Teachers on Teaching

This research was made as part of the project ‘ePact: Education Partnership for Advocacy, Capacity-Building and Transformation’ which aim is to contribute to sustaining the democratization process and enhancing conflict sensitivity in the Western Balkans through reforms and implementation of changes in the formal schooling system that will intensify democratic education. The project strives to achieve that education authorities and civil society jointly reform education and schools in the region to enhance critical thinking and active citizenship. These two competencies are key drivers of all forms of development, but particularly of the development of a vibrant civil society that is ready to protect and defend democratic values, gender mainstreaming, environmental protection and a culture of non-violent conflict resolution.

To translate this general idea into more concrete aims, this research wanted to find out
 Reforming and implementing changes in the formal schooling system that will intensify democratic education
 Reforming education and schools in the region to enhance critical thinking and active citizenship
To contribute on the macro level to sustaining the democratization process
To enhance conflict sensitivity in the Western Balkans

The regional Needs Assessment study were conducted by researchers Dea Marić and Rodoljub Jovanović, focusing on a range of issues including:
• Study programmes for history educators
• Employment and professional development
• Curriculum and textbooks
• Teachers’ roles and skills
• Schools
• Teaching Practice / Everyday teaching
• Dealing with difficult topics

Read the reports here:

 

  • Students as Mediators of Conflicts
  • Find out what New Students Bring to the Classroom

    As a response to an increase in new students in the Swedish educational system, the Swedish Board of Education tasked a group of schools and universities to find a way to assess what newly arrived students know in order to provide the best possible education for each student, as well as focusing on their strengths rather than their weaknesses. This resulted in the formation of materials for conducting discourse around history for the purpose of assessing the historical competencies of newly arrived students. This is done in the form of a 70-minute conversation between a teacher and a student. The assessment is meant to provide valuable insight into what the students are already familiar with, so that teachers can take this into account when creating lesson plans.