Ontario, Canada: Reforma educationala pentru a sprijini performantaOntario, Canada: Education reform to support achievement

March 6th, 2012

Incepand cu anul 2000, Canada a devenit un lider mondial in strategia sustinuta cu privire la reforma sistemului educational. Nu numai ca acolo studentii au rezultate bune, insa au rezultate bune indiferent de statutul socio-economic, de limba materna sau daca sunt cetateni sau imigranti recenti. Succesul Canadei a fost inregistrat intr-un sistem caracterizat de o mare diversitate, in special cu privire la limba vorbita si tara de origine. Aceasta scurta lucrare prezinta succesul Canadei, luand drept studiu de caz cea mai mare provincie a tarii, Ontario.

Lucrarea arata cum o aplicare constanta a unor obiective centrale si presiunea exercitata pentru rezultate imbunatatite, combinate cu cladire de capacitate si un mediu caracterizat de incredere si respect reciproc, au dus la inregistrarea unor progrese semnificative in Ontario.

Cititi documentul aici.

Since 2000, Canada has become a world leader in its sustained strategy of professionally-driven reform of its education system. Not only do its students perform well, they perform well despite their socio-economic status, first language or whether they are native Canadians or recent immigrants. Canada has achieved success within a system which features significant diversity, particularly with respect to issues of language and country of origin. This short paper takes an in-depth look at Canada’s success, taking the case study of the nation’s largest province, Ontario.

It shows how consistent application of centrally-driven pressure for higher results, combined with extensive capacity building and a climate of relative trust and mutual respect, have enabled the Ontario system to
achieve progress.

Read here.

Carti, cursuri si alte resurse gratuiteFree books, courses and other resources

July 26th, 2011

Educatia de calitate intr-adevar este astazi gratuita pentru cei ce doresc sa o obtina si au uneltele necesare pentru a o obtine. Cu un calculator si o conexiune la internet, orice profesor sau elev are acces neingradit la carti, documentare, articole de specialitate, cursuri audio-video si comunitati dedicate schimbului de idei, pentru a-si imbogati cunostintele si a-si satisface curiozitatea.

Departe de a fi o lista exhaustiva, impartasim cu voi cateva dintre descoperirile noastre, resurse educative gratuite pentru elevi si profesori.

In Romania:

  • Didactic.ro este probabil site-ul cel mai bogat in resurse pentru profesori.
  • British Council ofera o platforma si resurse pentru invatarea limbii engleze.
  • Fundatia Potaissa ofera cateva manuale, ghiduri si alte publicatii educative non-formale cu privire la protejarea mediului.
  • Revista Stiinta si Tehnica ofera de toate din domeniul stiintelor.

De prin lume si in limba engleza:

  • Questia este o biblioteca online gratuita cu peste 77 000 de titluri de carti si 4 milioane de articole care asteapta sa fie rasfoite.
  • Open University, dupa cum arata si numele, este o universitate online gratuita din Marea Britanie, deschisa studentilor de pretutindeni, cu o gama foarte variata de cursuri si resurse.
  • Cele mai bune universitati din lume ofera acces gratuit la cunostintele profesorilor lor prin cursuri audio/video in domenii foarte variate! Astfel de cursuri, dezbateri, discutii, prezentari sunt oferite direct de Harvard, Yale, MIT sau Berkeley.
  • Open Culture centralizeaza cursurile gratuite despre care povestim mai sus, oferind intr-un singur loc 385 de cursuri online gratuite de la universitati de top.
  • Tot Open Culture centralieaza si sute de cursuri de invatare a unei limbi straine.
  • SciCentral este o alta sursa de informare si de resurse in domeniul stiintelor.

Dupa cum spuneam, lista nu-i gata. Sugestiile pentru completarea ei sunt mai mult decat binevenite! :) Quality education is indeed free and possible today for anyone wishing & willing and who has the necessary tools to obtain it.  With one computer and one internet connexion, any teacher or student has free access to books, documentaries, journal articles, audio-video courses and to online communities to exchage ideas. All that is required to expand knowledge or satisfy curiosity.

Far from being complete, we want to share a list of our discoveries, free educational resources for teachers and students.

