Teachers’ views on Case Forest pedagogy - summary of all eight national teacher course evaluations

16th June 2010, Yundola, BulgariaSuvi Pessala

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Content

1) Participants of the teacher courses

2) Teachers’ views on themethodology

3) About applying the methodology

at own school

1) Course participants

• 120 participants

• 84 % women

pre-school (3)2 %

primary school: children age 6-12 (/6-16) years (42)

35 %secondary school: children age 11-

19 years (59)50 %

other (15)13 %

They worked as teachers in…

They had been teachers for…

less than 5 years (21)

17 %

5 to 10 years (18)

15 %

more than 10 years

(81)68 %

Scale: 1 No, never - 7 Yes, many times

2) Teachers’ views on Case Forest methodology

What is good with the Case Forest methodology?

“The pupils become more active and interested which make them learn more. We learn in different ways and this gives

something for all the pupils.”

(Evaluation of the teacher course in Sweden)

“Students can explore, study things that interest them. Students have more

independence, they have to think and make decisions themselves.”

(Evaluation of the teacher course in Estonia)

1. ready system, structure to follow

2. can be used in different subjects –for my opinion even in grammar one could start with asking questions

3. Activates the pupil and encourages the teacher to ask instead of giving answers.

It is research. In the research arises alive interest to the subject.

(Evaluation of the teacher course in Finland)

3) About applying the methodology at own school

Can you see any problems using the Case Forest methodology at your school?

4

6

54

23

2

6

6 56

8

2

74

16

16

2

9 64

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100 %

Bulgaria (n=12)

Czech Republic

(n=8)

Estonia (n=12)

Finland (n=8)

Latvia (n=39)

Lithuania (n=18)

Sweden (n=8)

Slovakia (n=15)

Total (n=120)

NO

YES

Some possible problems…

the curriculumlack of time too big group sizes

lack of financial resources (technical equipments , bus transportation)

teachers’ limited IT skills depends on co-operation with other teachers and/or their attitudes

the attitude of school administration and pupils

76 % of the participants answered that they will try everything or quite a lot of what they’ve learned during the course

(values 6-7)

9.5 % thought they will only try quite a little or some of

what they’ve learned (values 2-3)

For the future of the Case Forest methodology is good that…

17/9

“Everything is possible if you want. The teacher has a great pedagogic freedom.”

(a young course participant in Finland)