Alexandra Štefková
Dublin
The Erasmus stay in Dublin (Ireland) from 6 to 19 August 2023 was an unforgettable experience that enriched not only my professional career but also my personal life. I had the opportunity to be part of a group of 15 teachers from different countries of the European Union: a positive atmosphere, motivation to share experiences, gaining new inspiration for our work and a feeling of a safe environment, among other things, is how the course could be described. As the only Czech I was really forced to work on my communication skills, which besides the actual travel to an unfamiliar country is a great benefit.
The first week, led by lecturer Miriam Stewart, we focused on improving our language skills. We had the opportunity to develop pronunciation, intonation, and rehearsed impromptu storytelling and dramatic performances. This part of the course not only strengthened my language competence, but also brought new methods for teaching the Czech language that I will definitely use in the future.
The second week, led by lecturer Patrick O'Hare, was dedicated to Classroom Management Solutions for Teachers: New Methodologies, Effective Motivation, Cooperation and Evaluation Strategies. I gained a comprehensive view of different methods of working in the classroom, not only theoretically but also practically. I was introduced to modern technologies and applications such as Class Dojo, Jamboard, JeopardysLabs, ChatGPT, Edpuzzle, which I can incorporate into my teaching.
In addition to my professional knowledge, I also made new friends and established contacts with teachers from different parts of Europe. The course was not only about teaching, but also about cultural experiences. Attending the Food Fair where we tasted regional specialties, a tour of Dublin, Irish dance lessons and a trip to Glendalough and Russborough House contributed to my overall understanding of Irish culture and traditions.
The Erasmus course in Dublin was inspiring and opened new horizons for me in the field of education. I not only gained new pedagogical tools but also a strong sense of belonging with educators from different European countries. This experience provided me with an invaluable perspective and motivation to further develop my teaching practice.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
My tips
what I take away from the course
1
ClassDojo
ClassDojo is an interactive online platform designed to support communication between teachers, students and parents. This tool focuses on fostering positive classroom behaviour and creating an environment that promotes learning and social skills development.
The main features and characteristics of ClassDojo include interactive tools for each individual class, teachers can specify groupings, random student draws, time tracking tools, etc. Teachers can award points for positive behaviors and student achievements. This creates a system for motivating and reinforcing positive behaviour. Teachers can also create digital portfolios for each student where work, projects or other achievements can be uploaded. This allows students' development to be tracked and their achievements to be shared with parents.
2
Cento – Patchwork Poems
The Cento Poetry method of working with poetry is an innovative approach to poetry making that encourages creativity and a deep understanding of language. The process begins with the study of poems (here the texts can be adapted to suit the need, in the course we worked with texts by contemporary Irish authors). Participants can then cut out parts of the text that speak to them and compose them into a new whole - their own poem.
This method not only encourages individual creativity, but also fosters a deeper understanding of language through interaction with the literary work. Cutting out and combining different parts of poems allows participants to explore different styles, themes and means of expression. During the presentation of their own poems, there is open sharing and mutual discovery.
3
Edpuzzle
Edpuzzle is an educational tool for teachers that combines videos with interactive elements. It allows you to create your own lessons or edit existing YouTube videos by embedding questions and tasks. Teachers can track students' progress as they watch videos and answer questions, making it easy to identify areas that need additional support. Edpuzzle provides flexibility in education as it can be integrated with other tools and allows students to access lessons anytime and anywhere, making it useful for distance learning. Overall, Edpuzzle is a modern tool that increases student engagement and connects technology with education.
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