Digital training finished successfully – Learning Compass

21. 9. 2020 | Learning compass, PR

Centre for European Perspective, Center for Communication, Hearing and Speech, Portorož, NGO Association for psihosocial and pedagogical assistance and education – REZJA (Združenje za psihosocialnu I pedagošku podršku I edukaciju – REZJA) , Northern Macedonia have organised a three day training titled “Learning Compass – teacher training for work with children with disabilities”.

The event included the participation of three Slovenian trainers (Mr. Marko Strle, Mrs. Anica Mikuš Kos and Mrs. Tamara Velikonja), who prepared presentations and discussions on various topics for 25 participants, teachers and special educators from North Macedonia. All the activities took place from September 9^th to September 11^th in a digital platform, that enabled all the participants and trainers to exchange ideas, best practices and their experience.

The topics of the first day included two lectures by Mr. Marko Strle, presenting Inclusion as a speciality of normality and problem-based learning as a starting point for collaborative learning. The afternoon sessions included the presentations prepared by Mrs. Anica Mikuš Kos on School failure and it´s impact on children, followed by an open discussion concerning the activation of resources for helping children with school disabilities.

The program activities of the second day began with a presentation on Specific learning difficulties and their psychosocial accompaniments, followed by a lecture on Hyperactivity & Attention Disorders (ADHD), both presented by Mrs. Anica Mikuš Kos. The afternoon sessions included a open discussion prepared by Mr. Marko Strle on the topic Adaption of learning and teaching in educational work with children with special needs, followed by a lecture prepared by Mrs. Tamara Velikonja on the origins and role of conflict in the psychosocial development of children and adolescents.

The topic of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the school system was involved in the overall discussions of the training as well as the training format that enforced the use of digital resources. The third and final day also included specific topics, presented first by Mrs. Anica Mikuš Kos discussing Childreen and school in time of Coronavirus disease, followed by a presentation by Mr. Marko Strle on Distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuation of the days program included an open discussion on Individualized Educational plans, identifying and addressing anxiety in learning and a lecture on creativity as an element of an inclusive society presented by Mr. Marko Strle. The last discussion of the training was prepared by Mrs. Tamara Velikonja on the topic of Supportive school environment.

The training officially ended on Friday, with closing remarks and a certificate ceremony that was implemented in an innovative digital manner, whereas the ties and connections among teachers and experts from North Macedonia and Slovenia will continue in a network that will enable them to share best practices and work experience in the future.

The Learning Compass program will also continue with an informative meeting for decision makers in North Macedonia (school principals, local/regional/national school system representatives and other guest speakers) and a training implemented with teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the following weeks.

Project is part of CEP’s program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Learning Compass – teacher training for work with children with disabilities

2. 9. 2020 | Learning compass, PR

Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language. 

Centre for European Perspective is together with Center for Communication, Hearing and Speech, Portorož, NGO Association for psihosocial and pedagogical assistance and education – REZJA (Združenje za psihosocialnu I pedagošku podršku I edukaciju – REZJA) , Severna Makedonija, organizing a three day training titled “Learning Compass – teacher training for work with children with disabilities”. The global COVID-19 pandemic has introduced high health/security and also logistical challenges for international projects. The activities of the event will therefore be implemented with the use of digital tools and quality cooperation. The digital adjustment is becoming a part of every day teaching practices in classrooms and schools worldwide, that is why the activities will also offer the opportunity for the discussion of synergies, good practices and the exchange of experiences in the education process on longer distances.

The training will start with a three-day workshop between September 9^th and September 11^th where three Slovenian experts will be holding lectures and interactive workshops on teacher training for work with children with disabilities. The activities will be concluded with a digital informative session for stakeholders.

Short info about the project:

In the countries of the Western Balkans, the knowledge of experts and especially teachers about children with special needs and ways of pedagogical work with them is still very lacking, on the other hand, Slovenia has a great deal of knowledge and practical experience in this field. The similarity of school systems, the historical and geographical connection and the linguistic proximity of most Western Balkan countries facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience from Slovenia to other countries involved in the proposed project. The project will provide Slovenian knowledge and experience in the field of education and assistance to children with special needs in the Western Balkan countries. The project will in two years and four countries:

• Contribute to improving the situation of children with special needs in primary education;
• Contribute to the development of the school systems of the countries involved;
• Strengthen links and cooperation between teaching staff and educational institutions (involved in the project) of the Western Balkan countries and contributed to the peaceful coexistence in the region.

The project will educate 20 experts in each country (special educators, educators, school counselors) from the countries involved:

• to work with children with disabilities within school systems;
• to disseminate basic knowledge about children with special needs among primary school teachers;
• to implement acquired knowledge of helping professionals with special needs work and to educate primary school teachers about the needs and approaches of children with disabilities.

Initially, the project has established cooperation between the Centre for the European Perspective, Slovenian experts working with children with special needs, local decision-makers (competent ministries and school leaders) and local actors working in the field in the target countries. All stakeholders will be involved in preparing an analysis of the current state of inclusiveness of school institutions and working with children with special needs. The analysis of the situation will show where the greatest needs for the transfer of Slovenian good practices are. Content for 3-day workshops will be prepared with participants from four countries (Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina). The 3-day workshops will receive 20 teachers from each country through active lectures and workshops. Two teachers from each country will be further tasked with preparing the so-called Train the Trainer (ToT) workshops, which they will jointly conduct at their school for at least 10 additional teachers. As a result, 40 one-day workshops will be organized to train at least 400 additional teachers.

First activities of the project were conducted in Durres, Albania, between 5th and 8th September 2019, whereas an additional training will be conducted in Bosnia and Hercegovina in 2020 in cooperation with the Association for human rights and social inclusion- SOCI.

Within the framework of the project, a publication will also be prepared, which will analyse the situation in the target countries and, based on the workshops carried out, the analysis of primary and secondary sources and Slovenian experience, present concrete proposals for improving the situation of working with children with special needs in primary schools.

Through meetings and regular briefing, the project will also involve decision makers (relevant state, federal, regional and / or local ministries of education and school leaders) who will be informed about the project and our activities.

Project is part of CEP’s program activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia in the framework of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation.