School Forum 2011: Learning supported by digital resources
'Learning cultures and media skills' is the theme of the 3rd School Forum taking place on November 30, 2011 in Berlin, Germany. The use of innovative technology for teaching is nowadays just as varied as the range of digital media: videos, podcasts, blogs, wikis and serious games open up just as many new kinds of teaching as the use of smartboards or school partnerships in virtual classrooms. School Forum is part of ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN, the largest global e-learning conference for the corporate, education and public service sectors, at the InterContinental Hotel, Berlin.
Examples from everyday teaching practice will be presented at the event, as well as innovative ideas on how to plan exciting and creative lessons using new media. The keynote speaker is Dr. Katja Kantelberg, an education professional, media psychologist and specialist in didactics with many years' experience in teaching. She will open the School Forum with her presentation on the "Development of learning cultures".
Wolfgang Willburger from the Europahauptschule in Hall, Austria, is responsible for launching the "Digitale Schultasche" (digital schoolbag) project, among others. His reflections on the day-to-day structure of lessons also provide food for thought. During his years spent teaching mathematics, physics, chemistry and IT, Willburger constantly found himself asking questions such as "How can the pace of lessons be adapted to the speeds at which students learn?" and "How can students that miss school due to illness still get hold of the teaching materials?" His idea was to create and make use of digital teaching materials, as well as to manage his lesson preparation and notes efficiently and make them available quickly - in short, to develop real e-content.
Tim Rylands, a teacher in the United Kingdom, started to incorporate computer games into his lessons several years ago with the aim of boosting the reading and communication skills of his students. He selects games that guide his students through virtual environments and send them on a magical journey which requires them to find the solution to a challenge in order to reach the next level. "These games are really suited to children. They aren't too complicated and contain a small number of characters that stimulate the imagination. This forms a good starting point for lessons on creative writing", states Rylands. He will discuss this approach and other experiences at School Forum.
The event is accompanied by an exhibition that invites participants to test out new learning technology first-hand. The event is supported by the EU eTwinning project, which links up schools from all over Europe via the Internet.
German is the main language of the Forum. Registration is free of charge for teachers and headteachers.
You can find further information on School Forum at: www.online-educa.com/schoolforum/home.php