Suzana Delic, teacher counselor, eTwinning ambassador

1. VIDEOCONFERENCE
LIKE A METHOD OF TEACHING
“Today’s students are completely
different from those of five to 10
years ago. Today’s students need to
explore.”– Suzana

2. About me:
Name: Suzana Surname: Delić
Title of qualification awarded: Primary school Techer (all subjects) and
teacher of computer science
Level in national or international classification:
• 27/10/ 2006. promoted in teacher mentor
• 25/11/2011. promoted in teacher counselor
•2012. promoted in teacher who is responsible for in-service training for
50 teachers (associate of Croatian Education and Teacher Training
Agency)
•CARNet (Croatian academic and research network) associate
- from 2014. eTwinning ambasador

3. Computer skills and competences:
•a qualified teacher of computer science
•EDCL Diploma holder
•Can create and maintain web sites (www.oshorvati.hr, )
•Have online tutoring skils (Moodle, eTwinning))
•Familarity with web 2.0, web 3.0
•student of e-learning academy in Zagreb
•creator of many e-learning events
•promoter of e-learning
•promoter of using videoconferences like method of teaching
•Organizer of many videoconferences all over the world
(Canada, USA, UK, France, Pakistan, Taiwan, Hong Kong
etc.)
•Organizer for Europe Cross Atlantic Alternative Energy
Debate. (London, New York, Zagreb)
•Leader for online training for teachers on eTwinning
Learning Lab („Tools and competencies”, Videoconferences
like method of teaching) for 300 teachers

4. • Edublogger (http://dnevnikuciteljice.wordpress.com/)
• Co-editor of The Forum for International Collaboration
on the Partners in Learning website (www.ucitelji.hr)
• Regional coordinator for. Megaconference Junior.
Other skills and competences:
• Chess trainer with international licence
• GLOBE teacher – https://www.globe.gov/
The Global Learning and Observations to
Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program
is a worldwide hands-on, primary and
secondary school-based science and
education program.

5. · Previous GTTP/Discover the Cosmos training sessions participated if any. NO
· Which tools and methodologies do you use in classroom with the students.
· How did you implement these in classroom environment.
· Connection to the curriculum.
· The impact it had in your teaching practice/result with the students.

6. I hope my intervew for Parners in learning will say everything.
„We all know that collaboration is one of the critical 21st century skills,
but Suz a na De li be lie ve s she kno ws o ne o ć f the be s t wa y s to
te a ch the s kill a nd to tra ns fo rm the live s o f he r s tud e nts . De lić is
c o m m itte d to e na bling c o lla bo ra tio n – no t jus t within he r s cho o l
o r he r c o untry , but a ro und the wo rld , thro ug h videoconferencing
. La s t y e a r, De lić a nd he r fo urth g ra d e c la s s he ld two
vid e o c o nfe re nc e s with a p rim a ry s cho o l in China . To p ic s
c o ve re d Ne w Ye a r c e le bra tio ns in Cro a tia a nd China a nd
e ve ry d a y life in e a ch c o untry ’s s cho o ls . He r c la s s p re p a re d
vid e o s , Po we rPo int p re s e nta tio ns a nd a q uiz . “It wa s a g re a t
e x p e rie nc e fo r m e a nd m y s tud e nts , ” De lić s a y s . “We le a rne d
m a ny thing s a bo ut this be a utiful c o untry . We le a rne d a bo ut
Chine s e c us to m s a nd c ulture , a nd we a ls o im p ro ve d o ur
Eng lish a nd c o m m unic a tio n s kills . ” The c la s s a ls o p a rtic ip a te d
in a vid e o c o nfe re nc e o n the 2 0 1 2 O lym p ic Gam e s a nd a s p a rt
o f the Tim e Pro je c t, whe re the y p la c e d s e c o nd o n the q uiz
p o rtio n.
To d a y , De lić sha re s he r e x c ite m e nt fo r vid e o c o nfe re nc ing a s a n
e duc a tio na l to o l a nd a d vic e fo r future te a che rs . ”

7. Can you describe how your professional achievements have
advanced innovation in education?
In the last few years, I had many videoconferences with
students from all over the world: USA, Canada, China,
France, Portugal, UK, Taiwan and many more. Students
from first to eighth grades are involved in the
videoconferences and I am very proud of that. I think it is a
good preparation for their future. I also really like to share my
experiences with my colleagues all over the world, and have
prepared materials for them. I can proudly say that my
primary school, Horvati, is a leader among primary schools
in Croatia in that area.

8. What has changed as a result of your efforts?
Collaboration through videoconferencing has led to
connections between schools, teachers and students, who
then realize the importance of this way of learning. This opens
up a wider perspective of possibilities for other teachers and
students at my school. Students and teachers are motivated to
gain knowledge about other nations and learn to respect
people who are different. As I mentioned, the school I work at
is very much aware of the benefits of adding a European
dimension to our style of teaching. It is obvious that very soon
our students will be competing for jobs in the EU and whole
world, and they need to be prepared to handle the competition.

9. How can others facing similar challenges implement what you’ve
learned through your work?
My students are very motivated to work this
way. But they are not alone, because their
parents are thrilled about the opportunity,
and many times they are able to see how
their children actively participate in
videoconferences.

