VIDEOCONFERENCELIKE A METHOD OF TEACHING

“Today’s students are completely different from those of five to 10 years ago. Today’s students need to explore.”– Suzana

About me:

Name: Suzana Surname: Delić

Title of qualification awarded: Primary school Techer (all subjects) and teacher of computer science Level in national or international classification:• 27/10/ 2006. promoted in teacher mentor• 25/11/2011. promoted in teacher counselor  •2012. promoted in teacher who is responsible for in-service training for 50 teachers (associate of Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency)•CARNet (Croatian academic and research network) associate

- from 2014. eTwinning ambasador

Computer skills and competences:•a qualified teacher of computer science•EDCL Diploma holder•Can create and maintain web sites (www.oshorvati.hr, )•Have online tutoring skils (Moodle, eTwinning))

•Familarity with web 2.0, web 3.0•student of e-learning academy in Zagreb•creator of many e-learning events•promoter of e-learning •promoter of using videoconferences like method of teaching•Organizer of many videoconferences all over the world (Canada, USA, UK, France, Pakistan, Taiwan, Hong Kong etc.)•Organizer for Europe Cross Atlantic Alternative Energy Debate. (London, New York, Zagreb)•Leader for online training for teachers on eTwinning Learning Lab („Tools and competencies”, Videoconferences like method of teaching) for 300 teachers

• Edublogger (http://dnevnikuciteljice.wordpress.com/)• Co-editor of The Forum for International Collaboration

on the Partners in Learning website (www.ucitelji.hr)• Regional coordinator for. Megaconference Junior.

Other skills and competences:

• Chess trainer with international licence

• GLOBE teacher – https://www.globe.gov/

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program.

Previous GTTP/Discover the Cosmos training sessions participated if any. NO

Which tools and methodologies do you use in classroom with the students.

How did you implement these in classroom environment. Connection to the curriculum. The impact it had in your teaching practice/result with the students.

I hope my intervew for Parners in learning will say everything.

„We all know that collaboration is one of the critical 21st century skills, but Suzana Delić believes she knows one of the best ways to teach the skill and to transform the lives of her students. Delić is committed to enabling collaboration – not just within her school or her country, but around the world, through videoconferencing. Last year, Delić and her fourth grade class held two videoconferences with a primary school in China. Topics covered New Year celebrations in Croatia and China and everyday life in each country’s schools. Her class prepared videos, PowerPoint presentations and a quiz.  “It was a great experience for me and my students,” Delić says. “We learned many things about this beautiful country. We learned about Chinese customs and culture, and we also improved our English and communication skills.” The class also participated in a videoconference on the 2012 Olympic Games and as part of the Time Project, where they placed second on the quiz portion.Today, Delić shares her excitement for videoconferencing as an educational tool and advice for future teachers.”  

Can you describe how your professional achievements have advanced innovation in education?

In the last few years, I had many videoconferences with students from all over the world: USA, Canada, China, France, Portugal, UK, Taiwan and many more. Students from first to eighth grades are involved in the videoconferences and I am very proud of that. I think it is a good preparation for their future. I also really like to share my experiences with my colleagues all over the world, and have prepared materials for them. I can proudly say that my primary school, Horvati, is a leader among primary schools in Croatia in that area.

What has changed as a result of your efforts?

Collaboration through videoconferencing has led to connections between schools, teachers and students, who then realize the importance of this way of learning. This opens up a wider perspective of possibilities for other teachers and students at my school. Students and teachers are motivated to gain knowledge about other nations and learn to respect people who are different. As I mentioned, the school I work at is very much aware of the benefits of adding a European dimension to our style of teaching. It is obvious that very soon our students will be competing for jobs in the EU and whole world, and they need to be prepared to handle the competition.

How can others facing similar challenges implement what you’ve learned through your work?

My students are very motivated to work this way. But they are not alone, because their parents are thrilled about the opportunity, and many times they are able to see how their children actively participate in videoconferences.

How have you applied technology in innovative ways to support your work?

I use PCs, Polycom stations and Skype for videoconferencing. The advantages of technology are:

No need for traveling,No additional expensesVisual communicationInvolvement in mutual projectsLots of ideas and knowledgeDevelopement of communication skillsDevelopement of organizational skillsSimple access to learning resourcesMeeting other students, countries and culturesGaining long-term friendships

And all of that throught Internet access!

What conditions must change in your country to better support education?

Educational programs must be adapted to today’s students. They are completely different from students of five to 10 years ago. Today’s students need to explore. Their passion for research should be used in education. They must learn to be knowledge navigators — finding information from different sources, evaluating it and making sense of it.

