Teachers of IT in Serbia (secondary school) Dušan Tošić Faculty of Mathematics Belgarde Uneversity

1. Secondary schools in Serbia There are 3 kinds of secondary schools in Serbia: There are 3 kinds of secondary schools in Serbia: (4-years) (4-years) – Comprehensive schools (gymnasiums) – Technical, Vocational and art schools (job-oriented schools) (3-years) (3-years) –Handcraft and some art schools The age of students is between 15 and 19 years The age of students is between 15 and 19 years

1.1. Gymnasiums (grammar schools) The most important secondary schools (probably). The most important secondary schools (probably). There are mathematical-oriented gymnasiums (for gifted students) with IT-direction There are mathematical-oriented gymnasiums (for gifted students) with IT-direction IT-oriented gymnasiums (as experimental schools) are introduced two years ago. IT-oriented gymnasiums (as experimental schools) are introduced two years ago.

 Each year during the studying there is a course of IT in (usual) gymnasium (about 2 hours per week).  There are much more courses of IT in specialized gymnasiums.

1.2. Technical, Vocational and handcraft schools In each of these schools there is at least one course of IT. In each of these schools there is at least one course of IT. Some schools have much more courses of IT depending on orientation (kind of school). Some schools have much more courses of IT depending on orientation (kind of school).

2. Studying of IT IT can be studied at different faculties: IT can be studied at different faculties: – Faculty of mathematics – Faculty of Electrical engineering – Faculty of organizational sciences These (state) faculties are responsible (maternal faculties ) for Computer sciences and education of teachers in IT. These (state) faculties are responsible (maternal faculties ) for Computer sciences and education of teachers in IT.

 There are special faculties for education IT-teachers and teachers of technical education arising in small Universities centers (Čačak, Zrenjanin,...) from technical high schools.  There are no state faculties of Computer sciences

2.1. Teachers of IT Secondary-school teachers are trained in arts or science faculties. Courses last for four years. Starting in the second year, candidates follow classes in education and teaching methodology in addition to classes in their majors. During the first semester of the last year they may teach in a classroom (generally). Secondary-school teachers are trained in arts or science faculties. Courses last for four years. Starting in the second year, candidates follow classes in education and teaching methodology in addition to classes in their majors. During the first semester of the last year they may teach in a classroom (generally). One can work as teacher of IT if he/she finished some of previously mentioned faculties and pass exams from pedagogy and psychology. One can work as teacher of IT if he/she finished some of previously mentioned faculties and pass exams from pedagogy and psychology. Even more, as teacher of IT can work somebody from other faculties having 4 semesters of IT- subjects during the studying. Even more, as teacher of IT can work somebody from other faculties having 4 semesters of IT- subjects during the studying.

2.2. Problems related to teachers of IT Negative selection Negative selection Inadequate education Inadequate education Inappropriate methodical and pedagogical knowledge (one can work 1 year without passing exems of pedagogy, psychology,...) Inappropriate methodical and pedagogical knowledge (one can work 1 year without passing exems of pedagogy, psychology,...)

3. Program of IT in secondary schools What a teacher of IT should teach (know)? What a teacher of IT should teach (know)? What is the concept of teaching? Is it practically or theoretically (ex- cathedra) oriented? What is the concept of teaching? Is it practically or theoretically (ex- cathedra) oriented? …

3.1. Program of IT in Gymnasium Structure of hardware and software Structure of hardware and software Operating systems Operating systems Word processing Word processing Using of Internet Using of Internet Multimedia Multimedia Presentations (ppt-presentation HTML-presentation,…) Presentations (ppt-presentation HTML-presentation,…)

Spreadsheets Graphical tools Programming in Pascal Database Programming by using GUI. Some social aspects of IT.

4. Improving the quality of IT-teachers education After one year spent in teaching, each teacher should pass an (state) exam consisting of: practical work, low, pedagogy, psychology, …) After one year spent in teaching, each teacher should pass an (state) exam consisting of: practical work, low, pedagogy, psychology, …) During 5 years each teacher should earn some points to stay in teaching (to be accredited). During 5 years each teacher should earn some points to stay in teaching (to be accredited).

5. Conclusions IT-teachers are educated at different faculties with different curricula IT-teachers are educated at different faculties with different curricula There is problem of “negative selection” IT- teachers There is problem of “negative selection” IT- teachers Accreditation of IT-teachers does not work in appropriate way Accreditation of IT-teachers does not work in appropriate way There are a number of very good IT- teachers (formed during the past years). There are a number of very good IT- teachers (formed during the past years).

Thank you!

Discussion

Different concepts in IT-teaching Different concepts in IT-teaching Different ages of students in secondary schools Different ages of students in secondary schools How to improve education of IT- teachers? How to improve education of IT- teachers? Appendix

A1. Concepts in IT teaching Distributed teaching of IT Distributed teaching of IT –IT is base of each subject –IT-courses are not necessary in secondary schools Special IT-courses are required Special IT-courses are required –IT is special subject for itself and IT- courses are necessary

A2. Different ages of students in secondary schools in different countries Secondary schools in different countries Secondary schools in different countries The ages of students could be between 13 and 20 years The ages of students could be between 13 and 20 years

A3. Where should be educated IT-teachers? Should we have Faculty for IT- teachers education? Should we have Faculty for IT- teachers education? Should we have special direction for IT-teachers at Faculty for computer sciences? Should we have special direction for IT-teachers at Faculty for computer sciences?