The third module “Learn, Think and Act!” (UMiD) training for teaching and professional staff of secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a continuation of the inspiring adventure that 24 motivated professionals engaged in education in Bosnia and Herzegovina embarked on at the beginning of June.
During the third module of UMiD for teaching and professional staff of secondary schools, a great team of participants deepened their understanding of service learning and successfully came up with a common definition of this concept. Through interactive sessions, teamwork, and with the support of our partners from the Step by Step Center for Educational Initiatives , participants were given a clearer recognition of different approaches to service learning, elements and standards of service learning, but also the connection of these elements with their own curricula.
“The complete training is extremely useful for me, but I must admit that this third module was the most interesting for me because of the many different activities and the fact that teamwork was the basis of each of them. In this way, we all connected additionally, exchanged experiences, learned with each other and from each other. I bring with me to Ilijaš valuable new knowledge and experiences that I will be able to apply, both in the classroom and outside it. This will be my way to, together with my students, be the change I want to see in the community and the world” – Almedina Numić, an English teacher at the Nedžad Ibrišimović High School Center in Ilijaš, shared her impressions.
All previous training modules have contributed to the concrete planning of service learning and empowered participants to apply new methods in their teaching practices, thus contributing to the development of the community and the common good.
“The entire UMiD journey was an enriching and inspiring experience for me. Enriched with new knowledge, acquaintances – dare I say friendships and experiences, I return to my classroom in the mood to embark on new quests for knowledge and positive changes in the community where we live and grow up together with my students. I am grateful to the Institute for Youth Development KULT for this opportunity and look forward to every new collaboration with people who, each in their own way, inspired me with their energy and their thoughts” – said Nedžla Krnjić, English teacher at Mixed High School in Donji Vakuf .
As coffee, coffee or coffee is always a good reason to discuss different topics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the participants had the opportunity to socialize with the Institute’s general director, Jasmin Bešić .
“I was particularly inspired by Coffee with… Jasmin Bešić, where we had the opportunity to discuss his perspective as a parent and a long-time member of the Parents’ Council, a professor by profession, but also a visionary who, aware of the importance of formal and informal education, bases his work and the work of his team on supporting young people and links that are part of that process, including education. The third training module completely eliminated all my prejudices and skepticism, which was filled with a sea of questions – am I in the right place, is this for me, will it benefit me, will I apply something in my work, will my work in the classroom to be more diverse, enriched with new methods, approaches… Without the slightest intention to flatter, this training had very high-quality lecturers and coordinators, as well as a carefully selected group of participants. A group of motivated people who enter the classroom every day, listen to the needs of education and youth, and for whom this knowledge and experience are an invaluable tool. To conclude, UMiD is a great story that never left me indifferent, but every moment made me happy and grateful to be a part of it,” said Sanela Stanković, professor of Serbian language and literature at the Mihajlo Pupin High School Center in Derventa.
The training program for teaching and professional staff of secondary schools arose from the need to support teachers in the development of competencies needed for planning and implementing experiential learning, and better connections within the educational community. The teaching profession is key to shaping the future of young people, and through this training program, they become change agents who will support the development of their students and the communities in which they work.
Although the UMiD training for teaching and professional staff of secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been completed with the third module, this does not mean that it is over.
In the coming period, the Institute for Youth Development KULT, together with this extraordinary group of professionals, will open doors to new opportunities and hopes for better education in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the program of local civic initiatives. Through the practical application of the acquired knowledge in the classrooms, but also outside the classrooms, in the communities, teachers will have the opportunity to bring innovations and positive changes in the educational system, and their previous motivation and commitment to learning will certainly significantly influence the creation of a better environment for the young generation.
Source: mladi.org