In Romania:

  • Didactic.ro is probably the largest and most dedicated website with resources for teachers.
  • British Council offers a platform and resources for anyone wishing to study English.
  • Fundatia Potaissa offers some manuals, guides and other non-formal publications concerning the environment and its preservation.
  • Stiinta si Tehnica magazine offers everything needed in the science field  :)

From around the world and in English:

  • Questia is a free online library with over 77 000 book titles and 4 million articles just waiting to be read.
  • Open University, as the name reveals, is a free online university from the UK, open to students everywhere, with a diverse range of courses and resources.
  • The world’s best universities now offer free acces to their professors’ knowledge, through audio/video lectures on a wide range of topics! Such courses, debates, discussions, presentations are offered directly by Harvard, Yale, MIT or Berkeley.
  • Open Culture centralizes the free online courses mentioned above, listing about 385 free online courses from top universities, all in one place.
  • Open Culture also centralizes hundreds of courses for the study of a foreign language.
  • SciCentral is another source of information and resources in the science field.

As already said, the list is not finished. Suggestions for adding to it are more than welcome! :)

O scoala pentru toti?Education for all?

July 23rd, 2011

Acum cateva luni, Unicef Romania a lansat raportul de cercetare “O scoala pentru toti? – accesul copiilor romi la o educatie de calitate“.  Studiul este bazat pe date calitative si cantitative din 100 de unitati de invatamant din Romania cu ponderi diverse de elevi de etnie roma si vine in completarea unor lipsuri in ceea ce priveste datele concrete si cifrele in acest domeniu.

Cateva din rezultatele cheie ale studiului releva ca:

  • pe masura ce creste ponderea de copii romi intr-o scoala, descreste calitatea dotarilor materiale de care scoala dispune, precum laboratoare sau teren de sport
  • pe masura ce creste ponderea de copii romi intr-o scoala, descreste probabilitatea ca scoala sa dispuna de propria biblioteca sau de calculatoare
  • scolile cu ponderi importante de elevi romi dispun in mai mica masura de cadre didactice calificate si consilieri scolari incadrati
  • numarul de ore de formare continua a cadrelor didactice este de asemenea mult mai mic: in media 7 ore, fata 50 necesare
  • rata abandonului scolar la romi se ridica la 9%, factorii determinanti fiind in primul rand saracia (44%) si obtinerea in mod repetat a unor rezultate nesatisfacatoare materializate in corijente sau repetentii multiple (16%)
  • stereotipul potrivit caruia parintii romi nu isi trimit copiii sa scoala este invalidat: doar 9% dintre parintii romi s-au aratat neinteresati de educatia copiilor lor, in timp ce 90% dintre parinti au manifestat atitudini pozitive fata de educatie, mentin contactul cu cadrele didactice si isi incurajeaza copiii sa obtina rezultate bune.

Documentul reprezinta o resursa utila de informare si va recomandam sa il parcurgeti.

Il puteti descarca aici.Few months ago, Unicef Romania released the research report “A school for all? – the access of Roma children to quality education“. The study is based on qualitative and quantitative data from 100 education institutions in Romania, with various percentages of Roma students. The study aims to cover a gap of data and specific numbers in this field.

Some of the key findings of the study reveal that:

  • as the percentage of Roma students in a school increases, the quality of material resources of the school decreases, material resources such as labs or a sports field
  • as the percentage of Roma students in a school increases, the probability that the school owns computers or a library decreases
  • the schools with a high percentage of Roma students have less qualified teachers, educators or certified educational counselors
  • the number of hours of continuous professional development of teachers and educators is also smaller: on average it is 7 hours, compared to 50 required
  • the rate of school abandonment is 9% among Roma students, the most significant factors being first of all poverty (44%) and repeated poor results leading to failing classes (16%)
  • the stereotype according to which Roma parents do not send their children to school was invalidated: only 9% of Roma parents did not show an interest in their children’s education, while 90% of parents showed positive attitudes towards education, maintain contact with teachers and encourage their children to obtain good results.

The document represents a useful information resource and we encourage you to read it.

It can be downloaded here.

10.000 de carti pentru 3000 de copii!10.000 books for 3000 children!

December 13th, 2010

Bucuresti, avem o provocare pentru tine! Vrem sa spargem gheata care s-a format in jurul cuvantului DONATIE. Pe 17 si 18 decembrie incepem sa strangem 10.000 de carti! Luna aceasta nu vorbim despre bani, ci despre carti.  Iar voi, oameni buni, sunteti cei care ne puteti ajuta.

