Teaching Laboratory

The publication presents an innovative approach to teaching at Spark Academy Elementary School in Poznań. The Spark idea of teaching is to move away from classroom teaching to project-based teaching (SMOK, Big Idea Day - Chapters XX) and problem-based teaching (subject classes, faculties - Chapters XX). The publication also presents the research approach used when working with teachers (Chapter 14).
The authors are not concerned with criticizing the status quo for the sake of convincing readers of the need for radical changes in education or cautioning them against introducing superficial ones, because they “package” differently what was/is the essence of the (existing) school culture. Referring - in the theoretical and methodological layer - to post-critical pedagogy, especially the concept of immanent ontology of teaching, and the third generation of the historical-cultural theory of activity (CHAT), they simply show the ideas, the way and the effects of the process of making a change in education: how much and what kind of involvement - of teachers, students, parents and researchers representing also foreign school and scientific centers - a rewarding, successful transformation of educational practice may require (from a review by Dr. Dorota B. Gołębniak).

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Conferences and workshops to summarize the project
March-April 2024
 
The project team disseminated the solutions developed in the project through conferences and workshops for teachers.
The first conference was held at the Rungego College building of the Poznań University of Life Sciences, and the workshop was held at the Spark Academy building. The event began with a lecture by Professor Irina Engeness on “Assessment for Learning - the historical development and the opportunities in the 21st Century.” Participants then attended workshops and discussion sessions. Conference program.
The second event was held on March 14, 2024 at the University of Lower Silesia DSW in Wrocław as an open conference (March 14) and a series of three workshops (April 3-10-24). Teachers were introduced to the principles of Problem Based Learning (PBL) in the classroom and designed a specific lesson in this approach. In PBL, we do not give students ready-made solutions, but initiate and reinforce their activity so that they (each other) learn and discover the knowledge and skills of the subject on their own.  We start first with a problem task to engage students. Then through problem questions we direct active learning. Then, through dialogue and visualization, we support students in integrating newly acquired skills and knowledge. Conference program 

Outbound writing workshop (portfolio II)
October 2023
 
A team of Spark Academy teachers met with researchers from DSW during a three-day workshop focused on the preparation of the Spark Academia Teaching Laboratory Manual, presenting a model of the school's work with examples of good practices showing the assumptions of holistic teaching for grades 4-8. 

Workshop at Spark Academy
August 2023
 
Sławomir Krzychała and Beata Zamorska met with teachers at a two-day workshop, during which they worked on transformative teaching strategies not only for grades 4-8, but also developed a “bridge” of cooperation between teachers and children in grades 1-3 and 4-5 (as part of Learning and Trainig Mobility No. 3).

Research teams at Spark Academy (portfolio II)
February-October 2023
 
In this phase of the project, Spark Academy teachers tested new solutions developed
during the study trip to Norway. DSW researchers conducted workshops and consultations with teams of teachers. Solutions related to the organization of education, school life and the space of the school building were reworked. The author's concept of sparka inter-subject educational organization SMOK, including educational projects, was thoroughly developed. P. Gaplerin's problem-based learning method was implemented in subject teaching.

Study visit of Spark Academy teachers and DSW researchers to Norway
February 2023
 
Spark Academy teachers and Polish researchers visited four schools with different styles of organization and work. In each of them they participated in classes, meetings with students and teachers. It was an opportunity to establish direct contacts between Polish and Norwegian teachers along with ideas for further cooperation. In addition to visits to schools, teachers took part in workshops at Ostfold University College related to transformative learning (Learning and Trainig Mobility no 2)

Research teams at Spark Academy (Portfolio I)
October 2022 - January 2023
 
Teams of teachers conducted a survey of existing teaching practice during direct work with students in grades 4-8. Qualitative methods of data collection (video observations, mini-interviews with students, student work, dense descriptions) were used. The collected materials were prepared and described in accordance with the guidelines of the Teacher-Researcher Handbook. In addition, DSW researchers conducted consultations with each subject team.

Workshop at Spark Academy
October 2022
 
Spark Academy teachers participated in a workshop where they were introduced to the methodology of the didactics laboratory, P. Galperin's concept of learning - teaching, and began working with the Teacher-Researcher Outline. The five-day presence of Norwegian and Polish researchers at the school gave teachers an opportunity for consultations, discussions and exchange of experiences (Learning and Trainig Mobility no. 1).
 
Teacher-researcher's Conspectus (link)

Project team meeting at Ostfold University College
Faculty of Teacher Education and Languages
June 2022.
 
Ewa Raba and Małgorzata Moszyk (Spark Academy) and Sławomir Krzychała and Beata Zamorska (DSW) met with Norwegian researchers Irina Engennes, Lin E. Sandhaugh Rmberg, Sigrun Staal Hafstad to develop a detailed program of work of the didactics laboratory, techniques and research tools that teachers will be able to use at different stages of the project. 
 

Project Manager

Professor Sławomir Krzychała

email: slawomir.krzychala@dsw.edu.pl  

Project Management Office

55 Strzegomska Street

53-611 Wrocław, Poland

email: biuro.projektow@dsw.edu.pl