Tina Žagar Pernar, Tatjana Lotrič Komac, Osnovna šola Naklo
The shown example, which includes cooperative learning, the principles of the so called fit pedagogy and ICT (e-portfolio, tablet, questionnaire), stimulates development of lateral or critical thinking and thus makes students aware of the fact that the process of learning is a lengthy procedure which they can have influence on and must take responsibility for, not to mention critical distance.
EUfolio project and trial version of using tablets in 8th class, made the authors realise that a systematic approach to critical thinking is a long process and it has to be implemented as early as possible in the development of a child. Consequently it seemed appropriate to use this new teaching approach in 6th class during lessons of Slovene. After discussing different literary genres, students had to create a story with the help of a shared folder. They chose one of the genres (detective, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi story) and wrote the beginning. Then they changed their position, did a short physical activity and continued with the story. They had to read the beginning and write a logical follow-up. After they finished the stories, they assessed the content and grammar and gave feedback to the writers. Apart from that, they had to reflect on the work in the form of an online questionnaire.
It turned out that this kind of work is demanding for students because they are not used to it, however, it benefits the weaker students whose progress improves because they are responsible to their group and have to participate.