Three danish pupils from DK

 

Here is a small video where three Danish pupils tell about how it is to be a pupil in a Danish folk school. Please take five minnutes to watch it.

 

Education Rally in Rostock

Tuesday the 3rd of December 2014, the German teacher students planned an education rally through the city of Rostock.
The day was cold and foggy, but nevertheless the Germans were enthusiastics and ready to give the rest of the teacher students a great exsperience and tour of their city.
We were diveded in our international groups and each group had individual routes.

Here are the Photos from our tour. We had a great time and learned a lot about the city during the trip.
Please enjoy.

 

 

At our first stop it got very hot. It was the  and we got a bit carried away with the statues there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflection over first virtual meeting

- Some thoughts regarding the first virtual meeting hosted by Denamrk.

I felt like the start was good. The teachers had tried the different platforms before the students arrived, and that gave me the feeling that they were aware of the obsticals they might face in the beginning.

For me it wasn't so hard to keep focus for the four hours, but I think this was because the teacher was in my classroom and it wasn't only virtual. I look forwrad to try it, when the teacher is in a different country and feel the difference.

I liked how the lesson was planned with different methods, so we had presentation all together, national Group Work and national Group Work. One of the really good Things, were when all the countries wrote ideas on the smartboard together and discussed the statements afterwords. This was really cross boarders collaborating!

I look very much forward to the next meeting.
- Trine

E-mail sharing

Hi Guys

I hope the e-mial sharing is working and you all get this message on e-mail :)

//Trine

Characterize task

– What characterizes innovative teacher, learner and educational settings?

In my point of view an innovative teacher never stops learning. She is always open to new methods and evolves her way of teaching according to the society, though so it still fits her persona.

An innovative learner is not scared of new challenges regarding education. She is open-minded and goes in to projects with a positive attitude. She also has to have extra time and motivation to learn new things.

For both parts I think that collaboration is an important skill, because we learn a lot from each other and that is always a way to move forward.

Educational settings in my opinion have good light, comfortable furniture, great it tools, spacious rooms, good acoustics and calm atmosphere.

What characterises an innovative teacher

During my years in school, I have identified two different types of teachers. These types are completely independent of gender, age or number of years in the profession.

Teacher 1: Learn the way it always did, it worked yesterday so it works today and properly tomorrow too. While the world around us is changing this teacher seems to be stuck in a vacuum. Attitudes in the society changing, youth cultures change, new curricula are developed and particularly technology advances ... But the teacher are on the same secure ground as he/she always have been.

Teacher 2: Here we have teachers who are really willing to change and see challenges in the changes taking place in the society. They not only have the ability to absorb and try new technological tools (for it is not only about technical tools), but they are inclined to change and quick to assimilate new didactic methods and implement them in the classroom.

These different types of teaching is of course generalized, we all have more or less of the various components in us.

The innovative teacher sees new opportunities in the development and has the ability to absorb them. Along with the proven methods he/she reaches up to the student, the teacher has the ability to reach students at their own game plan. However, I do not associate an innovative teacher with a teacher who is only good at learning and using technical equipment. Behind the technical expertise and equipment, there must be a didactic or pedagogical thought to reach the student.

Innovation in Education

When I started thinking about characteristics of an innovative teacher or learner and how an innovative educational setting could look like, first of all I tried to figure out my personal understanding of ‘being innovative’. In my opinion it means to be imaginative and creative, which commonly requires openness of mind. That includes the ability to find various (and new) approaches/solutions on certain issues/problems. 

Same applies to an innovative teacher, who has to adapt oneself to several classes and different individuals as well. He/she is expected to pattern the lesson in a varied manner, choosing appropriate methods, materials and equipment to teach (not necessarily restricted on – likewise innovative – ICT). Innovative teachers should posses a sense of occasion, when to do things in a different way, so to say, a special feeling for change to avoid a standstill. Of course they should keep pace with the times in diverse issues of professional and social life to keep at a level with the pupils and accommodate to their needs, interests and living environment.

As well as the teachers, innovative learners or pupils should be flexible in mind to be opened to new learning strategies and techniques. In today’s globalised world they have to be familiar with using ICT to gather, memorize and handle their knowledge. Furthermore ICT is needed to work and communicate with each other. This is the base of an abundance of opportunities to act in an innovative way.

Concisely: Who wants to be innovative primarily has to be willing and motivated. Only then he/she is able to break the mould. 

 A good example for an innovative teacher: the South-Baltic-Teacher. ;)

or may be this man...