10. How have you applied technology in innovative ways to support
your work?
I use PCs, Polycom stations and Skype for
videoconferencing. The advantages of
technology are:
No need for traveling,
No additional expenses
Visual communication
Involvement in mutual projects
Lots of ideas and knowledge
Developement of communication skills
Developement of organizational skills
Simple access to learning resources
Meeting other students, countries and
cultures
Gaining long-term friendships
And all of that throught Internet access!

11. What conditions must change in your country to better support
education?
Educational programs must be adapted to
today’s students. They are completely
different from students of five to 10 years
ago. Today’s students need to explore.
Their passion for research should be used
in education. They must learn to be
knowledge navigators — finding
information from different sources,
evaluating it and making sense of it.
What is the best opportunity for innovation in education?
The world has changed. With the changes
we need to change also. We must prepare
our students to one day become successful
young people. We need them to be
successful as a guide on their journey.

12. What advice would you give a new teacher (or anyone wanting to
make a difference in education)?
My great wish is that in the next few years
ICT would become a part of every subject
in the classroom and every teacher would
develop his or her competences. There are
many subjects we could make more
acceptable and interesting for students if
we used computers. Through e-learning,
Comenius projects and videoconferences,
our students will improve their knowledge,
meet other countries and gain lots of
friends from all over the world, friends who
could eventually become their future
business partners.
My students and I try to encourage as
many teachers as possible to accept this
way of working. We are very open to the
world because we think it is very important
to be students of the world. Their teacher
must be the one who shows them the first
step to achieve that goal. Everything is
possible with videoconferences. So, try it
with your students. They will be very
happy. Like we are!

13. If you could give one educational tool to every child in the world,
what would it be? Why?
Videoconferencing! The videoconference
itself, and talking ‘live,’ is an extraordinary
event for the children. Our experience tells
us that it leads to even stronger
connections between
pupils from both sides of the wire. It often
leads to mutual projects, visits and years-long
friendships after pupils have already
left school. Only with the use of ICT can we
accomplish all of the above-mentioned
goals without the expenses for travel and
accomodation.

14. · Your motivation to participate in the
summer school.
- I am working with my students through Math and Nature
- I am GLOBE teacher so summer school will be very good for me
but also for my students
- I have prepared ERASMUS+ project K2 called „Starry night”

15. "Stary nights" project
Students will periodicaly observe the visibility of certain constellations, so they could
measure the light pollution's quantity in their local communities. For that purpose we
will teach them how to use some scientific protocols and work materials - descriptions
and work sheets. At the same time they will learn some antic mithology facts, which
gave names to stars and constellations. Automatically they will remember that once
upon a time we were all living in the same, Roman empire! as we are living in EU today.
So we will encourage them to discover our common civilisation's cultural heritage.
By analysing and comparing the data they will increase their informatical and all the
others litteracies, for which we now that, according Pysa project's results, is rather low.
During visits they will also learn about each others and improve their language skills, as
well as their awerness of similarity in those languages, due to a fact that latin is the basis
for not just roman group of languages. And as the citizens of EU they will improve their
knowledge about how that union works in real life of it's members.

16. · Your commitment to represent Inspiring Science Education (ISE) in your
country.
1. To all school's teachers and staff, students, parents - students' and
teachers' presentations and exhibitons at staff meetings, parental
meetings, student meetings like Parents' Council, Students' Council,
Schoolboard, Teachers' Council and at vocational educators' meetings
2. To GLOBE schools community - student's and teachers' presentations
and exhibitons at GLOBE meetings, revues, workshops and trainings on
regional, national and international level using GLOBE network, too.
3. To local community politicians, industrial representatives. along with
using internet pages and websites, TV, radio, newspapers...

17. 4. To Teachers in elementary, vocational
and high schools I will also offer some
presentations or using materials from
school websites, facebook etc. I will also
offer to make some workshops.
1. I will inform the public using news papers, TV
channels, web sites, facebook, twitter-community...to
inform local politicians (green oriented), mayor's
office, local industrial representatives, public health
institutions, public lighting department
2. I will contact scientist at Universities,, astronomical
observatories, Meteorological Institutes etc.
3. I will inform them about our activities, results and
research reports, invite them to my information
sessions, workshops, exibitions and other
demonstrations

18. Good practice examples (from my claasses):
1. example:
PROJECT VIDEOCONFERENCES BETWEEN TWO CLASSES
DURATION: 2009/2010. 7 VIDEOCONFERENCES
ECOLE DE SAINT
ECOLE DE SAINT
GAUDENT,
SAINT GAUDENT
GAUDENT,
SAINT GAUDENT
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
Videoconferences had 2 main goals :
•To improve English language skills of both classes.
•To discover and learn about Croatian and French
cultures, and specially life of a foreign child.
Video conferences mainlines :
•Link 2 classes of 21 pupils.
•Last 30-45 minutes every month (until June 2010).
•Follow a precisely prepared script.
•Contain repeated rituals.
•Focus on a specific theme/issue, different each time.
•Students need to work hard on the preparations.

