Study Abroad - Semester Program

Education

Innovation andEntrepreneurship

in

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

INTRODUCTIONBackground information about the Levinsky College of Education

Levinsky College of Education, one of Israel's leading colleges in the fields of education and musical education offers an abundance of programs leading to B.Ed. degrees, M.Ed. degrees, and academic retraining for teaching. The work at the college is based on the promotion of values of academic excellence and innovation, as well as of cultural and multicultural values, at the same time meeting the changing needs of a pluralistic, multicultural society. Levinsky College of Education is a leader in the development of ties and cooperative ventures with education systems and the community worldwide, and offers study abroad programs that combine active practice, theoretical study, experiential study, and the use of information technologies.

Levinsky College's International School serves as a professional center for students and academics from various countries who wish to engage in a professional study experience in a broad range of academic and educational fields.

Levinsky College of Education is located in the city of Tel Aviv, which attracts tourists from the entire world thanks to its beautiful beaches, its streets that abound with history, and its rich cultural life. From Yarkon Street to the Neve Zedek quarter, from the shopping malls to the Flea Market, the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa offers its visitors entertainment, places of interest, and leisure activities.

RATIONALE AND GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

The program offered by the International School at Levinsky College of Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education, is intended for students, leading educators, and academics who are keen to devote an entire semester to studying these topics. The program is based on three complementary components: advanced pedagogy, educational entrepreneurship, and digital technology in the service of education.

In the framework of the program, a bank of high-caliber, professional leaders will be trained for the following purposes: (a) making a meaningful contribution to the education system to which they belong, (b) implementing within that system the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation, and (c) transforming the system into an advanced and cutting-edge educational center. Entrepreneurship and innovation give rise to an ethical leadership which has the ability to advance the education system toward improved achievements and the building of a model society, to increase the community's sensitivity and social-environmental awareness, and to educate for active citizenship for the sake of a society that is based on morality and solidarity.

Bashrad (2004) defines educational innovation as a targeted activity that introduces new ideas into a given context for the purpose of significantly improving learning abilities within a situation of interrelations and interactivity. Marsh (2004) and Nahmias (2004) add that it is important that the process of knowledge construction be anchored in project-based learning activities that focus on authentic, real-life problems. Salomon (2000) goes on to claim that it is high time to convert the traditional, authority-based, "omniscient" pedagogy that has dominated education for many years into a new, up-to-date pedagogy that is based on the constructivist approach according to which knowledge is constructed rather than acquired ready-made – a pedagogy that affords an opportunity for interdisciplinary problem solving, research studies, cooperative ventures, and taking responsibility.

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The program, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education, is based on a conception of pedagogic innovation, on an international horizon, and on high-level academic study that will induce the program graduates to initiate, dare, innovate, and change. The program provides a response to meaningful and important components: the development of entrepreneurship and innovation from theory to practice, the development of educational leadership, the perception of the image of the contemporary teacher between a principal and a leader, acquaintance with communications-based learning environments that are rich in language and technology, acquisition of collaborative tools for learning, and social and emotional development through community activities.

Program goals

The paramount goal of the program is the acquisition of tools for developing an educational initiative that centers on a world-view of educational innovation in an educational institution and in the education system:

1. Preparing and encouraging educators to engage in constant innovative thinking processes and to support initiatives in the education system in which they are partners;

2. Increasing sensitivity to and social-environmental awareness of innovation in education;

3. Developing critical thinking ability and independent learning as leaders of innovation in education;

4. Educating for excellence in the various knowledge areas, and encouraging the maximization of the individual's potential;

5. Educating for cultural openness, and becoming acquainted with the variety of cultures and identities in global society.

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THE STUDY PROGRAM

The program, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education, combines high-quality academic studies, professional encounters with leading entrepreneurs and educators, interesting experiences in the city of Tel Aviv, tours of Israel, study trips, and cultural evenings.The duration of the program is 10 weeks, three days per week.

Flow chart of the program – the study sections and courses:I. Entrepreneurship and innovation in education in the information era• Entrepreneurship and innovation from theory to practice• The study of the brain and its implications for learning and teaching• Encounters with entrepreneurs and leaders of educational policy• Promotion of entrepreneurship in the school as an organization

II. Development of leadership in teaching and learning processes• Development of educational leadership• From the grooming of a team to organizational development• The image of the contemporary teacher – between principal and leader

III. A combination of innovative pedagogy and technology in the service of teaching and learning • Communications-based learning that are environments rich in language and technology• Social networks in the service of teaching and learning• Project workshop

IV. Community educational policy in the municipal area• Environmental innovation – education for sustainability • Activities in the community – critical observation and involvement in the community

V. The Israeli experience• Study trips and tours throughout Israel• An ulpan for learning Hebrew

Entrepreneurship and innovation from theory to practiceEntrepreneurship and innovation will give rise to ethical leadership in the education system as a result of their goal to advance the country toward accomplishing the objectives of improving achievements and building a model society. In the course, the emphasis will be placed on the link between theory and practice and consequently also on the stages of transforming an idea and an initiative into meaningful social activity.

