Constantinos' Learning Dairy on "Boosting a Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship in Your Students" by Constantinos Kalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa A padlet created to help with the European Schoolnet MOOC course on "Boosting a Sense of Initiative and Entrepreneurship in Your Students". Hopefully through the course the material created and posted along with the comments and help of other participants will create a good source of material that will help in improving my teaching experience of boosting a sense of initiative and Entrepreneurship in my students. en-us 2017-02-28 05:40:54 UTC 2024-04-24 09:05:17 UTC hello@padlet.com My classroom and school ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156626007 I started working as an IT teacher in 2003 in Nicosia. Moved to Lefkara, Larnaka for 5 years where I taught children aged 12-17 and then back to Nicosia teaching upper secondary children mostly programming and databases for 3 years. The next 3 years I moved to the Ministry to try something new as a member of the Web Services department. I am now back at Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum in Dasoupolis Nicosia to do what I love, teach!!! My current lab. Each student with their own desktop computer to work with. Hopefully this MOOC experience will help me to enrich and improve my teaching and]]> 2017-02-28 05:46:45 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156626007 Who Am I? ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156626244 IT teacher currently working at Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum in Dasoupolis Nicosia. Very much interested in European projects involving IT technologies and new teaching techniques. The incorporation of e-learning into the classroom. Also interested in web tools and applications as well as the development of web forms for collection of data.]]> 2017-02-28 05:51:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156626244 Module 1.1 Entrepreneurial mind-set and sense of initiativeWhat does an entrepreneurial mind-set consist of? ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156645923 Entrepreneurial mind-set consists of students being able to feel creative and innovative when tackling any school activity and subject. That sense of innovation will be able to turn into applicable ideas that will allow students to enjoy learning and see the outcomes of their ideas being applied in real-life.]]> 2017-02-28 08:55:28 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156645923 Module 1.3. Spotting opportunities ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156662188 Due to the structure of the curriculum (prepared and made centrally by the Ministry) there are not many opportunities to work with in-class subjects. There are several competitions that students can participate that are in different subjects or cross-curriculum) that do help spot opportunities to develop innovative ideas. The local programming and Robot competition enable students to develop their own ideas and use part of their knowledge gained at school to participate in those competitions and actually succeed!]]> 2017-02-28 10:24:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156662188 Module 1.2 Entrepreneurial education in your school/classroom ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156662437 Entrepreneurship education is not taught at all through the regular class curriculum.
What we try to do is let students get involved in extra curriculum activities (local programming competition "Logipaignion", Robotex competition, creation of video for Internet safety day etc.)
This allows students to combine knowledge they learn at school and combine that with their own creative ideas to successfully participate in these competitions.
Also the ability that students have t work in other projects for other subjects as well as European projects and partnerships that the school offers to them.]]> 2017-02-28 10:26:03 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/156662437 Module 1.4 Stimulating learners’ creativity and value creation ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/157967433 Indeed 30 seconds is not much to try and finish up. But as mentioned quantity is more important than quality in this case. A fun and creative activity...]]> 2017-03-06 10:24:48 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/157967433 Module 2.1 Look(ing) into the future ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158240349 Being a teacher is my dream job. What would make it perfect is to be able to change education for the better. Through my teaching but also allow the Ministry to think differently. Maybe have more people from the Ministry follow MOOC courses like this one! I would like to teach in a decentralized system where communities, schools, teachers and mostly students take decisions about their future and education...]]> 2017-03-07 06:25:11 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158240349 Module 2.2 Seeing the value of ideas: Activity 2 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158576557 The question to the students was "Why do you think learning to code will help you in your life".
There were several answers, some typical and expected and others very creative and unexpected. We tried to sum them up into the following diagram]]> 2017-03-08 08:01:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158576557 Module 2.3 Ethical and sustainable thinking - Activity ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158577161 A question that really interests students is when discussing multimedia during a computer science class to discuss their behavior when downloading illegal music files or movies and TV series. How does that affect their lives, the music and television industry, jobs, people and everyone in general. Such an interesting subject to elaborate on Ethics and everything that has to do with that subject with the vast change that the Internet has brought into our lives!]]> 2017-03-08 08:05:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158577161 Module 2.4 Ideas and opportunities - Activity ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582327 Spotting opportunities: To identify  different ways of altering the way the class material is presented to students (computer science classroom) in order to identify opportunities to enhance the value of the subject taught.
Creativity: Allow students to come up with ideas on how to tackle a specific problem that do not follow the norm but do have an efficient and effective outcome.]]> 2017-03-08 08:35:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582327 Module 1 Bagde ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582519 2017-03-08 08:35:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582519 Module 2 badge ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582617 2017-03-08 08:36:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/158582617 Module 3.1 Self-awareness and self-efficacy ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160463218 Short term goal: Allocate time to finish with this MOOC in the most effective way for me and all peers participating.