19. 2. example:
VIDEOCONFERENCE BETWEEN TWO CLASSES
JOB LANE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, BEDFORD, MA,
JOB LANE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, BEDFORD, MA,
USA
USA
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
- portal ePals
- students were exchanging their e-mails
- the great security which students have on ePals
- VC was extremely successful and our cooperation is still going on
- A result of the cooperation was a call from Mrs. Maureen LaCroix,
Superintendent of Schools Bedford Public Schools, who invited me
through Skype to answer several questions during the special ceremony of
the beginning of a school year (Opening Day in Bedford) about using
technology in education in front of 400 guests, which was a great honor.

20. 3. example:
TWO VIDEOCONFERENCES WITH A SPECIAL THEME
1. NEW YEAR IN MY COUNTRY 2. MY SCHOOL
PO LEUNG KUK
LUK HING TOO
PRIMARY SCHOOL,
HONK KONG, CHINA
PO LEUNG KUK
LUK HING TOO
PRIMARY SCHOOL,
HONK KONG, CHINA
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
PRIMARY SCHOOL
HORVATI, ZAGREB
We held first videoconferences with Hong Kong in the end of 2008.
Let´s see how it looked. Students of the 7th grade were involved.

21. Videoconferencing as a Support for Networking and International Co-operation of Schools
4. example: MEGACONFERENCE JR. 2013.
- Megaconference Jr., now in its 10th year
- It is an international program designed to give students in
elementary and secondary schools the opportunity to
communicate, collaborate and contribute to each other's learning
in real time, using advanced multi-point videoconferencing
technology.
- VJ Teams and their interactive partners will develope and share
activities focused on both academic and cultural issues.
- The teams will collaborate with geographically diverse peers on
authentic learning activities, thus building cultural awareness.

23. Cross Atlantic Alternative Energy Debate
Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders,
policy makers and most of all they will be
energy consumers. But how will their energy
be produced and from what? Given the finite
supply of fossil-based fuels, the environmental
impact related to extracting and using these
fuels and the often volatile impact financial
and economic markets, it’s understandable
that students need to be part of the discussion
regarding the future of the world’s energy
needs and consumption.
Igniting the discussion is the Cross Atlantic
Alternative Energy Debate involving high
school students from throughout New York,
England and Europe
5. example:

24. Europe:
Mina Patel, JANET, mina@vcfl.net
Suzana Delić, Croatia, suzana.deli@gmail.com
New York:
Rene Carver, GSTRIC, rcarver@gstboces.org
Jeanne Weber, ESBOCES, jweber@esboces.org
Mike Sylofski, NERIC, msylofski@neric.org

25. Here are some of students comments:
We had a wonderful opportunity to Skype with each other (Los Angeles
to Zagreb). What a great opportunity to be able to talk face-to-face with a
We had a wonderful opportunity to Skype with each other (Los Angeles
to Zagreb). What a great opportunity to be able to talk face-to-face with a
country on the other side of the world
I enjoyed video conferencing because I
was able to see my pen pal face-to-face.
I enjoyed video conferencing because I
was able to see my pen pal face-to-face.
Also, I learned some of the things
that she likes that I didn't know
Also, I learned some of the things
that she likes that I didn't know
through our emails. Overall, I enjoyed
the video conference and I thought
that it was an interesting experience. I
hope we conference again soon!
through our emails. Overall, I enjoyed
the video conference and I thought
that it was an interesting experience. I
hope we conference again soon!
Dustin
I think that our skype was SO much
fun!! I hope we can do it many more
times. I think that we have a lot in
common like what we eat, what
singers we like, and what clothes
we wear. I will send some more
emails to Nejla and I hope she
sends some back. Primary School
Horvati is so cool! Greetings from
California!
Natalie M.
I think it is important for us to learn about other countries because it is always
good to have some knowledge on other places other than your country. There
are a few things i would like to learn about Croatia. For example, I would like to
I think it is important for us to learn about other countries because it is always
good to have some knowledge on other places other than your country. There
are a few things i would like to learn about Croatia. For example, I would like to
learn what their city looks like on a regular day, and what they usually do
learn what their city looks like on a regular day, and what they usually do
during a regular school day.
during a regular school day.
Dustin
country on the other side of the world
I think that our skype was SO much
fun!! I hope we can do it many more
times. I think that we have a lot in
common like what we eat, what
singers we like, and what clothes
we wear. I will send some more
emails to Nejla and I hope she
sends some back. Primary School
Horvati is so cool! Greetings from
California!
Natalie M.

26. Final thoughts:
Through e-learning and videoconferences our students
improve their knowledge, meet counterparts in other
countries and gain lots of friends from all over the
world, friends who could eventually become their
future business partners. Technology, including
research and education networks, enable us to deliver
the benefits of collaboration without the costs of
travel or accommodation. In five to ten years from
now I see our students becoming citizens of the world.
Their teacher must be the one who will show them the
first step to achieve that goal.
Suzana Delic,Teacher counsellor, Primary school Horvati, Zagreb,
Croatia, CARNet (Croatian academic and research network)
associate and Coordinator for MegaconferenceJr. - Europe