Case Forest methodology applied in Slovakia

Ľudmila MarušákováNational Forest Centre marusakova@nlcsk.org

Yundola, 15th-19th June 2010

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

Content

Info about the teacher course Evaluation of the course Case Forest methodology Feedbacks from using methodology Benefits of the Case Forest project Challenges and comments

Teacher course – brief summary

Date: 16 th -17 th September 2009 Number of participants: 15 teachers + 1

professor Duration: 2 days Place: Čierny Balog village -

Forestry Open Air Museum

Forestry Open Air Museum

Introduction, motivation Sustainable Forest Management, basic facts, principles,

documents Forest Pedagogics in Slovakia and abroad Theoretical input – Case Forest methodology and project learning

in forests Transport of participants to the Forestry Open Air Museum in

Vydrovo Valley by historical railway Presentation and short guided tour in Forestry Open Air Museum Discussion, setting the goals, research topic and project themes in

working groups

Teacher course – programmeDay 1

Teacher Workshop in Slovakia

Transport of participants to the Forestry Open Air Museum Working in teams – collecting dates (images, videos, interview,

printing materials) in the Museum and educational path, info centre and historical forestry lodge Forest

Transport of participants to the computer room of the Primary School Čierny Balog

Working in teams:Choosing, sorting, organization and integration of the collected data Making the prototype presentation of the object

Presentations, feedbacks and discussion, Final evaluation

Teacher course – programmeDay 2

Teacher Workshop in Slovakia

How did we deal with methodology?

4 working groups, 4 phases editing data online

www.caseforest.nlcsk.sk in Forestry museum

and in computer room

Evaluation of teacher courseQuestionnaire

98% of participants learned something new and 80% of participants suppose to use it in their work.

86% of respondents graded methodology positively and 14% in neutral way.

60% can not see big problems using methodology. Limitation – long-lasting preparation, technical equipment, ICT

skills, less of time at school programs Attendants find combination of terrain work with inside work to

be very useful. They appreciate: working in real environment, meeting forestry professionals, using learning by doing methods

Evaluation of teacher courseQuestionnaire

Atmosphere: creative, authentic, motivating, activating The arrangement of the course – positively evaluated

(74% graded by score 7 and 26% by score 6) – seminar was considered to be too short

The course fulfilled the expectation of 93% participants 74% of participants have taught about forests before the

course 54% of participants have not taught about sustainable

development before the course

Evaluation of teacher courseQuestionnaire

Sustainable development means long lasting, complex and synergistic process influencing all aspect of life (cultural, social, economical) on all level (local, regional and global) and aimed at such model of society which fulfill all biological, material, spiritual needs and interest of people, which restrains or limit damages of environment and protect natural and cultural resources and heritages.

Evaluation of teacher courseProblems

Students are more skilled in ICT than teachers Older teachers are conservative and feel respect and

fear to use new methods Strict curricula, which stresses out memorising –

traditional approach / Time pressure at schools Not enough time to develop key competencies and

emotions, values, respect, creativity and physical skills

Education reform in Slovakia is in progress The vision is Holistic approach - learn to think in global

perspectives Challenges:

- not just memorising information, but to let them find solution of the problems, teach them make analyses, applications, evaluation, critical thinking- develop creativity - form attitudes, values and relations, key competencies of pupils

Evaluation of teacher coursePossibilities

Evaluation of teacher coursePossibilities

educational objectives: Affective, Psychomotor, and Cognitive

PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment)

Possibilities and challenges

Case Forest methodology is a practical example of using new methods

Makes school more practical and open Can contributes to enhancing the quality of

European dimension Sustainable development and nature protection is a

hot topic nowadays

Prerequisites of success - feedbacks from teachers

Motivation is needed (encouragement, support, activating) Setting the goals (knowledge, skills and attitudes), outputs

and evaluation Tasks not too complicated Time management very important Foresters should not use very specific terminology To be open to discuss problems with pupils It is useful to make a dairy of the project / to record what

was done

Users

project partners teachers, who took part in study trip teachers who participated in the

seminars colleagues of teachers pupils

Dissemination of results

project web page www.caseforest.nlcsk.sk press releases about the seminar Article in Forestry journal 4th European FP convention held on 1st and

2nd October 2009 in Lyss

EU policies and education systems

Decade on ESD National policy of continuous lifelong

learning of teachers Action Plan of Conception of education to

sustainable development of the Slovak Republic Action Plan of National Forestry programme Vision, Prognosis and Strategy of Forestry

development in Slovakia

Other benefits

New project see www.proles.sk New partner Methodical – Pedagogical

Centre for continuous learning of teachers Cooperation with teachers Seminar as a part of credit continuous

education of teachers and accreditation at the Ministry of Education

New methodology in Forest Pedagogics

Thank you for your attention!

marusakova@nlcsk.org