STRUCTURAL EDUCATIONAL VISIT TO SCHOOLS/INSTITUTES

                     & TRAINING SEMINAR IN ICELAND

                         Reykjavik, 19 th- 25 th March, 2017

The course consisted in:

- visiting three schools (primary schools in our case) in Reykjavik : Melaskoli, Fossvogsskoli and Grandaskoli,

- visiting School of Education – University of Iceland (seminars: „ Education System in Iceland ” and „ Icelandic history and society”),

- having Field Projects:

1) Field Project-Iceland Secrets I: Thjodminjasafn Islands (National Museum).

2) Field Project-Iceland Secrets II: The Bridge between Continents:”Leif the Lucky Bridge”- Reykjanes Peninsula.

3) Field Project-Iceland Secrets III: The Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss.

- discussing dissemination strategies and presentation of Learning Portfolios.

Icelandic schools and education system are characteristic of very high level and quality ; all classrooms are equipped in toilets, students do not wear shoes at school, their English is very fluent even in the youngest classes, they have a lot of handmade and practical activities (Arts, Cooking, Textile, Carpentry) and also plenty of outside work, they put a great emphasis on sustainability and environment/nature, children are relaxed and feel very comfortable at school, they call their headmaster and teachers by name, they do not have homework, they have very healthy food/lunches at school (no school shops with sweets)… We were impressed by many things there and we are going to follow and make use of some of them in our teaching and school.

We also learnt a lot about Icelandic history and society. Additionally, thanks to the Field Projects, we experienced the wonderful nature of Iceland in person and we saw how much respect the Icelandic people have towards nature, environment and the natural resources which they have.

What is more, we could discuss our views, opinions and- first of all- information with other foreigners about the educational system and changes in their countries. We exchanged our e-mail addresses with one of the teachers in Melaskoli for the future cooperation.