Workshops of Global Education for Teachers and Students
Contents
The workshops include theory and practice of the pedagogical programme 'global education' - the one that is based on a system/holistic view of the world. All the courses include elements of various education streams (dramatic, environmental, aesthetic, education through experience etc.), elements of teambuilding, devloping teamwork and communication skills, developing creativity, simulating games, inter-subject approaches, etc. Necessary theory goes hand in hand with suitable activities from the area of practical global education, followed by analyses - i.e. in the form of workshops. Find more detail information concerning each workshop and more information about Global Education at
The International Institut for Global Education, University of Toronto, Canada.
Target group
As for the contents, the workshops are suitable for both basic school teachers and secondary school teachers regardless their subject qualifications, students of pedagogical faculties and schools and students of all pedagogical subjects, and also for tutors at all kinds of educational institutions, children group leaders, etc. In special cases, the course can be aimed at certain themes, or it can be arranged for teachers from one school or another educational institution. Minimum number of participants is 12, maximum 30 (if the offer does not state another number. Some of the workshops can be arranged for children and teenagers - see the notes in the enclosed offer.
Duration
The workshops last for different time periods. We recommend integration or combination of stated courses/workshops into a four-day (preferably stay-in) courses of a total of 36 hours - divided usually into two weekdays and two weekend days (not necessarily - it depends on the agreement between the organizer and the lecturer). Each participant then completes a half of the course in his/her free time and the rest in his/her working time. For those more serious a bout global education, we have prepared a system of two or three four-day courses (again preferably stay-in) of a maximum total of 108 hours including a possibility to get a certificate.
Place
The short-term workshops can take place in the school or school facilities - i.e. in an ordinary class (unless the offer states something else). The stay-in workshop can be realized at a standard leisure time or other facilities (e.g. in country schools, environmental education centres, etc.), including accommodation and boarding - preferably with a capacity of no more than 40 people.
Requirements, conditions and aids
The site - a class of a standard size with a possibility of at least partial black-out, the chairs are situated in a circle, a carpet welcome. Some of the courses take place in the countryside - see the offer.
Audio-visual aids - an overhead projector, a cassette recorder, in some special cases also a slide projector, etc.
Participants' equipment requirements - clothing of a sporting type, a headscarf.
The Leader (Contact)
Name: Jiří Hruška
Address: Ráby 108, 533 53 STARÉ HRADIŠTĚ, Czech Republic
E-mail: jiri_hruska@seznam.cz or jiri.hruska@email.cz
Qualifications
5 years at Faculty of Education in Hradec Králové - subjects: physics and chemistry (1981-86)
4 years' teaching at High School in Přelouč
specialized correspondence study 'Complex Environmental Learning at Secondary Schools' at the Institute of Applied Environment and Ecotechnology in Kostelec nad Černými lesy, belonging to the College of Agriculture in Prague (1988-91)
4 years' praxis as a pedagogical specialist at the Ekocenter Pardubice (now Ekocentrum PALETA), at the National Center for Environmental Education EVA based in Prague (now EVANS - Center for Global Education), and at the Czech Center for Environmental Education Rýchorská bouda (now SEVER Horní Maršov)
I attended a one-week course of global education led by Prof. David Selby from the International Institute for Global Education (IIGE), Faculty of Education, University of Toronto (Křižánky, April 1994)
I went on a one-week stay at IIGE (International Institute for Global Education, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto - Toronto, March 1996)
I went on a seven-month stay at the Center for Environmental Education and Teambuilding - Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Pennstate University in the USA (September 1995 - April 1996)
I have been a member of the team of accredited trainers at the Teachers' Association in the Czech Republic 'PAU' (Friends of Committed Learning) since 1996
I attended courses of teambuilding held by Outward Bound Czech Republic - Vacation School Lipnice (1991, 1993), and I am associated with Outward Bound Czech Republic
I have been a member of the work group for the environment at the Society for Sustainable Life (STUŽ) since 1997
I attended an accredited one-week course 'Summer School of Development Aid and Cooperation' (Center of Interdisciplinary Studies, Palacký University Olomouc - August 1998)
I attended a three-days course of Foundraising of Reading and Writting for Critical Thinking (Estonia November 2000)
I attended a four-weekends course of Reading and Writting for Critical Thinking (spring 2001)
I attended a one-week course of international environmental project GLOBE (TEREZA October 2001)
1 years' teaching at Elementary School in Obříství (from January 2001 to January 2002)
etc.