Long term goal: Find the time and courage to finish a PhD in Educational Technology]]> 2017-03-16 09:48:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160463218 Module 3.2 Motivation and perseverence - Activity 1 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160478885 Although time is very precious and usually allocated by the Ministry for the things that need to be taught in each class, I believe that the idea of Genius Hour will be very interesting to be implemented among my students. What is interesting to see is how they can relate their favorite subject with computers and ICT at the end of the school year, if possible!]]> 2017-03-16 10:53:09 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160478885 Module 3.2 Motivation and perseverence - Activity 2 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160480958 2017-03-16 11:03:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160480958 Module 3.3 Mobilizing resources - Activity 1 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160803979 Our project was to try and find ways to decorate our computer classroom. The best ideas were used to decorate the class. They could use any resource they wanted. This is the result... Live colorful keyboard, robots made with square papers and social media wooden frames!!!]]> 2017-03-17 14:16:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160803979 3.3 Mobilizing resources - Activity 2 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160816312 Teams of students will use the resources they collected to draw on paper their ideas of making the park better. They will be also allowed to use other resources or means to showcase their ideas. When done they will use the computer to upload their ideas through photographs and a small description on the blog for everyone to see and comment]]> 2017-03-17 14:52:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160816312 Module 3.4 Financial and Economic literacy ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160819854 In secondary school computer science class we have an activity were students are given a specific budget and a target project ( buy a gaming pc for example) and are asked to research and come up with the best possible solution. When they decide on what to buy they must write a small paragraph explaining their decision. This teaches them how to choose a computer system based on their needs and limited by the budget they are given.]]> 2017-03-17 15:03:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160819854 Module 3.5 Mobilizing others ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160826703 Follow your heart and visit Cyprus]]> 2017-03-17 15:26:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160826703 Module 3 Badge ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160829821 2017-03-17 15:36:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/160829821 Module 4.1 Taking the initiative - Activity 1 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161720250 Giving the students an open-ended, no right or wrong question is the key. Being a Computer Science teacher the question of learning how to code has always troubled me. So I will use this to activate the students. Ask them to find ways to get their classmates to learn how to code! That would be my question to the class. This will help me and the students realize the importance of coding and also help them be active, take initiative and enjoy learning]]> 2017-03-22 07:24:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161720250 Module 4.1 Taking the initiative - Activity 2 ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161721698 Try not to use the computer and the internet for a week!!!!! Use the allocated time to read a book or two :-)]]> 2017-03-22 07:35:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161721698 Module 4.2 Planning and management ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161737674 2017-03-22 09:03:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161737674 Module 4.3 Coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161746996 A very interesting way to show students that it is ok to fail!
My failures consist of the courses I was not able to finish during my European Schoolnet Academy life:
1. Creative Use of tablets in schools
2. Games in Schools 2nd Round
3. Introducing Technology Enhanced learning
4. Administering School ICT infrastructure: developing your knowledge and skills
My ultimate goal is to finish so many courses that these 4 courses will be forgotten. The 4 courses I have finished so far are a step forward. These unfinished courses are a reminder of the work and time that I should find in order to achieve my goals.]]> 2017-03-22 09:49:57 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/161746996 Module 4.4 Working with others ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/164269380 Group work is facilitated when students arrange teams to compete in different ICT competitions organised by the Ministry. Currently a team of students created a video for Internet Safety. Also another team is competing in a local competition of creating an educational game about Internet safety. Group work allows students to be assigned or naturally get roles in the team. An essential skill that teamwork has to offer.]]> 2017-04-03 09:16:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/164269380 4.5 Learning through experience ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/164273987 I always try to discuss how my teaching is progressing with my students at the end of the year. I do not have the time to do it for every lesson but I do try to gather the responses I get from my students every year.  Their responses help me to improve a lot. There are many things that were mentioned to me that helped me and I believe there will be more to come since education is an always changing environment.]]> 2017-04-03 09:43:13 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/164273987 4.6 Into action overview - Resilience ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165046367 Resilience is the human capacity to face, overcome and ultimately be strengthened by life’s adversities and challenges. This is not something that people either have or do not – resilience is learnable and teachable and as we learn we increase the range of strategies available to us when things get difficult. The important thing to note here is that students can learn to be resilient and this is an extremely important skill that we as educators should pursue and help our students acquire. 


]]> 2017-04-06 05:43:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165046367 4.6 Into action overview - Creativity ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165046434 I will have to borrow a definition about creativity. “Creativity is the process of bringing something new into being. Creativity requires passion and commitment. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness: ecstasy.” – Rollo May, The Courage to Create 
The goal in education is to allow students to feel creative and use their creativity into everyday school tasks. 

]]> 2017-04-06 05:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165046434 4.7 P2P Learning Activity ckalapodas https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165539863 My Lesson plan link: https://v.gd/flNzaL]]> 2017-04-09 08:30:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ckalapodas/jos3ou5d7mfa/wish/165539863