19. 3. 2021 | Learning compass, PR
Klikni tukaj za branje prispevka v slovenskem jeziku. 
Learning Compass is a regional project aimed at improving the situation of elementary children with special needs through the education of primary school teachers in more remote places of four Western Balkan countries (Albania, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina).
The project that was implemented in two years and took place in four countries was formed to reach the following goals:
- 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 implemented all the envisaged activities and involved the members of the current Learning compass community in the following events:
- Implemented 3 day training for experts from Albania and Kosovo (organised in September 2019 in Drač, Albania)
- Implemented informative meeting for decision makers (ministries, responsible authorities, school directors, headmasters and other representatives) in Pristina, Kosovo
- Implemented three day virtual training for Experts in North Macedonia (organised in September, 2020)
- Implemented a three day virtual training for Experts in Bosnia and Herzegovina (organised in November, 2020)
The Learning Compass project successfully reach the initially set goals, and contributed to:
- 160 trained profesionals (teachers, special educators, other ecperts) in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Hercegovina in the field of education for childreen with special needs, achieved through the mutual exchange of best practices.
- Additionally trained experts, as workshop participants passed the received knowledge and experience to more than 400 coworkers (in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Hercegovina) in a structured learning process training of trainers, implemented in their schools.
- Establishment of a virtual platform in cooperation with the institution Arnes.si. The established platform enables the sharing of knowledge established within the project and further enlargemen of the Learning compass network.
The final activity within the project envisaged the preparation of a project booklet, that would at the same time offer an insight in the most pressing challenges educational systems for children with special needs are facing in the Western Balkans. The publication presents the learning compass project, covers the sharing of best practices on different topics related to education of childreen with special needs and offers the sharing of best practices discussed and developed within the Learning compass training. The publication is available on this web connection Booklet Learning compass
The project is part of programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve RS.
15. 12. 2020 | Learning compass, PR, Youth
Learning Compass activities in BiH end with a high-level meeting
For more about the project click here.
The activities of the Learning Compass project, focusing on the exchange of experience among teachers, special educators and everyone involved in the educational process of children with disabilities, were presented to the representatives of ministries for the field of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, headmasters of schools involved in the program and other participants of the discussion.
The meeting on Monday was opened by words of welcome from CEP Executive Director Ms Katja Geršak and with the opening speech by H.E Ms Bukinac, Slovene Ambassador in BiH, who expressed the importance of the issue for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We thank the Ambassador and the Embassy of SLO in Sarajevo for their support during the project activities.
Mr Jernej Grahor, CEP Project Manager, Mr Marko Strle, Director of the Centre for Communication, Hearing and Speech Portorož and Dr Anica Mikuš Kos, Psychiatrist, Paediatrician and President of the Slovene Philanthropy later presented the project activities and its aims and shared the remarks on the complications of education of children with disabilities during COVID-19 as expressed by training participants during the training in November.
Ms Lejla Kisić, President of Udruženje Soci also shared the experience of special educators, especially during the ongoing pandemic and the work of Udruženje Soci. The teachers present during the November training have also worked to pass their knowledge and experience among their colleagues, further expanding the learning compass network.
The training program might have concluded, but what all three speakers stresses was the following – the trainings were just a part of a learning process and contributed another block in the building of a network of educators, that will include the cooperation of more individuals and continue the mission of the project – continued cooperation, sharing of experience and helping educators, teachers and all involved in the education of children with disabilities in ensuring a better future for children with disabilities.
The project is part of programme activities of Slovenia’s Development Cooperation Programme supported by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve RS.
Further information:
Jernej Grahor
Project Manager
CEP
6. 11. 2020 | Learning compass, PR, Youth
Click here to read more about the project in Slovenian language.
After a successfully implemented workshop with teachers and special educators from Albania and Kosovo in the year 2019, and a workshop organised with participants from North Macedonia in September 2020, teachers and special educators from Bosnia and Hercegovina were the fourth and final participants to join the Learning compass project with a training organised from November 4th to November 6th 2020. The event took place in a virtual venue as a direct result of adjustments to the COVID-19 pandemic, that may present logistical and health adjustments for international programmes but is also an everyday challenge for teachers in educational systems worldwide.
The three-day training started with introduction remarks presented by Jernej Grahor, CEP Project Manager. Together with Mrs. Anica Mikuš Kos, Slovenian Psychiatrist, Paediatrician and President of the Slovene Philanthropy, and Mr. Marko Strle, Director of the Centre for Communication, Hearing and Speech Portorož, participants were welcomed in the Learning Compass network and were encouraged, to share their experience and contribute to the sessions. This is the way to find solutions for joint challenges and good practices all teachers, special educators and other school employees can implement in their work and by doing so actively create a more inclusive, engaging and inspirational learning environment for the children in their classes.
DAY 1
The program of the first day included a presentation by Marko Strle on the topic of ‘Inclusion as a specialty of normalit’ and ‘Problem-based learning as a starting point for collaborative learning’. As Mr Strle presented, an inclusive school sees differences as a benefit, that can transform the school environment from a uniform approach to a place of plurality and different approaches, and by doing so enable the acceptance and recognition of all the students, their strengths and weaknesses. He later on presented good practices on how to build on the cooperation of teachers (coming from different backgrounds, teaching practices and with various formal education) so to build a comprehensive learning program.