The study of the brain and its implications for learning and teachingRecent years have witnessed the development of a new field called neuropedagogy. The aim of this field is to bridge the gap between laboratory and classroom, and its major challenge is to find out how we can include this information in the educational field. This course will relate to a learning-supporting brain and will constitute an introduction to the study of the brain. Since there is no learning without memory, the memory systems and attention networks will form the center of the course. This course is interdisciplinary,

SECTION IENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION IN EDUCATION IN THE INFORMATION ERA

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combining pedagogy with the study of the brain, cognitive psychology, and cognition. Its principal goal is to imbue the students with up-to-date knowledge about effective teaching in the 21st century as regards of the acquisition of literacy.

Encounters with entrepreneurs and leaders of educational policyIn the framework of the course, encounters for study, thinking, and discussion will be held with key position holders in the Israeli Ministry of Education as well as with entrepreneurs and educational policy makers in Israel. The encounter will enable students to become acquainted with both the education system in Israel and the development directions and up-to-date initiatives conducted by the Ministry of Education. In addition, the students will be exposed to companies, bodies, and organizations, whose activities seek to improve the system. They will familiarize themselves with the processes and objectives of the most fascinating initiatives.

Promotion of entrepreneurship in the school as an organizationThe course will deal with the understanding of the unique organizational aspects of the education system in general and the school in particular according to the open system approach. The course goal is to impart knowledge about and an understanding of schools as open systems that operate within a dynamic environment. During the course, the participants will encounter several central topics concerning organizational behavior, with the emphasis on the educational context.

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Development of educational leadershipIn view of the transition from centrality to decentralization in the implementation of the education systems, and in the light of the conflict that exists between change and conservatism in postmodern society, the course will deal with various aspects of leadership and leading change in education. The learners will encounter new theoretical approaches concerning personal leadership, professional leadership, and leading educational changes on the institutional level. The course goal is to expose the students to the complexity of the educational leadership role of the teacher, the principal, and anyone who elects to play a significant part in leading change in the school, the various ways of carrying out that role, and the challenges facing it when it seeks to effect changes in the schools.

SECTION IIDEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES

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From the grooming of a team to organizational developmentIn an era in which the education system is integrating reforms and new strategies in an effort to improve school effectiveness, many people are reaching the conclusion that teams are essential in order to ensure an integrative approach toward improving the quality of teaching on the one hand and intra-organizational efficacy on the other. The course goal is to increase students' awareness of the importance of teamwork by focusing on the processes that affect the performance of the educational teams. This will be accomplished by broadening their knowledge of approaches, theories, and research studies from the field of the social and behavioral sciences in order to groom influential educational leaders.

The image of the contemporary teacher – between principal and leaderRelating to the political reality is an important part of the teacher's role as an educator. In an era of mass media that are available to everyone on the one hand and of political, social, economic, and other tensions on the other, the classroom cannot be perceived as a bubble that is divorced from reality. For this reason, the teachers' role exceeds teaching; it is the study of specific knowledge areas. Teachers are educators who are required, among other things, to hold critical discussions concerning current affairs in their classrooms, and to encourage their pupils to become involved in social and political life as well as to take action as citizens of the state.

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Communications-based learning environments rich in language and technologyThe course will afford the students opportunities for computer-mediated teaching and learning. Computer mediation empowers educators and facilitates their personal professional development and hands-on experience with computer-mediated learning environments. The course will focus on several principal domains: (a) personal and professional information management, (b) contact with the parents and the community, (c) pedagogical planning and implementation (teaching-learning-evaluation). To this end, the students will be required to become acquainted with programs and trends to integrate computer mediation into education systems, to familiarize themselves with websites and computer-mediated activities, and to develop skills in the field of computer mediation.

SECTION IIIA COMBINATION OF INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGY AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE SERVICE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

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Social networks in the service of teaching and learningThe course will enable the learners to acquire tools for organizing and managing collaborative learning, to organize and lead a collaborative learning project with a community of pupils, and to develop computer-mediated activities in the various knowledge areas by means of a social network. The course will expose its participants to the following contents: use of social networks for learning purposes, the social network as a platform for improving the social climate in the classroom, becoming acquainted and working with a range of online collaborative tools, leading joint projects in various knowledge areas, and leading joint projects on the social network.

