Penka Peeva: Learning by doing: education and practical training at Assen Zlatarov University (Burgas, Bulgaria)

LEARNING BY DOINGEducation and training at Assen Zlatarov

University – Burgas, Bulgaria

Assoc. prof. Penka PeevaVice Rector for Education

at Prof. Assen Zlatarov University-Burgas

ABOUT ASSEN ZLATAROV UNIVERSITY – BURGAS

(www.btu.bg)• The University was founded in 1963 as a

chemical institute.• Now there are four faculties and three

colleges with more than 6000 students.• The Faculty of Social Sciences• The Faculty of Natural Sciences• The Faculty of Technical Sciences• The Faculty for Public health and HealthCare • The College of Tourism• The Technical College• The Medical College

THE MAIN PARTNERS OF THE UNIVERSITY

• LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas AD is the biggest petrol refinery on the Balkans producing and supplying high-quality fuels, petrochemicals and polymers. The refinery is among the leading suppliers of these products not only on Bulgarian and the Balkan markets, but also in Europe and the USA.

THE MAIN PARTNERS• Burgas Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

They were founded to assist and stimulate the business relations, economic development in the region and the contacts between education and business.

THE MAIN PARTNERS• Port of Burgas - the biggest port of Bulgaria,

with a clear strategy for development of the passenger service.

THE MAIN PARTNERS

• Educational organizations• Medical organizations• Small business enterprises

THE PROBLEMS OF EDUCATIONToday the situation is more or less different from what it was in the late 1980s.

What has changed

?

A lot more computer-

based learning and

trainingA lot more

understanding of training as a necessity and priority

What has not

changed?

Still large classrooms, prevailing passive learning

Still few hours of training in

business and educational

organizations

Dull computer-based courses, namely video-

lectures

UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS

undesired consequences:

not well prepared young people for real-life situations and professional realization

Education is in need of radical

change

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE ACADEMIC LEARNING ?

• The SUBJECTS• STUDENTS don’t

object to this. Why?

• PROFESSORS don’t object to this. Why?

• We still use CLASSROOM-based techniques, because we have always done it that way.

• We still teach by talking. Why?

LEARNING BY DOING• Therefore, the question how to prepare students for the

“real-world” and their professional realization is still actual.

“Trying to teach people to do their job with a few hours of training is really an absurd idea. People learn by doing, from experience, and from

failure.”Roger Schank

• "For things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."

–Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

WHAT SHOULD WE CHANGE?

1. The process of learning

Learning by doing is an ancient concept

THE CONCEPT

Learning through experience (David Colb’s model)

Concrete Experience

Reflective Observation

Abstract Conceptualizatio

n

Active Experimentation

THE CONCEPT• The primary goal of this CONCEPT:

• To foster skill development and the learning of factual information in the context of how it will be used.

• Values:• skills rather than factual knowledge• learning occurs in the context of a relevant,

meaningful and interesting to the student goal• content knowledge is closely related to how students

will use it outside the learning environment

THE CONCEPT• Methods

• 1. Clearly defined Goals: What do I want to happen?• 2. What is my mission? (Why do I want this to happen?

Motivating and realistic)• 3. What would be my role ? (must be one who uses the

necessary skills and knowledge; must be motivating)• 4. What is my plan of action? (closely related to the

mission and the goals; must have decision points with consequences that become evident; should not require more than what the goals call for)

• 5. Resources: must provide the information the students need to succeed in the mission

• 6. Feedback – must be just in time.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU START

• You expect and hope to achieve the goal;• You don’t achieve the goal right away (this is what it

means to have an experience);• You need to understand why you were wrong (this is

called thinking);• You adapt an old explanation or someone provides you

with a new one (you already know);• Now you are ready to try again.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE CHANGE?

• The curriculum should become experience-centred;• Curricula should be determined by actual needs;• Curricula should be designed not only by academics but

by expert practitioners, as well.• Any curriculum should be able to be delivered worldwide

to anyone in any language who is capable of doing the work;

WE CAN DO THIS IN ALL AREAS OF EDUCATION

• Masters degree programs• College programs• High school programs• New kinds of non-stressful fun programs for smaller kids• Corporate training

TEACHING HOW TO LEARN BY DOING MEANS:

• Experience – enabling failure – discussion – acquiring a case base – progressing to more complex cases and discussions

GOOD PRACTICES AT ASSEN ZLATAROV UNIVERSITY

• Project “Students’ Practices”• Initiated and launched for the academic year 2014-2015, by the

Ministry of Education. Bulgaria.• Financed within the framework of Operational Program

“Management of Human Capacities”.• Aim: to enhance the quality of education by creating

opportunities for university students to acquire practical skills according to the market needs.

• Participants and actions• Organizations register to the Project and offer positions to students• Students register and apply for positions• Experts from organizations act as trainers and mentors• Professors from universities act as academic tutorsStudents, mentors and tutors all get fixed payment

• Activities• Students have 240 paid hours of practice at a chosen by them

organization; They get help from experts and academic tutors• They get experience (they do things)• They discuss their experience at class (analyze, interpret)• They derive conclusions (they learn)• They are ready for a new experience

934 students from Assen Zatarov University had 240 hours of practice in more than 300 registered small and medium business and educational organizations in the course of one year.All of them now know what “learning by doing” means.The results were positive. The Project will continue.

GOOD PRACTICES AT ASSEN ZLATAROV UNIVERSITY

THANK YOU!