2013 2015 Multilateral project COMENIUS Better Methodology

2013 – 2015 Multilateral project COMENIUS Better Methodology Better Technology Better Teaching

Innovative teaching methods and project teaching

1. Ensuring of conditions for innovative teaching methods implementation and realization of project teaching 1. 1 INNOVATIVE METHODS USING ICT Teacher's education Purpose: § to enrich teaching skills, § to create and edit interactive teaching materials using software Interwrite Results: ü 18 teachers graduated course, ü they presented own innovation using interactive whiteboard, ü effective using interactive whiteboard in the teaching.

The presentation of own innovative exercises using ICT

1. 2 WORK WITH TABLET PC -teachers took part education training of using tablet PC -they introduced modern methods using tablet PC in teaching process Pupils are using tablets PC in the town, they are taking pictures of buildings named after famous people of Zvolen.

1. 3 ACQUISITION OF ANOTHER INNOVATIVE AND PROJECT TEACHING METHODS Self-study of pedagogical literature - theory of project teaching, - project teaching as a method of work, - themes and suggestions for project teaching. Study materials were used by the members of Comenius team for their further ideas and inspiration. Discussion Skills acquired : - in previous educational courses, - workshops, - application of practice examples.

The Comenius team working session - project teaching preparation

Every teacher was working in the classroom or group according to following plan 1. Purpose - to select topic, - to discuss the topic Pustý hrad A teacher played the main role in this stage of a programme, he/she was motivating pupils. 2. - - Planning target setting of project teaching – My town, My region, pupils and teachers proposed solution, gather information teacher was coordinating cooperation in classrooms. At this part of project the teacher is adviser and consultant.

3. Realization • pupils were solving the project tasks, • they were suggesting alternatives, • they were choosing optimal solution. Pupils were working by themselves. Zvolen 4. Project evaluation • pupils were presenting their works during the Open doors day and the school workshop, • the results of the school project „My region“ were promoted at a school web site, at small exhibition at the Open doors day and supplement of school magazine „Zvonenie“ 2013/2014.

Project teaching – My region National nature reserve Boky and its surrounding Fifth grade pupils (class V. C) visited National nature reserve Boky to become familiar with local geomorphology, flora, fauna, an interesting place called „Čertova skala“/ „Rock of Devil“ connected with many legends and the history of a nearby village Budča. Each pupil got a certificate – a participating letter for climbing on „Čertova skala“.

After this excursion pupils had to use information in project from geographic, natural, historical point of view – poster and three-dimensional form, from literary point of view - they wrote a legend about Čertova skala, from historical point of view they searched for the background of the name of micro region Adela. model of Čertova skala

writing a cinquain connected with a word “rock“

Worksheets –summary of acquired knowledge

Protected area Poľana Eighth grade pupils were also involved in project activities. They chose an extinct volcano Poľana from the mountain in our region. They studied it from physical point of view. During Physics lessons they worked with calculations and as a result they found out the power of volcanic eruptions in comparison with other various facts and events. Finally, they created the Power. Point presentation which was presented at the school conference.

Our town • During English lessons all fifth grade pupils learnt the names of buildings in the town. • They completed English expressions into a map.

They made models of buildings in our town. According to teacher´s instructions they put these models into a real order so they “created“ mini square in Zvolen.

They went to the town and they presented their English language skills: • the names of buildings, • positions of these buildings, • searching building named after famous people. They made a video while walking around the square.

They acquired English and German vocabulary by doing innovative exercises on the interactive whiteboard. German English

They were learning about Easter holiday and comparing the celebration of these holidays in English speaking countries. The differences were realized during various activities in a school playground, e. g. pupils were looking for Easter eggs. They were taking photographs and making videos of every their activity.

During the Maths, pupils were computing circumference and area of Zvolen castle. They were walking along the castle and measuring its circumference and later at Maths they were working with the inputs. They were taking photographs of these activities, too.

Villages of our region During History pupils were learning about history and blazons of neighbouring villages in our region.

During Art they were learning about costumes of our regions. They were using different technologies to make motives for folk costumes. They were listening to songs from Zvolen regions.

• At the end of the project there was the Open doors day. Visitors could see final work of pupils from Maths, History, Art, and English lessons. • After the Open doors day there was a school workshop at school clubhouse. Everybody was talking about their findings and results from knowing the Zvolen region. Pupils and their teachers made posters and videos presented at the workshop. invitation

The result of project teaching: • posters and videos, • map of blazons of villages in our region, • the map of the folk costumes, • worksheets and interactive activities. chronicle

The first part of project teaching was done in March – May 2014 The supplement of the documents are the presentations: • OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODS AND FORMS • OUR REGIONAL WRITERS • OUR TRADITIONS AND THE TOWN ZVOLEN Thank you for your attention. Comenius team, May 2015, Zvolen, Slovakia