Training activities
a leader at summer camps 'Brontosaurus' concentrated on the environmental education for high school and university students in 1984 - 1991
stay-in sequence courses of global education (mainly 4 days long) for levels I-III for teachers (especially primary school teachers) and educators within the framework of the activities of the Ekocenter Pardubice (now Ekocentrum PALETA) since 1990 - altogether 9 basic and 3 consecutive courses
a member of a team of trainers at a one-week-course run by the associatio Outward Bound Czech Republic - 'Vacation School Lipnice' called 'In natura' for teachers (Rýchorská bouda, 1992)
leading five-day courses of global and environmental education and regular complicity at courses led by other trainers within the work for the National Center for Environmental Education EVA (now EVANS Prague) and the Czech Center for Environmental Education Rýchorská bouda (now SEVER Horní Maršov) in 1992 - 1994
accredited workshops of global education at four whole-national meetings and one regional meeting organized by the association PAU (since 1995)
courses of global education and teambuilding for students (four times) and teachers (five times)
courses of global and environmental education for students of State University Pennsylvania, Pennstate, USA (1995), students of Faculty of Education, Doetinchem, the Netherlands (1998), etc.
etc.
An Offer of Global Education Courses/Workshops
All the below stated workshops use pedagogical methods and form of 'global education' (next only GE). The workshops can be combined into few-day ones (e.g. stay-in courses). Duration and topics of the workshops can be discussed.
GROUND WORKSHOP
Introduction into the theory and practice of global education, the system/holistic view of the world in the process of education
contents: introduction of basic ideas of the educational system, which comes out of the system/holistic view of the world and which prepares the students for life in the current fast-changing world
key: aims of GE, dimension of the globality, the mechanistic view of the world versus the system/holistic one, inter-subject links, possibilities to implement GE into the pedagogical practice
form: theory followed by suitable activities from the practice of GE
duration: 2 - 8 hours (one day)
notes:
it can also be combined with other courses in various options
for special cases, it´s prepared a one-hour presentation lecture with slides from various workshops and courses - number of participants is not limited for this case, but efficiency of this way of appeal is generally low
SEQUENCE / AMPLIFICATORY WORKSHOPS
Before we meet in a new team, or how to form an effective team
contents: 'forming an effective team' from a newly created groups before or at the beginning of their activities
key: cooperation versus competition, common solution to the problems, communication skills, meeting people, self-knowledge, trust development, involving an individual person into a team, dismantlement of communication barriers, teambuilding etc.
form: meeting and introduction activities, 'ice-breaking' ('warm-up activities'), activities encouraging team cooperation and teambuilding, discussion activities, etc. from the practice of GE
duration: one-day action (8 hours), a stay-in one (e.g. for a weekend) is better, or a 2 - 4 hours' version of a practice workshop for teachers
notes:
in case of a stay-in action, any standard leisure time facilities can be used
the course is suitable for any stable (newly formed ones are the best!) teams - e.g. teachers from one school, etc. and for stay-in actions of schools (e.g. country schools, training courses, etc.) and other school facilities (e.g. summer camps, etc.)
Let's learn how to discuss effectively and how to tolerate other people's opinions
contents: techniques of opening a discussion with a suitable topic, and running such discussions
key: cooperation versus competition, team interests versus personal ones, tolerating opinions, developing communication skills, human rights, discrimination, strategy of problem solving
form: discussion activities, activities encouraging team cooperation and teambuilding, etc. from the practice of GE
duration: 2 - 4 hours
The North against the South, or the invisible arm of the market
contents: global problems on the background of economic relationship among developing and developed countries
key: market versus sustainable life/development, links and connection among global problems
form: presentation including suitable simulating and discussion activities from the practice of GE
duration: 2 - 4 hours
Fish Banks, Ltd.
contents: simulating team game aimed at permanently tenable use of recoverable sources - in this case it is fish population - on the background of real events
key: strategy of sustainable life/development, using recoverable natural sources
form: an original simulating game using a computer, processing all the outlets
duration: 2 hours (minimum)
notes:
the game needs a computer (preferably with a printer), and it is good if it is operated by a trained assistant of the lecturer
Handmade Paper for both - beginners and advanced students
courses:
1) handmade paper and its history
2) handmade paper and aesthetics
3) handmade paper as a sample of using inter-subject relationships, or 'practical exercise in global education'
contents:
add 1. from the beginning of handmede paper from natural material to the production of recycled paper
add 2. presentation of some (often original) techniques of ornamenting handmade paper and work with it
add 3. application of handmade paper in various subjects
key: development of skills and creativity, work with 'environmental' (recycled and natural) material
form: practical activities and the theory
duration: 4 hours each workshop
notes:
the price includes transport of aids and material
it is necessary to understand that the handmade paper takes a long time to get dry - so it is better for the students to pick their works up the next day - use of an iron for drying the paper needs a lot of energy, so it is used only in some exceptional cases
regarding the fact that the work needs a lot of water, it is better if a part of the programme can take place in a suitable background (in the open air, in the class without a carpet, etc.)
