Innovation in Education During a Period of Social Isolation
As of March 31, 185 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America announced their school and university closings. “Students, their parents, and educators around the world are feeling the extraordinary ripple effect of the novel coronavirus as schools are shutting down and quarantine methods are being ordered to cope with the global pandemic. While governments and health officials are doing their best slowing down the outbreak, global education systems are collaborating to collectively respond and provide quality education for all during these difficult times” (Hundred.org).
Distance education studies in Turkey are carried out in 3 separate television channels and EBA. 20-25 minute course broadcasts are made on television channels opened separately for primary, secondary and high schools. In addition, 40 experimental videos that children can do at home were prepared.
Also as a Turkish Scientix Ambassador, I organized online seminars on “The Importance of STEM Education for Sustainable Development Goals” with more than 1,000 teachers attendants.
In these seminars, besides the Scientix project, I provided information on how to teach students effectively with distance education applications. I introduced the synchronous and asynchronous tools that students can teach.
In addition, Mission X is an international teaching course, which consists of scientific activities that help students develop strength, endurance, coordination, spatial awareness, and scientific activities. These are focused on STEM issues and allow students to conduct scientific reasoning and teamwork, where students learn about space and practice astronaut exercises.
During the past days, the Entrepreneurial Children’s Television youtube channel was created with the collaboration of my 8-year-old daughter. Interviewing and helping to create a role-model for STEM career entrepreneurs for girls. In addition, the “STEM at Home” events happen once a week on the same channel. The material in Turkish for the ones interested: There STEM Home.
As part of the “April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day” celebrated in our country as the first and only children’s holiday in the world, whose 100th year will be celebrated in 2020. We have prepared a scientific activity program that hundreds of students can do at home through distance education. This will be in STEM Discovery week as an event.
Finally, I have some suggestions to the teacher and friends about better engaging students in online lessons:
1. Do not limit the lessons to information transfer;
2. Try to create a dialogue, engagement and discussion environment;
3. Create opportunities for students to reflect by themselves;
4. Try as much as you can to create good content, excitement and motivation – for yourself and for students.
Finally, remote education is helpful under these circumstances, but should not be an end per se.
“If you cannot manage change well, if you resist change, you will be out of the race!”
Author: Çelebi Kalkan, Turkey Scientix Ambassador
Tags: Online Teaching, SDGs, Social Isolation, STEM
Celebi is a great inspiration to the teachers in Turkish community; with to the succinct points, he again proved there is not “stop” in learning and teaching for teachers; he provides a good example of what can be done in times of crisis.
Sounds great! Renewal of how we look at education is needed. If there is anything this pandemic has taught us is that we need to think differently about how we live our lives. Do we really need to travel afar? Do we really need to be in the office 5 days a week while being in traffic in the morning and when we leave? It’s nice to see someone actually embracing the new world and turning challenges into opportunities. I salute you, keep up the good work!
Kind regards,
Osman Polat, BAsc
Çelebi Hocam I İzmir Foça çalıştay inda tanıdım. Engin bilgilerinden faydalandim. Suan MissionX projesini sınıfımda uzaktan uygulayorum. Alandan gelen bir eğitmen olmasi bizim ve öğrencilerimizin eğitimi için çok avantaj. Dili anlaşılır, herkesin yapabileceği Stem etkinlikleri bizim için bu zor günlerde eğitim adına çok katlı sağlıyor. Böyle öğretmenlere bizim ve ülkemizin ihtiyacı var. Bu çalışmaların devamın dilerim. Sağlıkli günlerde yeniden eğitim adına buluşmak dileğiyle.. Berna Ergen /Izmir
Hi Çelebi
Congratulations on your work. All the teachers are bringing wonderful experiences and I am pleased to learn from your experiences.
Together we make the world a better place. Let’s continue to do our best for our students and our children.
Success for the entire Scientix network community