Summer-course in the summer of 2021 (2-6 August)

Summer course in the summer of 2021 (2-6 August)

Creativity and values: inquiry-based and art-based learning for the development of values in preschool and primary education

The Laboratory of Educational Research and Applications (LabERA) of the University of Crete announces the commencement of a structured course in the summer of 2021 (2-6 August)

Title of the course: Creativity and values: inquiry-based and art-based learning for the development of values in preschool and primary education

Course location: The University of Crete, Rethimno, Crete. The lessons will take place at the University of Crete, utilizing a variety of University properties and locations throughout Rethimno (including sites of historical interest).

Language: English

Scientific Responsible of the course: Maria Ampartzaki, Permanent Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, Department of Preschool Education, University of Crete

Length of the course: 1 week (5 days Χ 9 hours per day) (2-6/8/2021).

Aim of the course: The course will help educators to get acquainted with a modern interpretation of the inquiry-based learning which focuses on creativity and values. It aims at equipping educators with the tools of designing, evaluating and analyzing learning activities which are artful, and creative and target the development of the values of the modern European community (democracy, equity, inclusion of people with physical differences and different personal and social characteristics, etc.). It takes into consideration children who come from different cultural backgrounds and disadvantaged children (such as immigrant or ethnic minority children), or children who experience a variety of social-economic marginalization. The course also aims at cultivating the skills needed by educators who want to organize environments that support constructivist, collaborative and experiential learning, empathy, inquiry, art, creativity, positive and constructive interactions and/or exchanges between children. This course is making active use and dissemination of content and materials created in the context of the Erasmus+ project titled “Early Childhood Education: Building sustainable motivation and value paradigm for life (MOV-UP)), which was funded by the European Union (580339-EPP-1-2016-1-BG-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN).

After the completion of the course educators will be able to proceed to the implementation of ideas and actions in their own classes and they will be encouraged to keep in touch with the University of Crete (that is the trainers of the course) to ask for help and additional clarifications if needed. Participants who complete the course will get a certificate of completion.

Method of training: Lessons will be organized according to the principles of modern adult education and they will include lectures, workshops and educational visits. At the end of the course, participants will have a create a lesson plan, on their preferred topic, in which they will use knowledge and understanding they gained through the course. They will also have to anonymously fill in a course evaluation questionnaire, which will contain a variety of open-ended and close-ended questions.

Fees: 350€ per person (does not include accommodation/travel/subsistence), suitable for KA1 applications (Mobility project for school education staff).

Minimum number of participants: 18

Maximum number of participants: 30

Eligible participants:

“Staff in charge of school education (teaching and non-teaching, including school managers, heads, etc.), as well as other educational staff (school inspectors, school counsellors, pedagogical advisors, psychologists, etc.) involved in the strategic development of the sending school(s).

Staff of local or regional school authorities or school coordination bodies leading a national mobility consortium who are involved in school policy, school development, or other activities of strategic importance for the school education sector” (Erasmus+ Program Guide, Version 1 (2020): 05-11-2019, p. 66).

For an initial or conditional acceptance in the course participants should submit a letter by their employer, or any other equivalent document which confirms that they are planning to apply for KA1 funding. In any other case (e.g. those who are prepared to cover the cost of their training by themselves), participants should submit a proof of their professional identity. Self-funded participants should pay a non-refundable deposit of 35€. Places in the course will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and a priority (and waiting) list will be kept.

Travel, transport, accommodation: Participants will have to make their own travel, transport, accommodation and food arrangements, however some help and advice will be offered, if possible.

Topics: The course will include the following topics:

Positive and enabling learning environments

Development from the child’s perspective

Positive and enabling learning environments through the lenses of critical pedagogy

Inquiry-based learning

Concepts of space in inquiry-based learning

Concepts of time in inquiry-based learning

The importance of questions in inquiry-based learning

Art as a means for inquiry-based learning

Interactions among children in inquiry-based learning

Inquiry-based Science Education

Art-based Science Education

Inquiry-based and art-based learning for the development of values in preschool and primary education

Accelerating children’s values formation in learning environments

Storytelling with puppets for the development of values

The importance of games and experiments in nature for value development

For further information and applications please write to Nikos Gerakianakis, course secretary, email address: ptpep378@edc.uoc.gr