Aizkraukle Municipality Teachers Spend Three Days Learning New Teaching Methods

Aizkraukle Municipality in Latvia held three days of Pedagogue Methodological Days, bringing together local school teachers, preschool educators and the management teams of educational institutions. The events ran under the motto “We learn. We share experience. We get inspired.” Subject methodologists and coordinators prepared seminars, practical workshops, master classes and exchange trips so that educators could expand their knowledge and learn modern teaching methods.

Technology and art

Visual art teachers attended the workshop “Creativity in the Digital Age” at Aizkraukle Municipality Secondary School, where they practically tested the possibilities of artificial intelligence and the tool Canva in art lessons. Computer science and digital technology teachers travelled to Jēkabpils State Gymnasium to learn about the best practice of a neighbouring municipality. The programme began at Koknese Primary School, a development centre, where music teachers discussed planning lessons for students with special needs.

Assessment and reading skills

Preschool educators took part online, together with Inita Irbe, in a session deepening their understanding of formative assessment. Primary school teachers in Aizkraukle worked with Iveta Irbe on reading strategies and the use of text organisers to promote text literacy. Inclusive and special education teachers and mathematics teachers met in a workshop on formative assessment and current issues in their fields.

For school leaders and elsewhere in Latvia

Preschool heads attended a seminar on effective communication and collaborative management led by Linda Konrade. School management teams had a seminar led by Nikola Dzin on conflict management, crisis communication and psychological safety in schools.

Latvian language and literature teachers went to Riga, where they heard lectures on language developments and conceptual poetry and visited the Jānis Akuraters Museum. Foreign language teachers attended an Oxford University Press professional development seminar. Natural science teachers visited the Baldone Observatory and the Salaspils National Botanical Garden, while design and technology teachers met colleagues from Salaspils Secondary School at Andrejs Upītis Skrīveri Secondary School and joined a workshop on using polymers in lessons.