What is the best opportunity for innovation in education?

The world has changed. With the changes we need to change also. We must prepareour students to one day become successful young people. We need them to be successful as a guide on their journey.

What advice would you give a new teacher (or anyone wanting to make a difference in education)?

My great wish is that in the next few years ICT would become a part of every subject in the classroom and every teacher would develop his or her competences. There are many subjects we could make more acceptable and interesting for students if we used computers. Through e-learning, Comenius projects and videoconferences, our students will improve their knowledge, meet other countries and gain lots of friends from all over the world, friends who could eventually become their future business partners.

My students and I try to encourage as many teachers as possible to accept this way of working. We are very open to the world because we think it is very important to be students of the world. Their teacher must be the one who shows them the first step to achieve that goal. Everything is possible with videoconferences. So, try it with your students. They will be very happy. Like we are!

If you could give one educational tool to every child in the world, what would it be? Why?

Videoconferencing! The videoconference itself, and talking ‘live,’ is an extraordinary event for the children. Our experience tells us that it leads to even stronger connections betweenpupils from both sides of the wire. It often leads to mutual projects, visits and years-long friendships after pupils have already left school. Only with the use of ICT can we accomplish all of the above-mentioned goals without the expenses for travel and accomodation.  

Your motivation to participate in the summer school.

- I am working with my students through Math and Nature- I am GLOBE teacher so summer school will be very good for me

but also for my students- I have prepared ERASMUS+ project K2 called „Starry night”

"Stary nights" project

Students will periodicaly observe the visibility of certain constellations, so they could measure the light pollution's quantity in their local communities. For that purpose we will teach them how to use some scientific protocols and work materials - descriptions and work sheets. At the same time they will learn some antic mithology facts, which gave names to stars and constellations. Automatically they will remember that once upon a time we were all living in the same, Roman empire! as we are living in EU today. So we will encourage them to discover our common civilisation's cultural heritage.

By analysing and comparing the data they will increase their informatical and all the others litteracies, for which we now that, according Pysa project's results, is rather low.

During visits they will also learn about each others and improve their language skills, as well as their awerness of similarity in those languages, due to a fact that latin is the basis for not just roman group of languages. And as the citizens of EU they will improve their knowledge about how that union works in real life of it's members.

Your commitment to represent Inspiring Science Education (ISE) in your country.

1. To all school's teachers and staff, students, parents - students' and teachers' presentations and exhibitons at staff meetings, parental meetings, student meetings like Parents' Council, Students' Council, Schoolboard, Teachers' Council and at vocational educators' meetings

2. To GLOBE schools community - student's and teachers' presentations and exhibitons at GLOBE meetings, revues, workshops and trainings on regional, national and international level using GLOBE network, too. 3. To local community politicians, industrial representatives. along with using internet pages and websites, TV, radio, newspapers...

4. To Teachers in elementary, vocational and high schools I will also offer some presentations or using materials from school websites, facebook etc. I will also offer to make some workshops.

1. I will inform the public using news papers, TV channels, web sites, facebook, twitter-community...to inform local politicians (green oriented), mayor's office, local industrial representatives, public health institutions, public lighting department

2. I will contact scientist at Universities,, astronomical observatories, Meteorological Institutes etc.

3. I will inform them about our activities, results and research reports, invite them to my information sessions, workshops, exibitions and other demonstrations

1. example: PROJECT VIDEOCONFERENCES BETWEEN TWO CLASSES

ECOLE DE SAINTGAUDENT,

SAINT GAUDENT

ECOLE DE SAINTGAUDENT,

SAINT GAUDENT

PRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREBPRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREB

DURATION: 2009/2010. 7 VIDEOCONFERENCES

Videoconferences had 2 main goals :

•To improve English language skills of both classes.•To discover and learn about Croatian and French cultures, and specially life of a foreign child.

Video conferences mainlines :•Link 2 classes of 21 pupils.•Last 30-45 minutes every month (until June 2010).•Follow a precisely prepared script.•Contain repeated rituals.•Focus on a specific theme/issue, different each time.•Students need to work hard on the preparations.

Good practice examples (from my claasses):

2. example: VIDEOCONFERENCE BETWEEN TWO CLASSES

JOB LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BEDFORD, MA,

USA

JOB LANE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BEDFORD, MA,

USA

PRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREBPRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREB

- portal ePals- students were exchanging their e-mails- the great security which students have on ePals- VC was extremely successful and our cooperation is still going on

- A result of the cooperation was a call from Mrs. Maureen LaCroix, Superintendent of Schools Bedford Public Schools, who invited me through Skype to answer several questions during the special ceremony of the beginning of a school year (Opening Day in Bedford) about using technology in education in front of 400 guests, which was a great honor.

