The new school year for teachers from Donetsk Oblast began with participation in events held at Mariupol State University in Kyiv. Here, educators joined trainings, workshops and presentations aimed at improving professional competencies and introducing innovative approaches to the educational process.
In particular, Svitlana Hara, PhD in Pedagogy, Vice-Rector for Innovation and Methodological Work of Donetsk Regional IPTES, conducted a training for teachers of Donetsk region on "Scaffold: How to Integrate Key Competencies into Educational Practice." The participants got acquainted with the European Competence Framework: EntreComp, DigComp, LifeComp, GreenComp, analyzed the potential of educational sectors to develop key competencies, and developed an example of learning activities with the integration of competencies in teaching subjects.
The Scaffold tool will help educators navigate curriculum changes and meet the new educational requirements of the NUS, encourage them to explore the role of key competencies in modern education, share experiences, and improve teaching methods. In particular, this applies to the design of integrated courses and other educational components.
Correctional and developmental classes with students and counseling for their parents were held in the inclusive education laboratory and the regional inclusive resource center. They were conducted by Alla Sopilnyk, a methodologist at the management department of preschool, general secondary and vocational education institutions, and Diana Tselenko, a primary school teacher at the Mariupol Specialized School No. 66 Diana Tselenko. During the classes, the children performed exercises to develop their speech, cognitive, emotional and volitional spheres, taking into account their individual needs.
At the location dedicated to STEM education, Galyna Gundareva, Head of the Department of Natural Sciences and STEM Education, and Viktor Shabanov, Assistant Rector of Donetsk Regional Vocational School, together with STEM coordinators from Mariupol State University, introduced the participants to the modern equipment of the STEM laboratory. They presented the achievements of the STEM community of Donetsk region in national and international competitions, and shared their experience of using STEM technologies in the educational process.
The speakers paid special attention to the career guidance value of STEM education, as it develops practical skills in students that significantly increase their competitiveness in the modern labor market in the context of European integration.