By: Karen Hrisafinas - University of Aegean

What is a multigrade school ?What is a multigrade school ?

Why do we have many multigrade schools ?Why do we have many multigrade schools ?

It’s a type of It’s a type of school where the teacher has to teach in more than one school where the teacher has to teach in more than one grade simultaneously in the same classroom grade simultaneously in the same classroom

• a lot of mountainous regions and a large number small islandsa lot of mountainous regions and a large number small islands• historical reasons forced the population to live in areas of difficult historical reasons forced the population to live in areas of difficult access access • a significant percentage of the population still lives in the above a significant percentage of the population still lives in the above described regionsdescribed regions

However, these schools operate even with a very small number of However, these schools operate even with a very small number of students , even if the conditions do not provide the ideal students , even if the conditions do not provide the ideal

educational environmenteducational environment

Definitions Definitions

More than 10.000 islandsMore than 10.000 islands

4/5 4/5 mountainousmountainous areasareas

In Greece

Definitions Definitions

Total Number of schools in Greece 5.881

Total Number of multigrade Schools 2.558

Percentage of Multigrade schools in Greece 43,5 %

Grades in school 1 2 3 4 5

Schools 935 871 534 138 80

Number of teachers 935 1742 1602 562 400

Number of students 8187 22247 19534 7602 4127

In Finland : multigrade schools represent 30% of the total school number

In G. Britain : 6,3 of primary schools are multigrade

Situation in Greece Situation in Greece

Teachers have to be well prepared:Teachers have to be well prepared:• they have to plan ahead they have to plan ahead • be exact on how and when to administer specific parts of the be exact on how and when to administer specific parts of the syllabussyllabus• the schoolbooks are the same as in any other school the schoolbooks are the same as in any other school • there is a considerable work for the teacher who has to deal with there is a considerable work for the teacher who has to deal with different gradesdifferent grades

The teacher acts under great The teacher acts under great time pressuretime pressure

Multigrade school reality Multigrade school reality

In multigrade schools usually there is a teacher “acting as In multigrade schools usually there is a teacher “acting as headmaster” having the double role of manager and teacher. headmaster” having the double role of manager and teacher.

Multigrade schoolteachers have a great deal of administrative work.Multigrade schoolteachers have a great deal of administrative work.

The role of Multigrade Education The role of Multigrade Education

Multigrade schools practice multigrade teaching that is considered a very interesting teaching model for many educators.

Multigrade schools are considered to play an important role on providing access to education for all in remote, isolated and underdeveloped rural areas.

Multigrade schools are the focal point for cultural, social and in cases economic development of the area they operate

Identified needs in multigrade schoolsIdentified needs in multigrade schools

Teaching techniquesTeaching techniques• cooperative learning - elements of self- learning• extended working hours• breaks and activities are skipped • teaching assistants• some subjects are not taught at all

Multigrade teachers have a multidimentional Educational task – more difficult than the one of their coleagues in “normal schools”

Managers of the school

Teachers act as promoters of multigrade school social role

Collaborative Projects on Multigrade Education Collaborative Projects on Multigrade Education

Furthermore it encourages innovation in pedagogical Furthermore it encourages innovation in pedagogical methods and materials and promotes trans-national methods and materials and promotes trans-national cooperation and communication between schools and teachers cooperation and communication between schools and teachers training establishments. training establishments.

The project is based on the use of information and The project is based on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in school education and in communication technology (ICT) in school education and in the training of the staff working in multigrade schools.the training of the staff working in multigrade schools.

The project MUSE aims at the development of a new model The project MUSE aims at the development of a new model of teacher’s training that assists teaching in multigrade of teacher’s training that assists teaching in multigrade schools.schools.

Collaborative Projects on Multigrade EducationCollaborative Projects on Multigrade Education

University of Aegean University of Aegean

ΣΧ.Ε.Δ.Ι.Α. (ΣΧΕΔΙΑ {Greek}= raft)http://www.rhodes.aegean.gr/sxedia/

MUSE = Multigrade School Educationhttp://www.ellinogermaniki.gr/ep/muse/

ZEUS = Satellite Network of Rural Schools http://www.dias.ea.gr/en/index.htm

http://www.ea.gr/ep/nemed/

NEMED (NEtwork of Multigrade Education)

Rural Wings

http://www.ruralwings-project.net/RW/index.html

http://ruralwings.rd.forthnet.gr/index.php

The specific aims of these projects seem to be exactly along with the The specific aims of these projects seem to be exactly along with the aspects of multigrade education mentioned .aspects of multigrade education mentioned .

In detail, these are: In detail, these are:

Projects’ Objectives Projects’ Objectives

To develop a dedicated educational web platform which will To develop a dedicated educational web platform which will support in service training and support of multigrade teachers. support in service training and support of multigrade teachers.