Educatia nu-i asa cum poate sa fie. Sunt copii de gradinita si elevi care nu primesc educatia necesara pentru ca nu au… carti. CARTI? Nu de la carti incepe educatia? Nu sunt ele suportul pentru invatare?

Putem sa facem retorica toata luna decembrie sau putem sa strangem in 2 zile cartile de care 3000 de copiii au nevoie tot anul! Vorbim despre 34 de dascali din 10 judete care ne-au cerut ajutor, care au incredere ca impreuna facem educatie.

Va asteptam, deci, pe 17 si 18 decembrie (vineri si sambata) in locatiile:

  • British Council, Romania, Calea Dorobantilor nr. 14, (zona Piata Romana) vineri intre 12.00 si 18.30 si sambata intre 9.00 si 13.15
  • Centrul National al Dansului, cladirea TNB, latura nordica (acces pre Laptaria Enache), etaj 3 (zona Piata Universitate), vineri si sambata intre 9.00 si 18.00

Iata despre ce carti este vorba: lectura obligatorie si suplimentara pentru scoala primara, generala si liceu, carti de povesti, ilustrate, cu abtibilduri sau cu puzzle-uri, atlase, culegeri de matematica sau literatura, carti de specialitate, dictionare de limbi straine, DEX si DOOM. Listele complete intocmite de dascali pot fi citite aici:  http://www.sustineducatia.ro/category/tip-de-resurse/carti/

Va invitam sa sustineti educatia alaturi de noi.

Mai multe informatii despre Program, modalitati de participare si donatii la www.sustineducatia.ro.

Copii vor sa-nvete. Hai sa-i ajutam!

Aceasta campanie este desfasurata in cadrul Programului Sustin Educatia impreuna cu Asociatia Invictus, cu sprijinul British Council si Centrul National al Dansului. Descarca tot comunicatul de presa aici.

Bucharest,we have a challenge for you! We want to break the ice around the word DONATION. On December 17 and 18 we will start collecting 10.000 books! This month we won’t be talking about money, but about books. And you, caring people, are the ones that can help us.

Education is not the way it’s supposed to be. There are children and students that don’t have the proper education because they don’t have…books. BOOKS?! Isn’t that how education starts in the first place? Aren’t books the support for learning?

We can debate on this topic the entire month of December or we can raise in these 2 days the books that 3000 children need for an entire year! We are talking about 34 teachers in 10 counties that asked for our help, that have faith that together we can make education happen.

We are waiting for you on December 17 and 18 (Friday and Saturday) at the following collection points:

  • British Council, Romania, Calea Dorobantilor nr. 14, (Piata Romana area) Friday between 12.00 and 18.30 hours and Saturday between 9.00 and 13.15
  • Centrul National al Dansului, TNB building, north side (acces through Laptaria Enache), third floor (Piata Universitate area), Friday and Saturday between 9.00 and 18.00 hours

The books that are needed are those from core and supplementary school reading materials, for primary, secondary and high school, story books, with puzzles, encyclopedias, exercise books, specific topics books, foreign languages dictionaries, DEX or DOOM. The full lists as proposed by teachers are available at:  http://www.sustineducatia.ro/category/tip-de-resurse/carti/

We’re inviting you to join us in supporting education.

More information about the Program, ways to help and donate at www.sustineducatia.ro.

Children want to learn. Let’s help them!

This campaign is taking place as part of “Sustin Educatia” Program, together with Invictus Association, with the support of British Council and Centrul National al Dansului. Download the full press release here.

Impreuna facem educatie!Together we make education happen!

October 17th, 2010

Miercuri am lansat cu mare bucurie un proiect la care am lucrat cu totii cu mare spor in ultimele luni – Programul Sustin Educatia, un program national de micro-finantari pentru proiecte educationale, destinat in intregime cadrelor didactice.

Sustin Educatia este un program ce se adreseaza educatorilor, invatatorilor si profesorilor din scolile publice din Romania, dornici de a oferi copiilor conditii mai bune de studiu, prin obtinerea de finantari provenite din donatii private. Proiectul se adreseaza in acelasi timp tuturor persoanelor, organizatiilor si institutiilor din Romania care pot ajuta si isi doresc sa sprijine realizarea propiectelor propuse de dascali, prin donatii bancare, ePayment, prin mandat postal sau directionarea 2%.

Educatia de calitate este posibila si depinde de fiecare dintre noi.

