During the week 20-27 october 2024 I conducted a training session for a group of Serbian teachers focusing on TICO—Technology, Innovation, Communication, and Outdoor Education. The main objective of this session was to equip the teachers with practical methods and tools they could implement in their classrooms to foster interdisciplinary learning, student engagement and, critical thinking.
The session kicked off on Tuesday morning and, started with a focus on effective techniques in communication. From exploring the various forms of communication and how effective they can be in different areas of education. Furthermore, understanding the barriers of effective communication and how to avoid them, hence ending with techniques on how to adapt our communication style to suit different ages and learning needs. Moreover, the group was given an insight on : Active listening and empathy, forms of communication and, practical solutions for applying these skills in the classroom.
On Wednesday morning, the session focused on innovation in education. My goal was to: introduce the participants to modern educational trends of the 21st century which promote creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication, from STREAM to PBL and ending in CLIL
Whilst, on Wednesday afternoon we took the session outdoors to explore the local ecosystem. Teachers had the opportunity to discover local Flora and Fauna and report their observations. This activity fostered observational skills and curiosity among the teachers. Moreover, through this activity, the participants were able to demonstrate how outdoor education can combine subjects such as; maths, science, geography, biology and also art. The participants found the experience rewarding because it not only provided them with hands on activities but also promoted their awareness on environmental issues.
We ended our session on Thursday morning which covered the use of Technology in the classroom, focusing mainly on tools and applications which support the learning process and promote student engagement. The main objective of the session was to familiarize the teachers with modern technology which included various apps, VR and last but not least, AI. The participants then practiced using the various tools whilst becoming familiar with them. The participants found the tools very innovative and were eager to try them in their classrooms and make their classes more interesting and interactive once back home.
The session concluded with an overall feedback session in which the participants expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the hands-on experience, practical ideas, and valuable insights. The teachers finally agreed that they felt more confident in taking their new gained knowledge back to their students.
Author: Catherine Perri, JUMP Trainer
