Description
The main objective of the intensive programme (IP) is to present the importance of transforming classroom practice with the introduction of active learning methods based on a solid theoretical background. Participants will explore approaches that expand their knowledge, skills, and confidence in using ICT, with the focus on improving teaching and learning. The target group of the IP are under- and postgraduate students from different teacher education study programs and, in the long term, also their pupils in school. Having finished all the activities of the IP, student will be able: to find, evaluate and select resources for active learning; to design and construct active-learning materials and learning process; to use ICT for examination and evaluation of the effectiveness of learning; and to use ICT to reduce the discrepancies between students resulting from different levels of knowledge, skills and social status. Within the project the participants will prepare a collection of different resources (e.g. serious games, stories), guidance material for integration of such resources into teaching, reflections, evaluations of innovative learning materials produced during the IP, and a classification system providing a framework for analysis of learning objects. Partners from very different cultural backgrounds, from Norway (University of Agder) and Bulgaria (South-west university Neofit Rilski ), will through participation of their students and teachers bring complementary knowledge and expertise to the programme.
Summary of project results
The main objective of the IP was to present the importance of transforming classroom practice with the introduction of active learning methods, based on a solid theoretical background. The IP has strengthened the links between all tree participating institutions and individuals participating in the program and the established contacts will allow joint activities in research and pedagogical field. All the artefacts produced in the IP activities are published in the web portal. Together with all other materials produced they are offered under CC licence to all interested potential users in education free of charge. 5 outputs were delivered: website with teaching and learning materials produced in the IP, collection of stories and serious games, didactical recommendations for serious games in a classroom, blog with reflections and evaluations of innovative learning materials, and classification system providing a framework for evaluation and assessment of resources for active learning. The results of activities in project work demonstrate that students realized the benefits of active forms of learning and that the objectives of the IP have been achieved. The results are applicable to a broad range of teacher education programs and in many other environments.
Summary of bilateral results
University of Agder was responsible for the creation and continuing administration of the blog, that served for collecting reflections and suggestions from participants in the project. They were also focused on evaluation aspects of our project activities and took the leading role in the development of classification system that provides a framework for evaluation and assessment of resources for active learning. All the results from activities in project work in groups and from the individula activities by students and staff members were prepare accordning to our plan in the proposal and have been published in the ALICT web portal and in the ALICT blog. They demonstrate that students realized the benefits of active forms of learning and consequently the objectives of the IP have been achieved. The results of these activities are applicable to a broad range of teacher education programs in the participating countries and in many other environments. We are convinced that some innovative concepts and ideas, developed before and during IP can penetrate in the national educational practices by means of dissemination activities of the individuals participating in the IP and will represent and additional input in the future modernisations of the curricula. The stories and especially serious games can be used in the classroom and for different other learning activities. Some students also expressed their will to further improve and extend their games in the framework of their study activities. We estimate that students worked 93 hours in organised activities plus 10 - 15 hours individually or in small groups. This allowed us to award students 4 ECTS points. This credit points have been be recognised in students' curriculum by their universities as an elective course where applicable or as a part of activities in selected courses. Each student will also get a transcript of records with the mark for his achievements.