Anica Mikuš Kos continued with the topic of ´School failure and its impact on children´, starting from the wider environment of elements (family, free time, community, health, school and other) that all have an impact on children. The same is true for school failure, that can not be simply explained by a lower academic success. In the effort of enabling a child to reach their full potential, a close emphasis needs to be given to their strengths, weaknesses, a wider environment, their motivation and other equally important elements. The last seminar of the day was devoted to the methods of activating resources for helping children with school difficulties. Special emphasis was given to the role of volunteer work as a valuable learning and teaching experience. Children, youth and the civil society can be a valuable human resource for all organisations and institutions alike, with the experience being equally rewarding for the volunteers who receive knowledge, work experience and other values through this form of solidarity and cooperation.
DAY 2
The program of the second day started with two discussions prepared by Mrs Mikuš Kos on the topic ´Specific learning difficulties and their psychosocial accompaniments´ and the topic ´Hyperactivity and Attention Disorders´. Special attention needs to be given to the recognition of such difficulties children might face and actively work to make the learning process and the environment engaging, safe and inclusive. Each child is unique, and their development depends on a wider environment constructed by their parents, family, teachers, school environment, peers and many other elements. That is why the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices among participants in the training was very welcome to more efficiently overcome the challenges in the educational process and difficulties their students are faced with.
The training was continued by Mr. Strle, who presented the topic ´Adaptations of learning and teaching in educational work with children with special needs´. The participants were included in a dynamic learning process with methods they can implement in their everyday work. The activities continued with a discussion on how to approach and engage children with signs of challenging behaviour so to build a safe and engaging school environment.
The program of the day concluded with a presentation by Mrs Tamara Velikonja on ´The origins and role of conflict in the psychosocial development of children and adolescents´. Conflict as an everyday occurrence in life (and the school environment as well) can be seen through different lenses if we look at it closely and give attention to the effects causing conflict. Such an approach is also more prone to reach a peaceful resolvent through the consideration of one another.
DAY 3
The COVID pandemic has been present worldwide for more than a year and creates our new reality, with effects on the work process, school systems and everyday life. The program of the last day therefore also touched upon our new environment, starting with the presentation prepared by Mrs Mikuš Kos on the topic ´Children and school in time of coronavirus disease´. A discussion included various aspects of the disease on children, from their understanding of the challenging situation, struggles in school, perception of the disease as presented in the family circle, solidarity in the community and other important topics. Mr Strle continued with a discussion on the practical organisation of online classes and various aspects that should be considered with such a challenging adaption of the educational process. The teachers exchanged their good and bad experience, presented challenges, and jointly searched for solutions schools and teachers face on a daily basis.
The program continued with a presentation by Mr Strle on the topic of Individualised Educational plans. The lather included a discussion on general educational plans in comparison to individualised educational plans, namely to what extent, the use of which methods and with what target aims can individualised plans for children be implemented. Personalised teaching approaches with special attention to the learning process of individual children can also be efficient to identify and address anxiety in learning. Mr Strle concluded with a presentation of best practices that use creative approaches in the schools system, building on the strong power of poetry, drama class, storytelling, other art forms and activities that engage students and empower their strengths. Mrs Tamara Velikonja presented the last session of the comprehensive three day training with theoretical and practical advice on how to create a supportive school environment.
Participants who were actively included in the three day program, exchanged their experience and best practices unfortunately could not be acknowledge with a hand shake from the organising team as custom, but were rewarded with a symbolic certificate presented to each and every individual digitally. The training program might have concluded, but it is just the beginning of a learning process that aims at the sharing of knowledge with new teachers, special educators, parents and other individuals that actively work with children struggling from various disabilities. All the involved groups form a Learning compass network, that will strive to stay connected and continue upon it´s important mission.
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.
28. 10. 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, and Association for human rights and social inclusion Soci (Udruženje za ljudska prava I socialnu inkluziju – SOCI), Bosnia and Herzegovina, organising a three day training titled “Learning Compass – teacher training for work with children with disabilities”.
This training edition will start with a three-day workshop between November 4th and November 6th where three Slovenian experts will be holding lectures and interactive workshops on teacher training for work with children with disabilities and cooperate with their collegues from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The activities will be concluded with a digital informative session for stakeholders, held in the following weeks.
The activities are based on a wider cooperation in the field of pedagogical work and teaching practices focusing on children with disabilities and special needs, achieved through the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices among teachers. The project brings together experts and trainers from Slovenia with their colleagues in Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia who jointly strive to tackle the challenge of their every day work, to secure an educational process that is engaging, adjustable to the learning styles of each child and gives an equal learning opportunity to every individual.
The challenging new environment of the COVID-19 epidemic has also unveiled additional challenges educational systems worldwide needed to adjust to, from technical aspects of virtual school work to social and psychological components pupils are effected by, and that have widened the gap of equal learning opportunities even further. The project program addresses these challenges through various perspectives, from thematic activities to the overall training format, that will be implemented in an online fashion (virtual classroom).
Visit the CEP website for more information of the overall project and all activities encompassed within the project
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.
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 9th to September 11th 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.
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 9th and September 11th 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.
