M. MURGAŠOVÁ, DIRECTOR OF THE BLIZKSOBE FOUNDATION, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE SUMMER SCHOOL OF THE FINALISTS OF THE GLOBAL TEACHER PRIZE COMPETITION. SHE TOOK PART IN SOME OF THE WORKSHOPS TO TRY SOME “BRAIN BREAKS” ACTIVITIES TO GET STUDENTS IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND FOR CLASSROOM WORK, EXPERIENCE A “DIVERSITY” WORKSHOP, ENJOY THE “START TOGETHER” ACTIVITY CENTRE AND TRY EVOLUTION FOR HERSELF IN THE TEREZA EDUCATION CENTRE WORKSHOP. “TO FIND MYSELF ONCE AGAIN IN THE ROLE OF A STUDENT WITH SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS IN OUR COUNTRY WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE” SHE SAID.
THE MAIN THEMES OF THIS SUMMER SCHOOL WERE THE RESEARCH APPROACH TO TEACHING, FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT AND THE CONNECTING ELEMENT OF WELL BEING IN THE CLASSROOM. TEACHERS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE SHOES OF A PUPIL OR STUDENT AND EXPERIENCE PEDAGOGICAL METHODS FIRST HAND. THE ORGANISERS OF THE SUMMER SCHOOL PLACED PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE TEACHERS’ COOPERATION DURING THE WORKSHOPS, WHICH THE PARTICIPANTS EVALUATED AS VERY INSPIRING AND ENRICHING.
THE BLIZKSOBE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN SUPPORTING THE GTP COMPETITION SINCE YEAR ZERO AS ONE OF THE WAYS TO HELP TEACHERS WHO WANT TO TEACH CHILDREN AND NOT JUST SUBJECTS.