Dobre aplikacije za obrazovanje

"<< Background >>Knowing the way of learning and the specifics of children with different developmental disabilities obliges teachers to adequately choose approaches, methods and tools in their work. In the countries of the region, there are no adapted teaching materials that would bring students closer to the contents of the national curriculum. Teachers, educators, parents as well as all other participants in the educational process rely on their own resources to find adequate methods and means of work. The development of modern technology and digitization of teaching have created favorable conditions for various tools that enable easier learning and functioning of children with disabilities, but not a single available learning application was based on the national curriculum. The challenge was also insufficient competence and training of teachers to independently create learning materials, which caused teachers to spend a lot of time in searching different platforms of suitable materials. All this led us to the idea of creating a database of adapted teaching materials and an application based on the curriculum in 3 subjects of the 1st cycle of education (mother tongue, mathematics,sience) created in Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian.<< Objectives >>By implementing the project, we wanted to achieve a wide application of adapted teaching material and applications in teaching children with autism spectrum (referred to as ASD) and other forms of intellectual disabilities (referred to as ID).Also, we wanted to create a unique base of materials available to everyone and at any time, which would greatly facilitate the work of teachers in regular schools and special education teachers. We would train teachers for independent materials production, which would constantly increase the database. The existence of such a database can be an idea and a guideline for the teaching for many teachers in regular schools. Based on the material, there is a learning application that monitors all areas and is additionally adapted to the specifics of children, enabling them to develop independence and facilitating the entire learning process.In general, the main goals for the implementation of this project were: improvement of the quality of educational work with children with ID and ASD, support for inclusive practice, free access to the material base and application, teacher training for independent preparation and application of materials in order to improve personal and professional competencies<< Implementation >>At the beginning, the project teams analyzed the national curriculum of the subjects they were responsible for developing in order to harmonize the adapted teaching material with the plan and program for students of younger school age (7-12 years). In cooperation with associated partners from the Institute for Quality of Education and Training Evaluation in Serbia (referred as ZVKOV), an analysis of the test results was carried out within all partner countries. The goal of the survey was to collect data related to key topics and areas in which teachers have the greatest need for support for creating learning materials. Also, in the initial phase, Elementary School ""Anton Skala"" hired an IT specialist who created the project website as a tool where all PDF materials will be stored and which will be used for promotional purposes and the sharing of all news related to project activities. After the analysis of the national curriculum of all three countries, at the first transnational meeting held in Belgrade, an activity plan with deadlines for implementation was defined. During the preparation of the materials, team members continuously communicated and exchanged materials, which were translated into the partners languages. The materials were posted on the project website ahead of the second transnational meeting that was held in Radovljica in August 2022. At the meeting, an analysis of the materials and previous activities was carried out, and certain changes and corrections to both the materials and the appearance of the site were agreed. The materials were promoted at scientific and professional conferences along with announcements of upcoming trainings for teachers as well as the announcement of the creation of a learning application. Along with the creation of the materials, the project coordinator hired a software company that is in charge of creating the application. Meetings were organized with the developers in order to give them the idea of the appearance and possibilities of the application as much as possible. The analysis of the application Beta version was carried out at the 3rd transnational meeting held in May 2023 in Zagreb. Members of the project teams, in cooperation with the developers of the Projectland development company, agreed on certain changes within the application so that it would be maximally adapted to learning specifics of students with ID and ASD. Elementary school ""Anton Skala"" organized a multiplayer event in Belgrade at the end of May. The event was attended live and online via the Zoom platform by members of associations and organizations of neighboring countries. In this way, the materials and application were presented on a concrete example through video material recorded by the teachers during their use in working with their students, and trainings that will be implemented by partner organizations, each in accordance with the capabilities and needs of professional staff in their countries. The trainings were implemented in different ways, through online platforms, which made it possible to expand the results of the project and improve the competence level of professional staff who deal with the educational work of students with developmental disabilities. During the project, partner organizations were active participants in professional-scientific conferences and gatherings, which enabled the dissemination of project results and the announcement of upcoming activities. In addition to the official website of the project, the results were also shared on the partner’s websites, social networks (Facebook and Instagram), Twinspace and the EU project result platform. Along with all the activities, we prepared and realized the evaluation of both the event and the results of the project. The evaluations results were collected and presented at TM meetings, which served as guidelines for our further work.<< Results >>Due to the insufficient supply of adapted teaching materials that would be adequate for the learning of children with ID and ASD,it was the basis for planning project activities and results.Based on research conducted among professionals in all three partner countries,we selected the areas and topics for which we created the primary results of the project–adapted teaching materials in PDF format that are aligned with the learning objectives of the participating countries national curriculum.Other results of the project are: -website with available customized materials with tutorial,logo application with material base and tutorial,teacher training,promotional material(posters,flyer,Newslatter).The logo’s final look was based on the partners mutual agreement.Within the field are three hands with a mobile phone between them.The hands symbolize the activity,work,support,cooperation and solidarity. The application logo consists four puzzles of different colors,which contains one letter of the project's acronym.A heart made of four parts of different colors is drawn on the phone screen, which also symbolizes noble feelings and intentions towards the students for whom the application is intended.In the lower left corner is the mark GA-TE,which is the acronym of the project name in English.The logotype represents the idea of help,engagement and modernization,new methodology.The project coordinator was in charge of creating the website.An IT specialist hired outside the consortium,was given common ideas and ideas about visual details and organization of the site in order to represent the flow of the project to make it easier for visitors to find their way around when searching and downloading materials.The site contains general information about the project,the project consortium,goals and expected results, news about the progress of the project,information about the dissemination of project results.The site contributes to the image and reputation of the project by making it visible and recognizable. Members of the project team from Zagreb created pages on social networks Facebook, Instagram, designed the look of flyers and Newslatter, and the project team from Slovenia edited the look of Twinspace. These platforms and promotional material served to spread the results and activities during the project. The analysis of national curricula of teaching subjects (mother tongue, mathematics,sience) from all three countries preceded the creation of PDF teaching materials. The analysis was carried out by collecting data and questioning teachers who work with students with developmental disabilities, and it contained key areas within the mentioned subjects for which they believe they need the most support in creating learning content. The customized learning material in PDF format was published on the project site before TM2. The PDF materials have been translated into 3 languages of partner organizations and are free to download. Within all 3 subjects, 10 topics with sub-topics were selected, which resulted in the creation of 152 teaching units. After the creation of the material, the creation of the application was started. The learning application is a digital form of PDF material and contains identical areas and teaching units systematically arranged and adapted to the specifics of students (highlighted important details, simplified display, moderate colors, systematized display - from simple to complex, from known to unknown). With the help of the application, students acquire knowledge in an interesting, adapted and innovative way, while developing learning skills and independence in work. The application has the same content as the PDF material. Its advantage is a motivational role in the learning process because it is used on digital devices. Students using the application to develop a wide range of skills, which the most important is independence. The lessons are enriched with audio, which represents an additional level of adaptability for those students who have not yet developed the skill of reading. Feedback on the accuracy of the completed task as well as the possibility of error reduces the feeling of frustration and makes the learning process fun and interesting. Pictograms from the Spanish website ARASSAC were used for the purposes of creating the material, for which we received written consent. The application itself is free to download and is available on two platforms, Google Play and the App Store. Training was also organized for teachers in all three countries for the use and independent production of materials, which caused great interest.The teachers experienced the process of creating the materials themselves and their application. In this way, they greatly improved teaching and learning competencies, as well as digital competencies.The created promotional material was used for the purpose of disseminating the results of the project.All project results are posted on the Project results platform."