Camera Obscura
contents: manufacturing and testing of a camera based on the principle of a 'chamber with a hole'
key: developing skills, knowledge and creativity in the area of natural science (optics, photographic chemistry, etc.), aesthetics, history
form: practical activities (manufacturing a camera, taking photographs) and the theory
duration: 4 + 1 hours in two days (you need some time to develop the exposed photos)
notes:
the program needs special equipment (darkroom with suitable lighting, photo-paper, dope, setter, etc.)
the price includes all photo-material
if the darkroom is big enough, the process of developing photos can become a part of the programme
in certain cases, the price includes transport of aids and material
a part of the program (taking photographs) takes place in the open air
Perceive and notice the world around us
contents: activities aimed at sensual perception of the environment, education through experience
key: natural beauties, direct experience, diversity of sensual perception, relaxation, relationship between people and nature
form: unusual walk in the countryside including various activities
duration: 2 - 4 hours
notes:
the programme takes place in the open air
From an idea to its realization
contents: presentation of various ways and techniques leading from an idea to its realization
key: strategy of creating projects, choosing the right way, teamwork, fundraising, effective communication, problem solving in a team, etc.
form: practical training with a certain or model example
duration: 4 hours
notes:
it is better if the participants work on a certain than a model example, so it is better to divide the workshop into two parts: choosing the project topic in one part, and the ways to its realization in the second
the alternative with a model example takes less time and it corresponds with the stated duration of the workshop etc.
Integrating workshops integrate or combine the above stated GE workshops according to the customer's requirements into a several-day workshop, or they integrate or apply the GE methods and forms to the below stated thematic frame called 'education for the sustainable life/development', which forms the basic part of a teaching complex/programme called 'Human and Environment' for primary and secondary schools. From the point of view of their duration, the integrating workshops always last for several days, and the participants stay in the place of the workshop - stay-in types. The optimum duration is 36 hours in four days - usually two weekdays and a weekend - when required, the workshop can take place on different days. For those serious about the topic, the programme of Global education can be - in a comprehensive way - introduced in the form of two or three sequence four-day workshops of a total of 108 hours. Stay-in workshops are realized at standard leisure time or other facilities (e.g. outdoor schools, environmental education centres, etc.) offering a possibility of accommodation and boarding - the best capacity is not more than 40 people.
The programme 'Human and Environment'
contents: the workshop introduces the teaching complex called 'Human and Environment' - i.e. education for the sustainable life, which was elaborated by the workgroup for environmental education of the Society for the Sustainable Life (STUŽ). Its topic is aimed at the state and development of the relationship between people and the environment, i.e. environmental education. The program 'Human and Environment' uses the forms and methods of global education.
duration of the workshop: introduction into the complex/programme takes 4 hours minimum, methodical training - a four-day (preferably stay-in) course of a total of 36 hours
key ideas and terms:
communication and cooperation as tools for solving problems
social-psychological aspects of the sustainable life/development
environment as a value itself and as a value for people
common roots of people and other living creatures
links between social and biological systems
connection among actions in time and space, internal connection of phenomena
principles of the sustainable
life/development
a single person as a consumer and a citizen, responsibility of a person towards the environment
targets of the teaching complex:
in the first place it introduces and explains the term sustainable life/development and integrates know-how from various subjects
it develops the system way of thinking, cooperation abilities, skills, creativity and creative problem solving, it arouses interest in the environment, getting and realizing your own and group attitudes and values towards the environment, it strengthens emotional links with the nature and respect to the nature, etc.; the common aim of all these is a conscious attitude of the person towards the nature and the society
proposed form of the realization of the complex at primary and secondary schools:
as for introducing this complex/programme into the practice, it is substantial that the realization of the proposal is not necessarily connected with opening an independent subject. We suggest four suitable ways how to involve this teaching complex into pedagogical
practice:
a several-day course/project week (outdoor schools, training courses, summer camps, etc.);
series of project days/epoch teaching (known e.g. from the Waldorf School
System);
a teaching complex within the present 'sectional' subjects (geography, civics, biology, etc.);
an independent subject - regular or optional, or facultative (e.g. practical environment).
contents of the complex/programme:
From the point of view of the contents, it is important to place uniform emphases on its informative and formative functions. See below the proposed order of teaching blocks, which appeared suitable in the conditions of a several-day stay-in course from the point of view of the internal sequence. However, it is the question of certain conditions (incl. the weather, availability of potential external collaborators, etc.) and the teacher's own opinion how to arrange or adapt the blocks conveniently.
Division of the complex into the teaching blocks (number of hours conforms to a four-day stay-in course for teachers):
block 1
(8 hours): Interpersonal relations, psychological and sociological aspects of the human society functioning, communication, problem solving
block 2 (4 hours): Local Environment I - variety and beauty of the environment
block 3 (3 hours): Position of the human species in the environment
block 4 (4 hours): Local Environment II - natural values of the area, the most substantial environmental problems
block 5 (3 hours): History of the relationship between the human species and the environment
block 6 (5 hours): Global context and problems
block 7 (6 hours): Context of the economic development and the environment, the sustainable development
block 8 (3 hours): Ways how to involve in the environment
notes:
the programme 'Human and Environment' is very convenient especially for realization within the 'country schools', and also other stay-in activities of schools and other organizations (e.g. summer camps, etc.)
For more information about Global Education see: The International Institute for Global Education, University of Toronto.