Proiectele eligibile in cadrul Programului Sustin Educatia: pot fi din orice domeniu (matematica, literatura, fizica, ecologie, muzica, sport, etc.), de oriunde din tara, pot cuprinde o gama larga de resurse (carti, planse, echipament de laborator, machete, mulaje, softuri educationale, etc.), se pot adresa copiilor cu nevoi speciale, si pot cuprinde activitati educative formale, cat si non-formale.

Este un program initiat de A.R.E.T. in parteneriat cu Asociatia Invictus si aduce la un loc oameni si organizatii din mai multe domenii care doresc sa faca educatie. Cu totii dorim sa facem viitorul prin educatia copiilor.

Sunt multe de spus despre program, dar cel mai important este ca vine ca un raspuns pentru copiii care vor sa-nvete si pentru dascalii care vor sa-i ajute! Tot ce ne ramane noua de facut este sa rasfoim propunerile lor, sa alegem ce proiect dorim sa sustinem si sa donam atat cat putem.

Impreuna facem educatie!

On Wednesday we launched with great joy a project we have been working on for months – the Program I Support Education, a national program of micro-grants for educational projects.

I Support Education is a program aimed entirely at educators, teachers and professors in public schools in Romania, who wish to offer children a better teaching environment, by obtaining private funding. At the same time, the program is addressing all people, organisations and institutions in Romania that can help and want to support the educational projects proposed by teachers, through donations by bank transfers, ePayment, postal office or directing 2% of taxes.

Quality education is possible and depends on each of us!

Eligible projects for I Support Education Program can be from any field (math, literature, physics, ecology, music, sports, etc.), from anywhere in the country, can address a wide variety of resources (books, lab equipment, boards, models, educational software, etc.), can address children with special needs and can comprise both formal and non formal educational activities.

The program is initiated by A.R.E.T. in partnership with Invictus Association and it brings together people and organisations from many fields that want to make education happen. We all want to make the future through youth education.

There’s lots to say about the program, but the most important thing is that it comes as a response to children that want to learn and to teachers that want to help them! All we have to do is go through their proposals, choose a project we want to support and donate as much as we can.

Together we can make education happen!

O sutaOne hundred

July 21st, 2010

Copilul

este facut dintr-o suta.

Copilul are

o suta de limbi

o suta de maini

o suta de ganduri

o suta de moduri de a gandi

de a se juca, de a vorbi.

O suta intotdeauna o suta

de moduri de a asculta

de a se minuna de a iubi

o suta de bucurii

de a canta si de a intelege

o suta de lumi

de a descoperi

o suta de lumi

de a inventa

o suta de lumi

de a visa.

Copilul are

o suta de limbi

(si o suta de sute mai multe)

dar ei fura 99.

Scoala si cultura

separa mintea de corp.

Ii spun copilului:

sa gandeasca fara maini

sa faca fara cap

sa asculte fara sa vorbeasca

sa inteleaga fara bucurie

sa iubeasca si sa se minuneze

doar de Paste si de Craciun.

Ii spun copilului:

sa descopere lumea care este aici

si dintr-o suta

fura 99.

Ii spun copilului:

ca munca si joaca

realitatea si fantezia

stiinta si imaginatia

cerul si pamantul

ratiunea si visul

sunt lucruri

ce nu-si au locul impreuna.

Si astfel ii spun copilului

ca suta nu este acolo.

Copilul spune:

Nicicum. Suta este acolo.

(Loris Malaguzzi)

The child

is made of one hundred.

The child has

a hundred languages

a hundred hands

a hundred thoughts

a hundred ways of thinking

of playing, of speaking.

A hundred always a hundred

ways of listening

of marveling of loving

a hundred joys

for singing and understanding

a hundred worlds

to discover

a hundred worlds

to invent

a hundred worlds

to dream.

The child has

a hundred languages

(and a hundred hundred more)

but they steal ninety-nine.

The school and the culture

separate the head from the body.

They tell the child:

to think without hands

to do without head

to listen and not to speak

to understand without joy

to love and to marvel

only at Easter and Christmas.

They tell the child:

to discover the world already there

and of the hundred

they steal ninety-nine.

They tell the child:

that work and play

reality and fantasy

science and imagination

sky and earth

reason and dream

are things

that do not belong together.

And thus they tell the child

that the hundred is not there.

The child says:

No way. The hundred is there.

(Loris Malaguzzi)