TBU Got Involved in a Project to Support the Development of Education
10. May 2021Develop the abilities of teachers, support exceptionally talented students or use chess to support education. All of this and more form the content of the project, in which Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín has got involved. The aim is to enrich education in the Zlín Region.
The purpose of the project is to innovate the manner of education in the region. The educational needs of pupils change and it is necessary to adapt to this trend. Primary and secondary school teachers will have the opportunity to participate in a training provided within the instrumental enrichment programme, headquartered by the Feuerstein Institute in Israel. The Feuerstein’s method is aimed at developing the art of thinking and learning. It allows to identify and develop an individual’s learning potential. It is based on the view of the human organism as an open system capable of adaptation and change. Thanks to this method, children experience educational, social and personality growth.
“The pandemic completely changed the educational process. With the provision of online classes, schools have become transparent, which has both its pros and cons. This time is difficult both for teachers and for pupils. We are happy to be able to offer schools the provision of education which focuses on skills, rather than on knowledge. It teaches children to learn and is free from frontal teaching and memorizing. Children will not lose this life skill,” describes Markéta Hrozová, scientific supervisor of the activities at the Zlín-based university.
The method, which involves chess games in the classes, is also unique. The aim is to educate teachers in chess pedagogy for the purpose of involving chess games in the life of the school. The chess pedagogy naturally makes teachers approach each child individually and offer children such options that will help them master not only a game of chess. Pupils learn to be patient during the game; they learn to cope with their problems more easily and develop creativity.
“Emotions are as important as the development of one’s own cognitive processes. Both our educational programmes offered to schools include emotional learning as an important requirement for successful educational process,” adds Markéta Hrozová.
“Cooperation with schools is pursued on a voluntary basis. Schools will be informed about the possibility of being provided with individual support and the result of mutual cooperation will be a particular assigned contract to be implemented within the cooperation. Each school deals with specific problems, therefore, the cooperation has been set up to cover a wide range of issues,” adds Prof. Vladimír Sedlařík, Rector of TBU, who considers the project important in terms of fulfilment of the role of the university as an agent in the introduction of new educational options.
Within the project, selected pupils will have the opportunity to try individual work under the guidance of the academic staff. They will thus be able to get acquainted with the activities carried out within specific specializations in practice and participate in the activities implemented at the given Faculty. This can also motive them to study at Tomas Bata University in Zlín.
These activities are funded within the project Implementation of the Regional Action Plan of Development of Education for the Territory of the Zlín Region II (Reg. No.: CZ.02.3.68/0.0/0.0/19_078/0018903). Tomas Bata University in Zlín is a partner to the Zlín Region.
