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Preparation:

Course organisers will send to the participants list of materials related to the course topic they can read in order to prepare for the course. Organisers will be on stand-by if  participants need any information related to the accommodation, plane tickets or any detail necessary in organising the course.

Course description

The course is structured into training modules, each of which focuses upon a particular area related to what teacher can do regarding prevention of early school dropout. The course provides a platform for development of teaching materials and tools as well as for discussions, reflection and feedback. The teachers will get hands-on experience with activities that develop skills that will help prevent early school dropout.

Methodology:

The methodological approach implicates:

• Team – Building Sessions;
• Group Discussions;
• Debates;
• Creation of individual learning pathway for the learners;
• Problem – Solving Activities;
• Project – Solving Activities
• Inquiry – Based Activities
• Questioning;
• Goal – Setting sessions;
• Decision – Making Sessions;
• Action – Based Strategies;
• Brainstorming;
• Star bursting;
• Planning an Structuring;
• Negotiation and Persuasion;
• Ice – Breaker Sessions,
• Self – Motivation Sessions;
• Questionnaires

Objectives

• Improving teaching skills and refresh teaching style
• Developing tools and techniques for dealing with students with emotional problems.
• Increase parental involvement in education
• Provoking responses to problems which are global rather than provincial in nature and which foster interests in the outside world
• Encouraging students to question as a tool of learning
• Stimuting learner-based approach in education
• Exchanging experiences and cross cultural practices in dealing with students who want to leave school
• Learning how to tackle problem of migrant students

Modules

• Learning the terminology of Early School Leaving
• First step: Prevention
• Second step: Intervention
• Third step: Compensation
• Helping students to increase self-esteem
• Practical exercises for students with special needs
• Parental involvement in education
• Conflict resolution in classroom
• Good practices of tackling ESL in European countries

Learning Outcomes

• Introducing the basic terminology related to early school leaving
• Familiarizing with the EU policies about early school leaving
• Reflecting upon examples of good practices from different European countries related to the topic
• Identifying the causes leading to early school leaving
• Practicing activities aimed at boosting the students’ motivation
• Improving communication between stakeholders involved in education: parents, teachers, students
• Understanding the mechanism of school leaving prevention
• Integration with teachers from various European countries
• Improvement of language and communication skills
• Increased capacity to cooperate on international level
• Getting practical ideas for applying in classroom
• Enhanced intercultural awareness
• Broader understanding of practices, policies and systems in education
• Encouragement of sharing best practices, ideas and materials between colleagues within the EU
• Development of tools and techniques for innovative problem solving.

Follow-up

Trainees will be given soft and hard copies of all lesson materials, which they presenting  to their colleagues at their own organizations to generate interest in 21st-century teaching methods with creative thinking. In addition, a mailing list of participants will be created in order to exchange ideas/experiences. Self-evaluation materials will be provided. At the end of the course the participants will accomplish a questionnaire in order to get a detailed feedback for the effectiveness of the training event.

Programme of training activities day-by-day:

Day 1 – MONDAY

• Welcome and registration
• Introduction to the Concept of Early School Leaving
• Learning the Basic Terms about Early School Leaving
• What is Meant by Early School Leaving
• Who is (not) considered to be an Early School Leaver
• What is the EU Objective Regarding ESL?
• Why do Young People Abandon Education Early?

Day 2 – TUESDAY

• 3 Steps in ESL Process: Prevention, Intervention and Compensation
•  „Should I Stay or Should I Go“ – Students' Dilemma – ESL from Students' Perspective
• Examples of Good Practices of Tackling ESL from European Countries

Day 3 – WENDESDAY

• The Power of Teachers – How Much Teacher Can Influence on Preventing ESL?
• Practical Exercises Aimed at Strengthening Students' Self-Esteem
• Practical Exercises for Improving Your Teaching Style

Day 4 – THURSDAY

• The Importance of Parental Involvement in Their Childern's Education
• Early School Leaving in Multicultural Society
• Link between Migration and Early School Leaving
• Strategies for Conflict Resolution in the Classroom

Day 5 – FRIDAY

• Practial Exercises Aimed at Students with Special Needs
• Project – Based Teaching: My 6 Months' Plan for Tackling ESL
• Feedback, Course Evaluation and Dissemination Focus

Days 6/7 – SATURDAY and SUNDAY Cultural/Sightseeing Activities