The purpose of the joint staff learning/teaching/training activity was to train the teachers and methodologists from partner schools to be able to implement the Think Inside The Box methodology with their pupils and later pass this knowledge to other teachers from local and regional schools.
The training course was held online instead of a live 3-day training, which was initially planned to take place in March 2021 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Partners made a decision to move this training into an online format instead of postponing it to the next school year, as all the learning materials were ready to use, and some partners expected to be able to do some testing at the end of this school year. Therefore, it was essential for the teachers to get well familiar with the developed methodology.
Partners decided to divide the training time into separate sessions to ensure the efficiency of the virtual learning process and the possibility to do home tasks, such as printing 3D parts, practicing with the software and hardware, and preparing materials needed for the construction of boxes.
The training programme consisted of 8 learning sessions and 1 consultation distributed in the time period between April 7, 2021 and June 3, 2021. Each session was dedicated to a particular topic:
Session 1: Introduction. Presentation of the project and the training programme. Event scenarios. Introduction to Cura (3D software). Instructions for printing 3D parts.
Consultation: Q&A on printing 3D parts
Session 2: micro:bit: theory and practice
Session 3: 3D modelling programmes
Session 4: Event methodology (Application of the Design thinking method, Application of the PBL method, The leader selection method, Product presentation, Reflection and feedback).
Session 5: Project in a box (GRADES 9-12), part I
Session 6: Project in a box (GRADES 9-12), part II
Session 7: Project in a box (GRADES 5-8)
Session 8: Presentation of creative projects (boxes). Methodological insights, Q&A. Presentations of research tools. Next steps in project activities. Closing.
The length of the sessions was from 2 to 4 academic units, leading to an overall number of 24 academic units, which is equal to the original length of C1 as planned in the project application.
37 teachers from Lithuania, Romania and Estonia participated in the programme. The virtual format of the training allowed us to involve more teachers than there would have been in a physical mobility. This has added to a positive impact on partner organisations.
The training on 3D modelling programmes, 3D printing and project in a box for grades 9-12 was delivered by Robotikos mokykla. The training on micro:bit and project in a box for grades 5-8 was delivered by RoboLabas (Panevezys Education Center). Methodology of the event was presented and led by VGTU Lyceum of Engineering. In the last session, partners KG and Asachi presented the research tools to be used in the testing activities.
The online training course required thorough preparation of all the partners: in each session, different software and technological equipment was used, such as micro:bits, electronics, 3D printing, etc. For each session, participants received a detailed list of programmes, materials and equipment they will need. This way, they could follow the practical training and complete all the given tasks. The necessary materials and equipment were organized and distributed by project coordinators at each partner organization. Some teachers had a possibility to meet at schools for the last sessions and build practical projects together.
The results of the training evaluation survey indicated that after the training most of the participants felt either very well or well familiar with different aspects of the Box event methodology for grades 5-8 and 9-12 (event scenario, theoretical (learning) part, methodological part, project in a box and materials on play.gaminu.eu).
Teachers from three partner schools (KG, RoboLabas and Asachi) started with the testing of the materials with the target group pupils right away, this way adapting the new knowledge gained in the training.
Photos reflect different sessions of the training.
Partner VGTU Engineering Lyceum made a video about the creative process of the boxes.
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