When the implementation of the new curriculum started in Kosovo, and then with its recent revision, training teachers for its implementation was an important task for all involved. The idea was to offer training to all teachers already in service, but also to those new to the service. The training program provides clarity and preparation for the implementation of the curriculum in general, but democratic teaching approaches are one of the very important teaching approaches promoted by Kosovo’s pre-university curriculum. This topic was discussed in the workshops organized by the Municipal Directorate of Education of Mitrovica on several consecutive weekends this year, which the Kosovo team would like to report on in this news article.
The young teachers who entered the classroom participated in a training on the implementation of the new curriculum, which is based on the development of lifelong learning competences. They were primary, lower secondary and upper secondary teachers. On the day when the methodology and teaching methods were discussed by the two EDISON team members from Kosovo Shqipe Gashi Ramadani and Arbër Salihu in cooperation with the trainers, part of the training involved the materials from the living-democracy website.
It was discussed with the teachers what materials they can use to implement the curriculum. The teachers indicated that they use textbooks, different materials from the internet, science books, materials from nature, etc. Then they discussed how to conduct lessons in a democratic way, how to work in groups, how to create a positive climate in the classroom and what is available on the electronic website living-democracy. The participants realized that with this handbook, teachers can give advice to parents if questions arise at parent meetings or if educational issues are raised more fundamentally. The local teachers tried to find the materials via their smartphones. There were teachers who were referred to the website when they visited the Ministry. In the office of the curriculum department, they were given the link, which hangs on the wall there together with posters for living-democracy.com: https://www.living-democracy.com/promotional-material/
The use of such learning materials supports the democratic teaching approach and the development of learning competences such as effective communication, successful learning, responsible citizenship, healthy living, critical and creative thinking, as envisaged in the Kosovo curriculum.
