05
Aug
2013
Aug
2013
Twentieth International Conference on Learning – PLENARY SESSION “Case Studies of Pedagogical Innovation in Greece” Chryssi Vitsilaki, University of the Aegean at Rhodes
categories: Uncategorized
This plenary focused on the need to make changes due to the migration and immigration changes that had impacted on the diversity in classrooms now in Greece. A project was set up that had 300 schools involved. The project aimed to create and support a community of practice amongst teachers. Several actions were undertaken which included:
- Creating mini consortiums to share issues and draft regional plans
- 20 or 40 hours of language seminars (for all citizens to learn Greek) were developed not focused on general courses but focused on school and education issues these were run for parents
- School counselling sessions were run for parents focused on the education of their children
- A mobile unit was set up so there could be visits to parents homes if they could not come to the school for health or religious reasons
- Different cultural groups were asked for volunteers to act as intermediaries
- There was a parent system of adopting a child from immigrant families to have closer links with children and parents
- Intercultural activities were developed for the end of term to cover all cultures and were used as a learning by design platform
- A network was set up to share ideas and blogs were used
The outcome of the pilots were very positive in fostering communities and integrating families.