Leonida Novak, Radovan Krajnc, Zavod RS za šolstvo

Participants in Open Space will first test their knowledge in a particular field of science and the field of managing the software for programming. They will set a personal goal for the time allotted to this activity. Then they will learn about a new tool and give meaning to its use. On their own they will compile a simple application for testing knowledge, test it with other participants and then provide feedback. Each participant will also do a simple self-evaluation. The aim of the workshop is to connect a topic from science (part of the first cycle of primary school) with purposeful use of a tablet or a computer. Through this activitiy the participants will get an insight into the possibilities of developing process-based thinking in the first cycle of primary school, and through experiental learning test the phases of planning, learning and evaluating.

Romana Fekonja, Zavod RS za šolstvo

Nowadays, we are witnessing a flood of information. Therefore, we need competencies for critical reading and evaluation of this information. All depends on the purpose and usage. When searching for information it is necessary to create relevant keywords; among search results it is necessary to find the ones which are relevant for our purpose and it is necessary that we evaluate them critically. At the activity we will together determine relevant keywords, show how to limit our search results so that we get the relevant information. An important source of information are social networks or the so-called virtual social spaces. In the Open space we’ll show how these modern tools can be used in the classroom. We’ll draw attention to what is to be careful about when using them. Students are quite proficient users of virtual media, but they are often unaware of what pitfalls lurk in them. Through the content of lessons, we will present what students need to consider when using social networks.

Tatjana Kikec, Šolski center Velenje

The activity in the Open Space will be based on an interactive population pyramid by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. The participants will use their own devices to open a web page of the statistical office, install a free plug-in and use the population pyramid. Alone or in pairs they will do a few simple worksheet tasks using the interactive pyramid, and then together verify the correctness of the results by displaying them on the population pyramid.

In the discussion, we will talk about the advantages and possible problems of the use of interactive population pyramid in comparison with the classical pyramid (e.g. the time that we used to spend for drawing population pyramids can be now dedicated to their interpretation …).

Lidija Grubelnik, Osnovna šola Sladki Vrh, Vladimir Grubelnik, Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko, Univerza v Mariboru

In the Open Space we are going to show a physics lesson by means of a tablet computer as a modern experimental and didactical tool. We are going to study the influence of external forces on the motion of objects; in differentiated groups we are going to experimentally determine the size of gravitational acceleration, with the tablet computer replacing various measuring devices. The tablet computer will be used as a teaching aid for studying simulations and obtaining feedback on the acquired knowledge of pupils, thus serving as a guide in the course of the lesson.

Mariza Skvarč, Anita Poberžnik, Andreja Bačnik, Zavod RS za šolstvo

In the activity of Open Space we will show an example of using i-textbook for chemistry education. We will work at a selected topic: Acids, bases and salts, with emphasis on experimental work and visualization. Experiments in the i-textbooks will be upgraded with a “live” experimental activity including elements of differentiation. We will link experimental observations and results with theoretical knowledge of chemistry by using learning strategies – conceptual maps for organizing and recognizing relationships between concepts.