Loss of instructional time due to off-task behavior is a well-established problem in educational settings, recognized both by researchers (e.g., Baker, 2007; Karweit & Slavin, 1981; Lee et al., 1999) and practitioners (e.g., Lemov, 2010) for over a hundred years (cf. Currie, 1884 as cited in Berliner, 1990).
Teachers have a big challenge to fight students’ off-task in the classroom. Despite the teachers’ multifunctional skills and knowledge, many of them lack abilities to motivate students and still use old-fashioned methods of teaching. They have a fear of changes in teaching and those who are willing to do some innovations in the class usually have difficulties in finding information sources with good practices.
We intend to introduce a new dimension into teaching activity and classroom environment that would increase students’ engagement, concentration and delight all participants.
Final goal of the project is to improve the socio-emotional climate in the classroom, fight distractions and boredom in classes by striving for lessons of interest, quality and engagement using modern curriculum, lessons of interest and online interactive tools.
Our intervention approach for the target group will be:
- Manual of Good Practices for increase on-task time, motivation and create engagement in students
- Teacher training how to fight distractions and boredom in classes by striving for lessons of interest, quality and engagement
- Teacher online toolbox with constant support everywhere and anytime the teacher needs it.
Goals:
- Teachers will be motivated and fully engaged in the education process, with a more responsive and active classroom
- Teachers will get inspired by good practices collected in other schools around Europe and that had proven to be effective
- improving the classroom environment -the teaching/learning process will be less stressful and create less anxiety for teachers and students. Improved teaching model and ongoing professional development of teaching staff will foster creativity and innovative approaches to learning
- Students will benefit from an improvement of the learning process with more interesting lessons, modern working methods, strengthening their emotional and creative-critical thinking
