Syllabus
1) Use of games in school lessons Introductory practice in the classroom of the Faculty of Science. Students are acquainted with basic principles of experiential education (Kolb learning cycle, comfort zone theory, flow status), types of games and their possible use in teaching. Organizations dealing with experiential education (Outward Bound, Lipnice Holiday School, TEREZA, Pasque Flower) are not omitted either. Teaching is interactive (discussion, brainstorming, dating and simulation games).
2) Visit the Toulcův dvůr ecocentre During the excursion, students will learn about the activities and operation of the ecocentre. The lecturer will present the environmental programs and projects that Toulcův dvůr offers schools as a content of the cross-cutting theme of Environmental Education and as a support for science education. This is followed by an excursion to the exteriors of Toulcova dvůr (farm, wetland, orchard).
3) Excursions to the Charles University in Prague (Hrdlička Museum) or the Institute of Anatomy Many institutions offer programs to schools, including excursions. During the excursion you will visit the Hrdlička Museum or the Institute of Anatomy. You will learn not only professional points of interest, but also the didactic aspect of organizing excursions to various institutions.
4) Comprehensive excursion to the Chuchel Grove The Chuchle Grove is one of the last preserved deciduous groves (hornbeam oak forests, remains of rosehip oak forests) in Prague. It is a nature reserve spreading between Malá and Velká Chuchle above the left bank of the Vltava. The site is suitable for holding a half-day complex excursion focusing on grove flora, insects, geology (eg slate and limestone subsoil grows travertines), etc. There is also a mini-zoo in Chuchle Grove (focus on mammals and birds of Czech forests), which can also be use in class. During the excursion students will learn about commonly occurring grove / forest species of plants and animals (especially insects) and their possible interactive presentation to primary / secondary school students. An integral part will be not only ideas for didactic games (including simulation games) usable for acquiring / consolidating knowledge mainly from ecology, but also ideas for experiential activities (eg landart).
5) Comprehensive hydrobiological excursion to the locality Modřanské tůně Vltavské tůně in Prague-Modřany is a very convenient and easily accessible location for hydrobiological excursions / field exercises with pupils of elementary and secondary schools. It is possible to hunt and observe many groups of aquatic invertebrates, to observe waterfowl and various species of aquatic and wetland plants. In an innovated form, this model field exercise will take the form of teamwork (groups of 3 students) on assigned tasks. The students will try various methods of catching aquatic invertebrates, their determination by means of simple keys and their use in bioindication. They will also observe water and reed birds. In addition, the measurement of water quality in individual pools (pH, conductivity, temperature) using portable measuring instruments will be included. The measured data will be recorded in the program and finally compared. Finally, the groups compare their overall results and discuss the differences.
6) Prague Zoo Prague Zoo offers a large number of opportunities for various excursions (from systematically conceived through ecology, morphology, ethology to biogeography and the issue of protection of animal and plant species). Teaching students will be divided into groups during the excursion in which they will try to lead the excursion. Using cameras, they document the excursion and selected animal species. Photographs will remain and serve for the creation of educational presentations, worksheets or aids for individual didactic games. Based on the work in groups, students create a presentation representing a virtual excursion to the Prague Zoo.
7) Excursion to the Prokop valley The Prokopské Valley PR lies on the south-western outskirts of Prague between Jinonice and Zlíchov. The area is interesting mainly from the geological and botanical point of view (karst caves, fossil deposits, dozens of species of protected plants). During the excursion you will try to find your own fossils, which you can then use in your teaching practice, learn many botanical and geological attractions, try some games, botanical mapping (adapted for schools), determining the types of clouds, etc.
8) Vyšehrad - connection between online didactic game and real excursion
9) Dendrology garden Průhonice or Botanical garden Trója
10)Conclusion Evaluation of excursions, examples of elaborated tasks from individual excursions. In the case of distance learning, the course will focus mainly on the quality of submitted tasks, which will be updated in the Google Classroom. There is a possibility to replace some missing excursions (field work) by field trip to Petřín or weekend stay in Říčany - Didactic Geological Center in the Museum, Ornithology, Mentoring, School gardens and their use, Research-oriented teaching.
Annotation
The course is focused on the use of biologically interesting Prague sites and facilities (ecological education centre, zoo, botanical garden, natural sites,
Faculty of Science, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University) as suitable goals for half-day excursions, which can be used in teaching biology at high school or natural history at elementary school.
Excursions are a welcome activating and motivating element of teaching, which can develop each of the key competencies interactively. Being able to prepare an interesting, interactive and interdisciplinary excursion becomes a necessity for future teachers. Students will prepare their own teaching materials, which they will then use not only in pedagogical practices but also in future teaching careers. They will meet elements of research-oriented teaching, problem-based teaching, project-learning and locally grounded learning. In group work, they measure their data, which they then evaluate and discuss with others. They will try some didactic games usable in the field.