Empowering Communities to Transform and Modernize Schools: Kosovo Basic Education Program (BEP)...

Empowering Communities to Transform and Modernize Schools:

Kosovo Basic Education Program (BEP) Classroom Makeovers

Stephen D. Luke, Ed.D.

CIES 2015

MEST EDUCATION STRATEGY

• Revised curriculum framework that recognizes increased globalization, knowledge society

• Relevant competencies aligned with emerging needs of 21st century interdependent global society

• Competencies:

– Communication & expression

– Thinking & learning competencies

– Life-, work-, and environment-related competencies

– Personal competencies

– Civic competencies

Kosovo Basic Education Program

flickr.com/stephen_d_luke

PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

• OCT 2010 – JUL 2016

• USAID: 9.7 million USD

• GoK: 5 million euros

• Schools actively involved: 613

• Total trained to date: 20,885

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

1. School Management

2. Assessment for Learning

3. Teacher Professional Development

Cross-cutting Themes:

• Literacy

• Gender & Equity

• ICT

A BIT ABOUT GLOBAL LEARNING?

The Kosovo Context

Declared independence from Serbia in 2008

discover-albania.tumblr.com/

Recognized by:

• 108/193 UN member states

• 23/28 EU member statesflickr.com/geovien

• 1.8 Million residents

• 75% of population below the age of 29 yrs

flickr.com/hanming_huang

instagram.com/agron_beqiri

• Youth Unemployment (15-24yrs): 60%• Global rate: 12.6%

• Central & Southeastern Europe: 18%

• GDP per capita: $3,579

MEST Education Strategy…

flickr.com/vini00

MEST EDUCATION STRATEGY

• Revised curriculum framework that recognizes increased globalization, knowledge society

• Relevant competencies aligned with emerging needs of 21st century interdependent global society

– Competencies:

• Communication & expression

• Thinking & learning competencies

• Life-, work-, and environment-related competencies

• Personal competencies

• Civic competencies


flickr.com/bepkosovo

Professional Development Centersflickr.com/stephen_d_luke


Albanian EGRA & Literacy Programsflickr.com/bepkosovo


Annual RobotiKS Camps


Student Technician Clubs

flickr.com/stephen_d_lukeflickr.com/stephen_d_luke

Junior Oscars Film Festival


Classroom Makeovers

facebook.com/shkolla.gjelber

flickr.com/christelpreteni

flickr.com/elzafinkinja

flickr.com/christelpreteni

PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY CLASSROOM MAKEOVERS

• School renovations are costly

• Motivate teachers and students

• Transform learning and teaching

• Inspire parental engagement & promote community ownership

INGREDIENTS OF A CLASSROOM MAKEOVER

• Dedicated Staff & Partners

• € 500/classroom

– Paint

– Table Tops of Different Shapes/Sizes

– Low-cost Classroom Materials

• Complementary Professional Development Courses

• Do-It-Yourself Handbooks

• Communications & Outreach

KOSOVO BASIC EDUCATION STAFF

COMPLEMENTARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Accredited Professional Development Courses

• Project Based Learning in Sciences (595)

• Design Challenge in Teaching & Learning Technology (362)

• Environment Related Learning (709)

• Applications of ICT for English Language Learning (318)

• Technician Clubs (176)

• Learner Centered Classroom (116)

• Developing 21st Century Skills in Mathematics (1,416)

• Developing Reading Skills in Early Grades (2,475)

• Action Research (79)

• Facilitation of Learning Standards Course (478)

• Computer Programming (49)

• Coordination of School-based Professional Development (41)

CLASSROOM MAKEOVER MANUAL

1. Overview of Manual

OUTREACH

• Website: bep-ks.org

• Facebook: facebook.com/BEPKosovo

• YouTube: youtube.com/user/BEPKosovo

• Twitter: twitter.com/BEPKosovo

• Flickr: flickr.com/photos/stephen_d_luke/collections/72157626797017866/

PARTNERSHIP WITH RTK TELEVISION

Classroom Makeover Series• 6 Episodes aired 2x/week

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS


Before…


During…


After…

CLASSROOM MAKEOVER SNAPSHOT

• BEP supported Makeovers: 126

• BEP contribution: € 63,000 (€ 500/classroom)

• Community contribution: € 147,000 (€ 1,167/classroom)

• 70% of Makeover costs supported by Schools & Community

CLASSROOM MAKEOVER SNAPSHOT

• Additional school & community-led Makeovers: 235

• Conservative estimate € 137,000

• Total Community Contributions: € 284,000~84% of Makeover Costs

CLASSROOM MAKEOVER IMPACT

• Improved student engagement

• Increased commitment of teachers

• Better alignment of teaching & learning with new curriculum

• Greater parental involvement & community ownership

CONCLUSION

BEP's approach to Classroom Makeovers and corresponding pedagogical training is a

• low-cost

• scalable approach to modernizing schools and engaging communities that can easily be replicated in schools and communities across the globe.

THANK YOU!• [email protected]• twitter.com/StephenLukeEdD• www.linkedin.com/in/stephenlukeflickr.com/bepkosovo

Empowering Communities to Transform and Modernize Schools: Kosovo Basic Education Program (BEP)...

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