Mentoring Partnerships -
Children's University of Žilina
and
Children Age University of Olomouc
24 June 2009: First working meeting in Olomouc
We took part in a meeting with our colleagues from Olomouc that was organized as a part of the project:
"Mentoring Partnerships" - Children's University of Žilina and Children Age University of Olomouc. We attended
a popularization acrivity - "Nature market 2009", where students took part in physical, chemical, mathematical
and biological experiments. The next meeting will be held in Liptovský Mikuláš, where we start our Children's
University (CU) 2009 (6 July 2009). Then the CU will continue in Žilina (since 13 July 2009).
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| | Information from popularization activity "Nature market 2009" in Olomouc (24 June 2009) |
| | 01:09 | Deafening explosion |
| 01:40 | Quenching magnesium fire |
| | 00:21 | Catch fire |
| 00:19 | Application of ultrasound |
| | 00:26 | Cool drink |
| 02:38 | Beautiful world of chemistry |
8 - 10 July 2009: Visit to the Children's University in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia
| | Snapshots from working meeting in Liptovský Mikuláš (8 - 10 July 2009) |
| | Meeting with the head of detached workplace of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering ŽU |
| At the lecture "About robots" |
Under the Mentoring Partnership Program I visited the Children's University held by the University of Žilina in Liptovský Mikuláš
on 9th and 10th July 2009. I came there as a co-ordinator of science popularisation and medialisation at the Palacky
University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. I´d like to mention here several observations I did there and make a small comparison with the
organisation of the Children's University in Olomouc.
- The event was held during the holiday in the form of a "summer camp" on the premises of the University's faculty, it took 5
days, 8 hours a day. The event's capacity was filled, there were no problems with a lack of interest or a low attendance even if it
was paid (unlike that in Olomouc).
- The lectures, activities and experiments more or less were of similar character as those held by our university. The Žilinská
University's employees were skilled and gave their lectures with lightness and spirit, the children took eagerly part in any
activity and their discipline was good even in the end of a day. My experience with discipline of the same aged children is little
different.
- The faculty's premises enabled to hold some activities outdoor, which brought a great diversification to the daily routine.
Also technical equipment was at disposal for a presentation.
- Evaluation of the event was done in the form of a questionnaire which had been compiled by the head co-ordinator. The
questionnaire was filled in by the children in the end of the event and its outcomes would be presented at the website of the
Children's University. To gain relevant data for a possible publication it is necessary to discuss the collected data with
a professional sociologist and /or a children psychologist. There was no evaluation from the side of the adults involved in the
event.
- The Children's University co-ordinators are not very experienced in medialisation of similar events which is a pity because
the event was very successful and well accepted by the children. A broad medialisation such an event should mean a promotion of
the natural science among public and increase the reputation of the Žilinská University.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to see the second round of the Children's University, which is now going in Žilina.
| | Video from the Children's University in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia (6 - 10 July 2009) |
| | 01:28 | Acoustics: two-dimensional oscillations |
| 02:35 | Optics: superposition of different colors |
| | 00:50 | Physics in domestic microwave oven |
| 02:51 | Communication with and without words |
Next videos you can find on: Information
writer:
Michal Smolka,
Palacky University, Olomouc
photos & video:
Peter Hockicko,
University of Žilina
15 - 17 July 2009: Visit to the Children's University in Žilina, Slovakia
| | Snapshots from the meeting in Žilina - Airport Žilina (15 - 17 July 2009) |
| | Meeting of the dean of the Faculty of
Electrical Engineering, ŽU, and the dean of the Faculty of Science, Palacky University in Olomouc |
| Dialogue with young students during the lecture at the Airport Žilina |
| | Video from the Children's University in Žilina, Slovakia (13 - 17 July 2009) |
| | 00:53 | Analysis of Sound |
| 00:25 | Acoustics: Resonance of Sound |
| | 01:03 | Exercise: Quenching fire |
| 02:54 | At the Airport Žilina |
writer:
Michal Smolka,
Palacky University, Olomouc
photos & video:
Peter Hockicko,
University of Žilina
25 November 2009: Visit to the Children Age University in Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | Photos from working meeting in Olomouc (25 November 2009) |
| | Working on a short test, the winner will get an award - a map of the world |
| What do you need for travelling to the North Pole? |
| | How we could get to the North Pole? |
| Who is an accompanist and what is a score? |
| | Young musicians |
| Mentoring Partnerships cooperation (CAU and CUZ) |
On the 25th of November in 2009 I visited my partner in Mentoring Partnerships (MP) program from the Children Age
University (CAU) of Olomouc. CAU has been realized one day per week (Wednesday) from the 30th of September to the
19th of December 2009. Children spend two hours (from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.) in the town theatre. There are given two
lectures, one from the natural sciences and the other includes information about the theatre's life. I took part in a lecture about
the polar regions of Earth. In the second part of the event it was explained to the children who is an accompanist, what is a score
and they could try to play some musical instruments. Some reflections from the CAU:
- It is a very good idea to connect nature with art. For children it is a positive change in realizing their studying activities.
- As I know from my MP partner, the children who have been attending CAU in the town theatre have a better relationship to art
and especially to attending the theatre - the CAU influences in a positive way the cultural life of children.
- A very important point during the realization of the lectures is the dynamics and change for young children (from 8 - 12),
after 5-10 minutes it is advantageous to change the monologic lecture using small tests, competitions, games, and so on.
- It is also important for the lecture to be dynamical, which can be realized by playing short videos, short skits acted by for
example students or graduate students.
- It is positive for children to try to play some musical instruments, it was new for children and some of them hadn't tried
to play violin, drum, harp, and so on until now.
- It isn't good to give a lecture for big groups of children because some of the children are restless, inpatient, and disturb
other children. Because of that according to our experience with the Children's University of Žilina (CUZ) we recommend smaller
groups of about 20 children and young persons (students, inceptors) taking care of the children during the lectures. On the other
hand, working in smaller groups requires more time from the lecturers.
writer & photos:
Peter Hockicko,
University of Žilina
