Diandra Barberi

My Erasmus+ Experience

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to attend the following course: ‘Promoting Creativity, Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving in the classroom’, organised by ‘Ela’ Erasmus Learning Academy in Palermo and funded by the EU.  My cohort consisted of teachers from Hungary, Belgium, Estonia, and Malta.  The course was very enlightening as besides providing the opportunity to network with teachers from the EU, it also allowed time and space for practice sharing. 

During the course we used and tested a variety of digital tools that can be applied during our lessons and delved into different theories dealing with creativity and critical thinking, mainly Edward DeBono’s lateral thinking and his thinking hats, and Graham Wallas and the five stages of the creative process.

This course was extremely relevant and has helped me re-think, be more critical, reflect and bring out my creativity in the way I look and perceive things around me.  It has enriched both my teaching and problem-solving skills, which can be applied beyond the classroom environment. 

Diandra Barberi

Lorraine Attard

Effective Group Management in Education: Building Teamwork Among Students

Between the 2nd and 9th September 2023, I attended a course named ‘Effective Group Management in Education: Building Teamwork Among Students’ that took place in Tenerife. The participants came from across Europe, with Armando, Romeo, Elena, Raffaela, and Chiara from Ancona in Italy, Monika from the Czech Republic, and Val?rijs and Randa from Latvia. During this course, which also had a strong focus on coaching and emotional intelligence, we discussed the traditional role of a teacher which involves transmitting knowledge and facilitating skill development in students as opposed to coaching.  The coach is tasked with supporting and motivating their students through active listening, questioning, and posing challenges. While these roles may appear distinct, the target was that a teacher can find ways to integrate coaching principles into the classroom, becoming both an educator and a motivator, whilst at the same time promoting more effective group management and greater teamwork. 

The course began with the Coaching Ourselves part. We explored our own skills and checked which area of our personal and professional life needs most attention at the moment in order to set a goal. 
Next, we moved to an exploration of Emotional Intelligence, which refers to the capacity to not only recognize our own emotions but also understand the emotions of others. This awareness enables a teacher to establish a connection with students, assisting them in managing their feelings effectively.

Coaching entails inspiring and guiding individuals to become the best versions of themselves. To enhance our coaching abilities, we delved into the concept of setting SMART goals. We were tasked with defining SMART goals for ourselves. Later using the GROW model, we tried to do our first coaching session, in order to understand how it really works. 

As coaches, our role is to facilitate dialogues and support students in finding their solutions. It is crucial to note that a coach's function is not to impose solutions but rather to guide the analysis of the conflict, aid in decision-making, and evaluate behaviour.
Throughout this training week, we had the opportunity to share our collective experiences and draw insights from our diverse cultural backgrounds. We honed our teambuilding and coaching skills, and discovered practical ways to apply them effectively in our classrooms. I am so grateful for this remarkable opportunity, and I encourage others to find similar courses in a field they are interested in.

Lorraine Attard

Rayana Fiteni, Tracy Debrueres, Andrea Cremona

Kindergarten Teachers Play to Learn More

Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to attend an Erasmus+ fully funded staff mobility training course with Smart Teachers Play More in Reykjavik, Iceland. Throughout the week, we had a variety of activities planned for us which we participated in. The course focused on several topics such as storytelling and learning through play, mindfulness, and yoga for children. There were several obstacle courses, games and movement activities organized which were hands-on and easy to implement in class. We also had the chance to share our good practices with other teachers and listen to their ways of implementing movement and fun in the classroom. On another occasion, the host organised a cultural night where everyone brought some delicacies from their own country. We also had the opportunity to visit one of their government schools Dalskoli, which ranged from kindergarten to secondary school. We were given time to explore the school, getting to know about their facilities, timetables and curriculum. It was a wonderful opportunity which inspired us and gave us great ideas for our everyday practice.

