We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Innovation moves the world all around us. They bring new ideas and ideas. The innovative potential of a person lies in his perseverance to find application for the best of them and the art of exciting others to support the life of this innovation. If you have imagination, strength of spirit, purposefulness, you are naturally curious and open to new challenges, then with the right approach to people and surroundings, you have a high chance of success in promoting your innovation.
A good teacher can arouse interest in his "substance" in pupils/students. It can excite others and help them understand the small mosaic of what makes up today's world. The experience of learning and discovering the world then remains with us throughout our lives. If the teacher believed in us, supported us, and helped us understand the context, both ourselves and others, then he brought into our lives the precious wealth that we possess throughout our lives.
In the spirit of these ideas, the international conference Learn&Lead 2019 took place in April 2019 in Žilina. It offered participants a behind-the-scenes look at the innovative Learn&Lead development concept for foreign language teachers and lecturers in their synergistic connection to the growth and development of the language school. It took place as part of the Erasmus+ international project "HAPPY SCHOOL 2020" and the program featured domestic and foreign guests. The main objectives of the conference were:
- to arouse people's interest in working on continuous knowledge transfer models in companies and schools,
- introduce professional training programs Learn&Lead as well as the procedures for their creation and implementation,
- present the project HAPPY SCHOOL 2020 ( 2018-1-SK01-KA104-046112).
The greatest benefit from the point of view of the conference participants was the speech by Gabriela Lojová (Doc., PhDr., PhD.) on the topic "Approach focused on the needs of the individual". It stressed the need to focus on individual students/pupils. " Our job is to teach as our pupils learn, not as we have ever learned." Gabriela Lojová.
New insights into multiple intelligence according to Howard Gardner, the CLIL methodology or the Bloom taxonomy are little basis for what today's teachers need to know. Today, it is not enough for teachers to teach, today it is absolutely necessary for teachers to learn. Today it is not enough to know, it is necessary to know how I will use the knowledge in my life. Today, it is absolutely essential to know current trends and where the world is developing. Knowledge of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 brings horror in the eyes of those who hear about it for the first time, for the more open it is an opportunity to stand out and connect to a natural phenomenon in our society. The one in which we and our children will continue to live and work in the future. We create the future today, there is no time to hesitate and postpone the important. Think critically and creatively, develop interpersonal relationships, be able to comprehensively solve problems or work in a team in a coordinated manner are all attributes of a modern person in the labor market in 2020.
"Today, it is not enough for teachers to teach, today it is absolutely necessary for teachers to learn."
The Learn&Lead conference presented an innovative model for managing the operation of the language school and offered the Learn &Lead vision, which began to be created in 2009 at the HARMONY ACADEMY language school in Trnava. Today, language schools associated with the Association of Language Schools of the Slovak Republic are connected to it and it has partnerships established in the UK, France, Latvia as well as the Czech Republic or Malta or Italy. The whole journey is monitored by independent evaluators of the Erasmus+ National Agency.
The professional guarantor of the conference was the Faculty of Management and Economics of the Tomáš Bata University in Zlín, the conference partners were the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Program, the Association of Language Schools of the Slovak Republic. The media partner was the editorial office of The Week and the sponsors of the conference included Mrs. Alexandra Kovácsováand the company ZUTOM s.r.o. We thank them all in this way and appreciate their input and support for the event.
A strategic partner in the development of a software solution for the purpose of implementing Learn&Lead in school operations is Amber IT Solutions , headed by Jure Granić Skender. "Learn&Lead is developed as an extension control module in Amber IT solution, which complements this comprehensive school operation management system with a career path for the development of the lecturer in direct connection to his/her possible participation in course management, tutor guidance and development of his/her specialization directly while the school is running. The Learn&Lead model is a professional-business-economic solution for schools that are looking for a way to ensure the continued growth and development of their schools in today's turbulent and rapidly changing times," adds Jana Chynoradská.
It is an excellent concept that has application without borders. From June, it will be available to language schools in Slovakia, Croatia, France as well as in other European countries, which will have the opportunity to learn all the details about the functionalities and benefits of this solution directly during testing.
The Learn&Lead innovation was created with teachers for teachers as well. It grows and develops along with them, which is why their feedback is very rare and important. How did they perceive the conference?
"Excellent and meaningful program, quality selection of speakers, discussion groups and networking. I like that you think about education in a comprehensive way, in terms of cooperation and joining forces on the way to a common goal."
Maria Harmaňošová
"It was an amazing two days where I met a lot of inspiring people and learned valuable information. Your project is amazing, and I already have the very name to learn and lead as well as its essence expressed in the idea of a learning society in my vocabulary and pass it on."
Jana Schubertová
"I congratulate you on your success, projects and enthusiasm and not giving up. Also a recognition of the team of girls who kept it all under control there. Such people inspire others, and so am I. Thank you!"
Soňa Petrášová
"Although I am an English language teacher at a vocational secondary school, some of the input from your colleagues appealed to me a lot. We in public schools do not have as many options as we have firm target requirements, but I am of the opinion that there is always something to improve." Martina Sloviaková
"My most important observation is that you can ignite a lot of people with your enthusiasm for the idea of Learn & Lead. I was very pleased that you managed to involve both Anglolang and entrepreneurs, it created a perfect synergy that shows how everything is related to everything."
Zuzana Štefániková
The atmosphere of the conference, which was energizing, inspiring and encouraging to rethink the standard practices of work of teachers and school leaders, can also be enjoyed in these shots.
HAPPY SCHOOL 2020 has moved into its second half and the teams HARMONY ACADEMY, PLUS Academia and IPA Slovakia continue with the set project. Its results as well as a specific offer for schools will be presented at the Learn&Lead 2020 conference, which will take place next spring. We can already look forward to further news and updates that are based on language learning but extend it to the development of lifelong learning systems.
LEARN and LEAD is a possible choice for anyone in charge of education, growth and development of people.
