Module 1: QUALITY EDUCATION (SDG4) - CY

Activity details

Materials:

A4 format size photographs (annex No.1)
a video (see description of the class and “References/Further reading” section) education in the UK (annex No.4)
materials for group work: Foreign Education Systems (annex No.5, in Latvian): http://www.aic.lv/ENIC/lat/enic/shemas/Arzemju%20izglitibas%20sistemas.html
worksheet (annex No.2) and writing tools
A4 format paper for mind maps
Why should I study in Latvia? (annex No.3)

Length:

2-2.5 hours

Target audience:

4th – 5th grade students (10-11 years old)

Instructions

What can we do in order to resolve the problem/situation?

Encouragement:

1. Students look at the photographs put on the walls in the classroom and express their opinions about what the topic of the class might be.

2. Students get to understand why it is important to learn the topic of the class, express their ideas and participate in the discussion:

- What does the concept “educated person” mean?
- Where does a person receive education?
- Who is responsible for quality education?

Acquisition:

1. Students watch the video “How children around the world get to school”.

2. After watching the video, students express their opinions and participate in the discussion:

- Why are students in different countries (incl. the underdeveloped countries) ready to overcome difficulties on their way to school?
- Why do students go to school?
- Why should people receive education?

3. Students watch videos about schools in different countries (scenes from schools around the world) and answer the teacher’s questions:

- Did you see similarities/differences?
- What similarities/differences did you see?

4. Working in groups, students study the materials about education in different European countries (each group studies one country); the information is summarized in the table (annex No.2). Every group presents their work.

5. Using the information from their tables, students compare the stages of education in different countries. They say what is similar/same and different.

6. Students watch videos about innovative schools around the world. In groups, students express their opinions and draw a mind map “What does quality and modern education mean?”. They show their group work.

7. Students participate in the discussion:

- Why should I study in Latvia?
- What would I change in the Latvian education system if I was the Ministry of Education? Why?

Tips for the teacher

What is the problem/situation? What do we know about the problem/situation? What should we know? How can we know about it? How can we organize our research?

Encouragement:

1. The teacher invites students to look at the photographs put on the walls in the classroom (see examples in annex No.1) and express their opinions about what the topic of the class might be.

2. The teacher cooperates with students in order to provide an understanding of the way the acquisition of the topic will happen, why the topic is important and what measurable result is expected from them at the end of the class. The teacher identifies the objectives of the class.

3. The teacher invites students to express their ideas and participate in the discussion:

- What does the concept “educated person” mean?
- Where does a person receive education?
- Who is responsible for quality education?

Acquisition:

1. The teacher shows the video “How children around the world get to school”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9K1t8b9t3s

The destination is the same, but the pathway is so different. Some pathways to knowledge may seem shocking to those who are accustomed to brand new schoolbags, white bows and a blue sky above their heads.

2. After watching the video, the teacher encourages students to think, express their opinions and participate in the discussion:

- Why are students in different countries (incl. the underdeveloped countries) ready to overcome difficulties on their way to school?
- Why do students go to school?
- Why should people receive education?

3. The teacher shows students the video about schools in different countries (scenes from schools around the world):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at2gAjtsgtk

The teacher encourages students to answer the questions:

- Did you see similarities/differences?
- What similarities/differences did you see?

4. The teacher divides students into groups. Working in groups, students study the materials about education in different European countries (each group studies one country); the information is summarized in the table (annex No.2). Every group presents their work.

5. Using the information from their tables, students compare the stages of education in different countries. They say what is similar/same and different. The teacher adds some information and provides explanation if necessary.

6. The teacher invites students to watch videos about innovative schools around the world (for example,

13 innovative schools which you would like to visit (video in English):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtPniT0p9K4

10 countries with the best education systems in the world (video in English):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xhfnjEf8C0

7. The teacher invites students to express their opinions and draw a mind map “What does quality and modern education mean?”. Students show their group work.

8. The teacher encourages students to participate in the discussion:

- Why should I study in Latvia?
- What would I change in the Latvian education system if I was the Ministry
of Education? Why?

Debriefing

The photographs showing how students in different regions around the world get to their schools are copied to A4 sheets (each photograph separately) and put on the walls in the classroom.
The teacher prepares photo and video materials for demonstration in class, information materials for working in groups taking into account current events, information availability, and students’ interests.
Recommended group size – 3-4 students. Every group studies information about the education system in one European country, summarizes the information in the table, and presents it to other students.