Lipjan school shows potential of digital learning

Lipjan, March 2022 – The concept of inertia is not just a theory anymore. Nor are chemical reactions just formulas. Science is coming to life in Kosovo through videos that use animation and graphics.

In Kosovo, schools are starting to access online resources with the goal of improving students’ learning outcomes.

“This method is easier for students to learn and remember the lesson, it is more productive, and on top of all it enhances students’ interest,” said Avdi Azemi, an elementary school teacher in Lipjan.

His school “Vëllezërit Frashëri” was provided with the internet and seven laptops, thanks to a partnership between UNICEF Kosovo and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kosovo that supports digitalization for quality learning and inclusion.

“We now use the internet to show images and videos in almost 40 per cent of the classes. It is helpful especially for science subjects which include some theories that are impossible to understand only by reading – students need to see the theories in practice,” Mr Azemi said.

Students like Anid Sadiku, 14, say that accessing new information has become easier. “Schools in Kosovo rarely have internet connections so most of us were very excited about it. The internet is like a huge library and access is very easy, like with a phone for instance, just by using your fingers,” he said.

His peer Erëza Llugiqi said that having access to laptops was also a big change for students. Out of the 40 students in her class, only three or four can afford personal laptops. Sometimes teachers lent their personal laptops to students so they could complete their assignments. “Now no one feels bad or gets left behind because they do not have a laptop to make a presentation, for example,” she said.

Previously, 304 students had to share the same laptop in Information Technology classes. They did not get the opportunity to actually use programs like Word and Excel. Instead, the teacher explained using a textbook and diagrams.

 “It is different when most of students have access to technology where they can practice, and now we have laptops at school it is much easier to learn,” Erëza said.

Digitalization still has some challenges, according to Mr Azemi: the first one is that many older teachers do not have basic computer skills, and secondly, many schools still lack access to devices. Some students also need training on IT, and how to maintain their devices and connect to networks.

“Now we have the devices at our school, this is improving. About 40 per cent of our staff are over the age of 50, but they are not reluctant to learn because they have seen that students want to learn through visuals, and they are willing to learn and cooperate,” he said.

Teachers at his school have received training on using Microsoft Teams and shkollat.org, the platform launched by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and UNICEF in Kosovo, based on the global Learning Passport tool supported by Microsoft and Cambridge University. and UNICEF. The platform has so far been accessed by 345,000 students, with more to come. Mr Azemi said that school shutdowns due to COVID-19 accelerated the digitalization of education.

Our donor, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ambassador Carin Lobbezoo respectively received gratitude from schools benefiting from the project with UNICEF.

Ambassador Lobbezoo stated that “giving children access to education via the education e-platform, shows that we want to contribute to Kosovo’s aim of providing quality education for all children irrespective of their background. Online learning will also assist the young generation in better preparing with necessary skills for the digital era that they grow up in”. 

"Microsoft Teams for example, it's a very good, accessible space and communication with parents has changed. Now they know the place where they can ask their questions and they receive the required answers about the learning process.

“You can find some really good materials on shkollat.org. So, if the students have not understood the lesson 100%, they will surely understand it when they play and replay the lesson at home.”