outcomes

Participants to the course will learn to:

• Improving teaching strategies to be student-centered educators
• How to support students’ active attitudes towards knowledge and learning
• How to effectively integrate ICT into teaching to put students at the heart of the teaching
• Apps to communicate with students
• Platforms to share materials and gather resources
• ICT tools to create learning activities, tests and quizzes.

Tentative schedule

The schedule describes likely activities but may differ significantly based on the requests of the participants, and the trainer delivering the specific session. Course modifications are subject to the trainer’s discretion. If you would like to discuss a specific topic, please indicate it at least 4 weeks in advance.

Day 1 – Course introduction & setting goals

Course introduction

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities.
• Icebreaker activities using drama for trust and ensemble building.
• Introduction of the course teachers and the Finnish national curriculum in the
• nutshell and introductions of the participants.

Setting goals

• Identification of needs and goals for each participant and relevant populations.
• Presentations of the participants’ schools.

Day 2 – Make the most of Google resources

• A base for learning – Google Classroom.
• Other Google apps.

Day 3 – Note making

• The revision of learning / Making notes (at different stages of learning process).
• The collaboration between colleagues.

Day 4 – Coding

• Coding and Gaming.
• Class breaks and rewarding systems.

Day 5 – How to make teaching material

How to make teaching material

• The making of teaching materials and presentations.
• The summary of the course.

Day 6 – Course Closure & Excursion

• Course evaluation: round up of acquired competences, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.