Chasing innovation to boost motivation - KA1 project Vela Luka

  • Small High School Vela Luka on a remote island of Korčula offers curriculum with numerous extra-curricular activities and encourages students development by preparing them for further higher education. It was among first schools in Croatia to introduce e-school report journal and it was among first 20 schools in the country to enter pilot project E-school, which was a great step forward in updating educational process. The school regularly conducts self-evaluation process during which certain areas in need for development have been spotted.

    These are two priority areas teaching and learning support and material conditions and human potential, i.e. professional development of employees. With further analysis goals have been set to improve these areas. Also, the school in in need for improvement in fields of innovative teaching methods using ICT, professional development of teachers, especially for working with students with learning disabilities, as well as teachers' mobility in EU programmes. As the school is located on a remote island, teachers sometimes find it difficult to participate in various professional seminars, so it has been decided that school staff is going to be offered possibility for development through Erasmus+ programme and thus enhance their performance in priority areas.

    Eight school's employees are going on a mobility programme which is to cover the needs for development of both teachers' performance and the school as a whole. The schools principal is going to attend a course for improving English language skills in Scotland. School counsellor is going to attend a course in Ireland dealing with basic skills for improvement of teachers' and staff's performance. English teacher is going to attend a course in England that deals with working with students with learning disabilities to get insight into the best way of giving everyone an equal chance with individual approach on English and other classes as well.

    Biology teacher is going to attend a course in Malta dealing with project learning through students' co-operation with the use of ICT. Geography teacher is going to Greece on a course directed towards education of teachers who want to integrate environment and self-sustainable development into education process. Mathematics and Physics teacher is going to Sweden on a course where he will learn how nature can become an amazing teacher. Business school teacher is going on a course which is to educate teachers how to include creativity and innovative ideas in education process. English language and Art teacher is going on a job shadowing in Finland. There she will exchange knowledge with a colleague in Finland, learn about using ICT in English lessons and how to supervise students during those lessons.

    For successful implementation of project, teams will be formed that will supervise staff mobility, financial side of the project, dissemination and evaluation of the project. Upon completion of the project we expect a positive effect on both staff and students, greater motivation for working in school and applying for new projects. Also, we expect visible results in education process in form of greater students achievements and cultural and professional enrichment of the staff. In long-term, curriculum is going to change and implement innovations into education process. Innovations that we are in search of will result in motivation for further work and projects.