Emilia Buhagiar and Louise Cucciardi

Erasmus Learn – Environmental Education Course, Heraklion, Crete June 2023

Exploring Environmental Education in Heraklion, Crete

We recently had the privilege of attending an Erasmus+ course on environmental education in Heraklion, Crete.  This experience was truly transformative.

The course revolved around Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provided a unique blend of learning and exploration.  It opened our eyes to global issues like climate change, biodiversity, and clean energy while offering a chance to appreciate the stunning Cretan landscape.

This journey was not just educational but also a personal and professional growth opportunity.  It equipped us with essential knowledge and skills, nurturing our passion for environmental conservation.  We discovered new perspectives on sustainability, gaining a deeper understanding of our responsibility towards the planet.  This course also equipped us with the knowledge and skills to be more informed and conscientious global citizens, helping us contribute to a brighter future.  The international connections we made with fellow participants were also invaluable.

We are inspired to continue our environmental journey and encourage others to seek similar programmes and opportunities.

Jasmine, Monica & Connie

Erasmus Experience – Nice France – 11 – 16/09/2023

Our Erasmus+ journey to Nice, France, from the 11th to the 16th September, was an extraordinary and enriching experience, where thanks to EU funding, Monica, Jasmine and I had the opportunity and privilege of participating in a Europass Teacher Academy programme entitled ‘Life Coaching for Happy Teachers: Happy Teachers for Better Students’.

This opportunity brought us in contact with educators from around the world, including Japan, Greece, Spain, Finland, and Hungary.  Interacting with such a diverse group of teachers was an eye opening experience, allowing us to gain insights into different teaching methods, cultures, and educational systems. This training was a comprehensive blend of scientifically proven activites and strategies designed to enhance various aspects of our lives. We delved into the concept of mindfulness, focusing on the importance of discipline and respect both for ourselves and our students. These discussions covered mental, physical, and emotional well-being and strategies for dealing with challenging colleagues. Our personal and professional development was further enhanced as we explored our strengths and learned how to manage the delicate work-life balance, guided by the concept of the ‘healthy mind platter’.  We also delved into an examination of our emotions and values, helping us to identify what truly matters to us individually.  Problem-solving strategies were an integral part of the training, equipping us with tools to address challenges creatively and effectively.  Additionally, we gained insights into the importance of adhering to protocol in our professional lives. However, this experience was about more than just the curriculum.  It was an opportunity to forge lasting connections with educators from across the globe, allowing us to learn about their unique cultures, schools, and the joys and difficulties they face in their educational environments.  

In summary, our time at the Eurpoass Teacher Academy in Nice was not only educationally enriching but also a wonderful opportunity to broaden our horizons and build a global network of fellow educators. The skills and insights gained during this training will undoubtedly continue to shape our personal and professional lives, making this a truly remarkable experience. 

Jasmine, Monica & Connie 

 

Mariella Zahra

Special Needs and Inclusive Education:

The Italian Experience of Overcoming Segregation

Between the 26th of November and the 2nd of December 2023, I had the opportunity and the privilege to join other educators from Serbia, Croatia, Spain, and Gozo in Bologna, Italy for this EU-funded Erasmus+ staff mobility training.  

We started off by going over the key principles, benefits, and values of inclusive education, before moving on to the Italian inclusive education model of overcoming segregation and including students with special needs in mainstream education.  We also had the opportunity to discuss the practical side of this model with Italian support teachers and delve deeply into the challenges faced daily by educators in trying to implement inclusion for all. The course included a visit to an Italian secondary school where we could observe teaching in “mixed” mainstream classes.   The course was passionately delivered by a man who has not only been advocating and delivering similar courses for a decade but has also become a parent of a child with disabilities in recent years. He was therefore in a key position to give us his own personal experiences as a parent within the inclusive education setting, as well. 

It was a most enriching experience because it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my professional practices and compare these same practices with those in other countries.  It also provided the ideal scenario to tap into the wealth of experiences of other educators. 

Mariella Zahra