They patiently listen to the spelling. They quickly solve dilemmas about lowercase and uppercase letters, drive away the fear of numbers. They tell interesting stories from the past, lead to a trip around the world. They help connect thoughts and ideas. They encourage you to take your first steps in the big world – the world of adults, the world of knowledge and responsibility.
Their role is not only to convey the facts from the textbook, but to awaken curiosity, the spirit of inquiry and to stimulate reflection. They are a support when he trembles, the wind at his back when he needs courage. They reveal hidden talents, inspire, but also remind us that it’s okay to make mistakes – because mistakes are part of learning. They are teachers and, after parents and family, they have the greatest influence on our maturation and growing up.
Marija Vujanovic is just such a teacher. “Teach,” as her students call her, is not just a person who gives classes – she is someone who teaches children how to discover their abilities, talents, develop communication skills and gain valuable life knowledge that cannot be found on the Internet through play, conversation and connection.
We talked to her about how schools and teachers adapt to the challenges of the digital age, how they foster creativity in children and where the true value of education lies.
1. Focus has dropped significantly under the onslaught of short and simple forms. How is the school adapting to this?
I’m pretty sure the school and the school system are getting used to it.
2. What do you think, is it okay for a school to have a profile on Tik Tok, where they will post short educational clips?
This question and reflection on the same thing is in the realm of science fiction for me. Personally, I think that would be great. Very important and motivating because the benefits would be multiple for all actors in education. Of course, in that case, one should be very careful in choosing the topics to be covered.
3. How to boost creativity in children in today’s digital world?
In today’s digital world, children (younger school age) can also enhance creativity. Creativity is the freest form of self-expression. It all depends on the content they are offered and how that content is offered to them. Technology can help with this, but like fire, technology can be a good servant but a bad master.
4. What book would you recommend to children and teens that is as “addictive” as a Netflix series?
Most of the time, children are “infected” with books that do not belong to compulsory school reading. Based on my professional and parental experience, I can say that these are the books: “Five Friends” (a series of adventure novels for children), books by Jasminka Petrović and Vesna Aleksić, books on Serbian history by Slobodan Stanišić, as well as the series “Night School”.
5. How to find concentration for studying despite the constant distractions that the phone brings?
At school, as in life, we do not work and learn only what we love and what pleases us. It’s easier for children to have fun watching entertainment on their phones than to concentrate on learning and learning. I think the role of adults (parents) is crucial. It is important, together with the child, to clearly define the rules for using the phone and follow them consistently. Children need to have limits in their ability to consume content on their phones so that they don’t have trouble concentrating and are more productive in their studies.
6. Can social networks become a useful tool for learning?
Social media can become a useful learning tool, but at the moment it depends solely on the goodwill and enthusiasm of individuals. I believe that will change.
7. Is it true that children today are difficult to “chase” out into parks and nature, or is it only the older generations who sound it, claiming that there used to be a better time?
Kids are always kids. Eager for attention, play and companionship. Eager to belong to a group. I don’t want to generalize, but I don’t think it’s hard to get the kids out. What matters is what they are offered and how.
8. What is the most important thing that students can learn from school that the Internet cannot?
The most important thing that students can learn in school that the internet can’t teach them is social skills. In mutual interaction, children think critically, exchange opinions, debate, learn to recognize and interpret their own and others’ emotions, notice, adopt and develop communication skills.
The interview with teacher Marija Vujanovic is taken in its entirety from the website boljionline.rs