Project development workshopThe program participants will apply the experiences and academic knowledge they have acquired to an entire project on entrepreneurship and innovation in education that they will present at the end of the program. The goal of the project workshop is to develop entrepreneurial abilities among the students. The latter are responsible for choosing an idea and planning its mode of implementation. Everything takes place in a supportive academic environment that furnishes technological infrastructures as well as the advice of experts in the following fields:

• Choosing an idea for an original project in the educational field• Planning ways of getting the project started • Implementing the project and its results

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Environmental innovation – education for sustainability The topic of sustainability is the very essence of the future for all of us. Understanding and implementing it constitutes the key to the continued existence of humanity on Earth. The topic is broad and encompasses all areas of life. It deals with moral dilemmas that link concern for the environment with human values such as decency, social and environmental justice, mutuality, partnership, responsibility, universality, concern for future generations, transparency, peace, and so on.

SECTION IVCOMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL POLICY IN THE MUNICIPAL AREA

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Activities in the community – practical entrepreneurship and innovation Levinsky College of Education is situated in the heart of Tel Aviv's social activity. Inspired by a feeling of responsibility and leadership, lecturers and students alike volunteer and participate in social issues outside of the campus. In order to increase the social involvement and responsibility of the learners in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Education program, and to enable them to broaden their social and community experiences, a framework of activities has been planned, during which the students will take part in various social projects, social organizations, and informal education settings.

The students from abroad will conduct activities at an informal education center, where they will do the following:

• Observe the activities at the center• Meet with leaders at the center• Meet with children who are active at the center• Plan an activity to be conducted at the center• Try out an activity at the center – from theory to practice• Feedback and investigate the experience

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An ulpan for learning HebrewThis course will enable the students to become acquainted with the Hebrew language and to experience the basic learning of a new language. The lessons will be taught by qualified, professional, and experienced teachers who will teach a variety of topics: reading and writing, grammar and language, expressions, vocabulary expansion, and so on. The learning has proved to be very effective in two ways: (a) understanding and mastery of the Hebrew language in a short time, and (b) familiarity with the Israeli culture and experience.

Study trips and tours throughout IsraelDuring the semester, there will be tours and trips throughout Israel, which will serve as bonding activities, as a way of becoming acquainted with

SECTION VTHE ISRAELI EXPERIENCE

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sites of interest in the country, and as a means of tightening the participants' ties to the State of Israel. The tours and trips are a means of opening a window to Israel's culture and scenery, of expanding the mind, and of establishing new contacts with organizations, bodies, institutions, and companies throughout Israel. In addition, they afford a special experience, particularly when they are accompanied by professional guides who explain the places and sites and tell their stories.

Study trips will be held:• Tichonet – a high school without notebooks or textbooks• An innovative school in Bat Yam• Museum of the Diaspora• The Democratic School• The "Tza'ad Kadima" (Step Forward) NPO

Visit in the framework of the tours:• Jerusalem – Israel's capital• Haifa and the Galilee• The Dead Sea and the Judean Desert• Tel Aviv

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Prof. Hana EzerDean of the Faculty of Education

Dr. Doly LevyHead of the International SchoolDirector of Ulpan Levinsky

Dr. Alona ForkoshHead of the Authority for Supporting Learning and Teaching Head of ICT in Education

Dr. Yaakova SacerdotiHead of the Department of Hebrew and General LiteratureHead of the Department of Children's Literature

Dr. Michele Horowitz Head of English Language Education

Dr. Orly HebelHead of the Training Program for Special EducationHead of Special Education Studies

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LEVINSKY COLLEGE OF EDUCATIONFaculty of Education

ABOUT THE PROGRAMThe cost of the program includes:

• Tuition fees• Accommodation• Tours throughout Israel• Study trips• Community activities• A project workshop.

CONTACT US

Tel: from North America (718) 838-3533, Global: ++972-9-766-6222Website: www.universityinisrael.comE-mail: info@universityinisrael.comFacebook: StudyAbroadIsrael

"Levinsky College of Education was founded even before the establishment of the State. From then on until today, we know that education is the top priority of the State of Israel.Know that the main and important challenge is to develop human capital".

The President of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres Opening ceremony of the centenary celebrations in honor of Levinsky College of Education

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Tel: from North America (718) 838-3533, Global: ++972-9-766-6222website: www.universityinisrael.com | email: info@universityinisrael.com

Facebook: StudyAbroadIsrael