3. example: TWO VIDEOCONFERENCES WITH A SPECIAL THEME

PO LEUNG KUKLUK HING TOO

PRIMARY SCHOOL,HONK KONG, CHINA

PO LEUNG KUKLUK HING TOO

PRIMARY SCHOOL,HONK KONG, CHINA

PRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREBPRIMARY SCHOOL HORVATI, ZAGREB

1. NEW YEAR IN MY COUNTRY 2. MY SCHOOL

We held first videoconferences with Hong Kong in the end of 2008. Let´s see how it looked. Students of the 7th grade were involved.

Videoconferencing as a Support for Networking and International Co-operation of Schools

4. example: MEGACONFERENCE JR. 2013.

- Megaconference Jr., now in its 10th year

- It is an international program designed to give students in elementary and secondary schools the opportunity to communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other's learning in real time, using advanced multi-point videoconferencing technology.

- VJ Teams and their interactive partners will develope and share activities focused on both academic and cultural issues.

- The teams will collaborate with geographically diverse peers on authentic learning activities, thus building cultural awareness.

Cross Atlantic Alternative Energy Debate

Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, policy makers and most of all they will be energy consumers. But how will their energy be produced and from what? Given the finite supply of fossil-based fuels, the environmental impact related to extracting and using these fuels and the often volatile impact financial and economic markets, it’s understandable that students need to be part of the discussion regarding the future of the world’s energy needs and consumption.

Igniting the discussion is the Cross Atlantic Alternative Energy Debate involving high school students from throughout New York, England and Europe

5. example:

Europe: Mina Patel, JANET, mina@vcfl.netSuzana Delić, Croatia, suzana.deli@gmail.com New York:Rene Carver, GSTRIC, rcarver@gstboces.org Jeanne Weber, ESBOCES, jweber@esboces.org Mike Sylofski, NERIC, msylofski@neric.org

Here are some of students comments:

I think it is important for us to learn about other countries because it is always good to have some knowledge on other places other than your country. There are a few things i would like to learn about Croatia. For example, I would like to

learn what their city looks like on a regular day, and what they usually do during a regular school day.

I think it is important for us to learn about other countries because it is always good to have some knowledge on other places other than your country. There are a few things i would like to learn about Croatia. For example, I would like to

learn what their city looks like on a regular day, and what they usually do during a regular school day.

I enjoyed video conferencing because I was able to see my pen pal face-to-

face. Also, I learned some of the things that she likes that I didn't know

through our emails. Overall, I enjoyed the video conference and I thought

that it was an interesting experience. I hope we conference again soon!

Dustin

I enjoyed video conferencing because I was able to see my pen pal face-to-

face. Also, I learned some of the things that she likes that I didn't know

through our emails. Overall, I enjoyed the video conference and I thought

that it was an interesting experience. I hope we conference again soon!

Dustin

We had a wonderful opportunity to Skype with each other (Los Angeles to Zagreb). What a great opportunity to be able to talk face-to-face with a

country on the other side of the world

We had a wonderful opportunity to Skype with each other (Los Angeles to Zagreb). What a great opportunity to be able to talk face-to-face with a

country on the other side of the world

I think that our skype was SO much fun!! I hope we can do it many more

times. I think that we have a lot in common like what we eat, what

singers we like, and what clothes we wear. I will send some more emails to Nejla and I hope she

sends some back. Primary School Horvati is so cool! Greetings from

California!Natalie M.

I think that our skype was SO much fun!! I hope we can do it many more

times. I think that we have a lot in common like what we eat, what

singers we like, and what clothes we wear. I will send some more emails to Nejla and I hope she

sends some back. Primary School Horvati is so cool! Greetings from

California!Natalie M.

Final thoughts:

Through e-learning and videoconferences our studentsimprove their knowledge, meet counterparts in othercountries and gain lots of friends from all over theworld, friends who could eventually become theirfuture business partners. Technology, includingresearch and education networks, enable us to deliverthe benefits of collaboration without the costs oftravel or accommodation. In five to ten years fromnow I see our students becoming citizens of the world.Their teacher must be the one who will show them thefirst step to achieve that goal.Suzana Delic,Teacher counsellor, Primary school Horvati, Zagreb,Croatia, CARNet (Croatian academic and research network)associate and Coordinator for MegaconferenceJr. - Europe