CONTRIBUTION OF THE GLOBE PROGRAM TO COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING AND ICT USE IN CROATIAN SCHOOLS

Diana Garasic

Basic about school system

Elementary school: classes I – VI

Sciences integrated in one subject

Computer science is optional subject

Elementary school: classes VII – VIII

Biology, Chemistry, Phisics – separate subjects

Computer science is optional subject

Secondary schools:

Biology, Chemistry, Phisics – separate subjects

At least 1 year of compulsory Computer science

Governmental project

In last several years all Croatian schools have 8-computer classrooms, as minimum standard

Majority of schools, have Internet connection - the computer classroom on Internet

Issues – questions:

Proper usage of computer classroomsNo. of computers per studentStudents search on Internet outside science classesScience teachers’ ICT literacyLearning software for Sciences and Environmental education are not developed

Non-compulsory education forms

Out of various non-compulsory programs

and projects in which our schools are

involved on voluntary bases, this review

will focus on two:

E-school

The GLOBE program

E - school

E-school is joint program of Croatian Academic Research Network (CARNet), Science Faculties and schoolsSchools that are involved, work on science research projects and they can post the questions, via e-mail to related science specialistsE-school has its web site, which besides interaction of students and teachers with scientists provides many interesting information in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Ecology as well as related links.

GLOBE implementation started in 1995.

Issues:

How to connect schools?Proper usage of Internet?Is 1 computer on Internet enough for GLOBE

group in the school?Many teachers had NO previous training for ITC

usageMany students were attracted to GLOBE because

of ITC and more skilled then teachers

Outcomes

Hundreds of teachers were trained, not just how to use GLOBE web pages, but also how to make their own web pages and how to prepare presentations.

OutcomesGLOBE program is offering one of the

most interesting educational sources

on Internet, suitable

to be used in many

subject areas, as well as in Computer Science teaching

Outcomes

Students use GLOBE data and

research methods in preparing

individual research papers

as the part of final exams

or for national competitions in

advanced knowledge within

science subjects, geography

and Computer science.

Croatian GLOBE Annual Conferences

Students’ presentations on GLOBE implementation within their schools

Presentations of research projects, based on GLOBE data and related sources of information, as well as the projects aimed on public awearness raising

Science, Geography and Computer Science teachers work together with student groups, applying the model of team teaching

Conclusions

Computer assisted and e-learning is not systematically supported and organized.

On individual bases, our students often show high achievements. That could be related to individual teachers’/ schools’ efforts, which are in most cases the result of participation in special extracurricular programs, such as GLOBE.

Conclusions

Students’ computer skills are often acquired in different forms of non-formal education, which often takes place out of school. In order to make the school more attractive for students and more efficient by modern technologies usage, systematical teacher training is needed, starting with pre-service teacher education, as well as intensive in-service training.

Conclusions

In reformed Croatian school the issue of Computer Science as separate subject in relation to ICT usage in all subject areas, as well as economically rational and long-term approach to supplying schools with necessary equipment, should be carefully considered.