24th CONGRESS OF The International Network of
Productive Learning Schools and Projects (INEPS)
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
6th of May – 10th of May 2012

1st announcement

Productive Learning – another way of thinking

Construction of the education process that meets needs of the generation undergoing education may be perceived as one of the challenges faced by the education community. Ian Jukes (2006), a researcher of the digital generation, points out that children and young people of the 21st century have to be understood and taught firstly what they need in the modern world and in a way they are able to learn.

This is a reason why teachers often are ‘immigrants’ in student’s virtual world. Being an alien in the rapidly volatile children’s and youngster’s land makes the learning and teaching process complicated, furthermore its getting difficult to lend to students a realistic and apropos support they need. A habit to think ‘the same direction’ (i. e. usual way to organize teaching process, using the same methods and a lack, sometimes even a fear of innovations both technological and methodological ones) blocks the teacher’s enthusiasm and inclination to search for the shortest ways (and not necessarily the hardest ones) to the understanding of their students mind, actions or behaviour.

Productive Learning contains flexibility and promotes variety that is needed in our schools nowadays. It is clear that Productive Learning encourages students and helps them to find their way, but for teachers working as a Productive Learning educator it is also a field of experiments: how to teach in another way? How to be an interesting teacher? How to understand these youngsters around? What do they mean by saying “lol”, “omg”, “trippin” or “c’on”? Is it necessary to learn their language? No, probably. Teacher just could change his / her way of thinking. Just..? But… How?

Various methodologies could be used by Productive Learning teachers as a tool to find their key to open the right doors for the student’s learning without loosing the teacher’s energy and passion to their work. Methodologies like coaching, facilitation or counselling are widely discussed in many countries all around the world at the moment, but do teachers really know how to use these methods? How to apply them during our class? How to improve the things they already know? How to find and how to benefit from their own toolbox for supporting and guiding students in the best way? These are some of the questions we are inviting you to discuss and to explore during the 24th INEPS Congress in Vilnius. The Congress program will contain key speeches, formal and informal presentations, interactive activities, workshops, school visits, cultural events focused on the topic “Productive Learning – another way of thinking”.

The 24th INEPS Congress in Vilnius is organized by the Education Supply Center (ESC) affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania and by Panevėžys district teachers education centre. By implementing the Project “Alternative Education” (2012–2014) the ESC will be cooperating with youth schools trying to invent alternative teaching and learning methods and to reduce the number of drop-outs.

Congress program and fees

Please find in the text below some preliminary information about the Congress in Vilnius. Rights for possible changes are reserved by the Congress organizers.

Date of registration: the deadline is 30 March 2012