Project-based teaching as a modern education method

More than 200 teachers had the opportunity to get better acquainted with the methods of project-based and distance learning, that can help them better organize their work before the new school year starts. The webinar titled „Project-based and distance learning: the benefits, challenges and differences“ also presented the Manual for organizing education using these modern methods, now publicly available at the website jpd.rs.

Project-based learning is an innovative method beneficial for the development of skills such as teamwork, communication and critical thinking skills, that should be mastered by all students during their elementary and high school education, prescribed by the new Law on the Basics of Education and Pedagogy System.

Advisor to the Minister of Education Gordana Kosanović highlighted that the strengthening of teachers’ digital competencies is an important element of the new Education and Pedagogy Development Strategy by 2027, and that the circumstances caused by COVID-19 have stimulated us to adapt and improve our communication channels and the education system.

– In the upcoming period we will work on overcoming the challenges of distance learning and resolving the issues of student motivation, continuity and organization of work from home, the stress and welfare of teachers. At the same time, this method has shown many positive sides, such as the higher autonomy in the work of teachers, innovation and possibility to experiment with the education practices – said Kosanović.

Olivera Todorović from the Institute for the Improvement of Education and Pedagogy praised the development of the Manual that lists the benefits and disadvantages of using project-based and online learning, and the best practice examples that will help teachers in linking their subjects with the topics from daily life, and ease their work on developing students’ social competencies..

Within the webinar, the Manual authors, Milan Petrović and Deniz Hoti presented the characteristics and differences between project-based and distance learning, and the available tools and resources for their realization.

The manual and webinar have been organized by NALED, organization Connecting from Pančevo and organization Nauči me from Niš in cooperation with the Institute for the Improvement of Education and Pedagogy (ZUOV) within the Public Private Dialogue project financed by USAID.