To enhance professional skills of multigrade To enhance professional skills of multigrade schoolteachers and improve their abilities to develop plans schoolteachers and improve their abilities to develop plans according to the needs of the specific school environment. according to the needs of the specific school environment.

To develop an in-service specialised training programme To develop an in-service specialised training programme for teachers in multigrade schools, aiming to meet the for teachers in multigrade schools, aiming to meet the teachers’ needs.teachers’ needs.

To conduct an intervention study in multigrade classrooms To conduct an intervention study in multigrade classrooms across Europe.across Europe.

Projects’ Objectives Projects’ Objectives

To make recommendations on multigrade teaching To make recommendations on multigrade teaching policy and practice.policy and practice.

To enhance communication among remote multigrade To enhance communication among remote multigrade school teaching environment and outside educational school teaching environment and outside educational community and initiate the formation of a European community and initiate the formation of a European network on the multigrade school education. network on the multigrade school education.

Training FrameworkTraining Framework

The training programmes were developed across threethree main axes and in twotwo cycles:

To provide in servicein service training of teachers in multigrade teaching methodologies ( mixed age grouping, individual teaching etc.) as well as training on organizing and managing multigrade classrooms.

To train teachers on the use of ICT and its usage for multigrade teaching. The use of ICT should focus on (a) upgrading quality of multigrade teaching, (b) supporting students learning and (c) fostering social development of the local community

To train teachers to be able to design, implement and evaluate multidisciplinary learning activities which should require cooperation of groups of students of different ages, grades or schools.

ΣΧ.Ε.Δ.Ι.Α. (ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΧ.Ε.Δ.Ι.Α. (ΣΧΕΔΙΑ {Greek} {Greek}== raft) raft)

connection to Internetconnection to Internet teacher training teacher training work with educational softwarework with educational softwaredevelopment of Educational material development of Educational material development of web pages to represent the schools development of web pages to represent the schools distance learning from the University of the Aegean in Rhodesdistance learning from the University of the Aegean in Rhodes

funded by the Ministry of the Aegeanfunded by the Ministry of the Aegeaninstallation of 88 computers installation of 88 computers in 46 schools in 32 small islands in 46 schools in 32 small islands

SCHOOL NETWORK OF THE AEGEAN

This project aimed at the development of a new model of teachers' training that assists teaching in multigrade schools. The project was based on a close cooperation between pedagogical experts, trainers, policy makers and teachers.

The ZEUS project aiming at developing an advanced learning environment that will provide in-service training to multigrade teachers based on satellite services. The training programme will be designed to meet the needs of teachers in order to improve their educational performance in the multigrade school environment. The training programme will be delivered to teachers through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) techniques, based on the use of OTE satellite broadcast platform.

NEMED brings together educationalists and researchers from ten European countries, who share an interest in researching, enhancing and supporting multigrade education, in their countries and at the European level.

The strategic objective of RURAL WINGS was to provide end-to-end satellite telecommunication (SATCOM) systems for tele-education applications in remote areas and rural areas where the existing communication architecture does not support broadband applications.

The project offered e-learning services by installing satellite terminals equipment into 128 pilot sites in 13 European countries (Greece, Spain, Sweden, France, Romania, Cyprus, Estonia, Poland, UK, Israel, Armenia, Georgia, and Switzerland).

ICT and multigrade teaching

ICT is essential for education in general. But in case of multigrade school can be the absolutely irreplaceable solution. ICT have a multiple role in multigrade schooling: a)ICT and teaching

b)ICT and teacher’s training

c) ICT and administration.

I.ICT use demands and pre-requires special tools and methodology:

a) ICT and teaching. For student’s training there is a wide range of educational software, of educational internet portals and also of original digital material developed by a specially trained teacher.

b) ICT and teacher’s training. For teacher’s training there are special on distance seminars training them how to achieve best use and implementation of ICT as a teaching tool or as a learning object. Distance training can only use ICT to train teachers on a very different aspect, e.g teaching methodology for multigrade schools. Distance education is of great importance for multigrade schools, since it allows in situ training and school can remain open and functioning.

c) For teacher’s administrative duties ICT can again be of capital importance. Archives, student’s files, grades, statistics, annual curriculum, scheduling holidays can all be easily handled with the help of specially developed software.

II. ICT use demands and pre-requires special tools and methodology:

ICT can be implemented in a variety of methods in classroom routine:

A simple way would be to transform books into e-books. Another suggestion would be to create a functional, palpable data basis with titles of tested and suggested educational software. An other viable suggestion would be Distance teaching and training exploiting all ICT’s available tools and introducing them into teaching routine Asynchronous teaching is also feasible via specially designed internet educational portals ICT can be a powerful tool for multimedia teaching

Thank youThank you