The atmosphere was similar at the workshop carried out by Austrian Professor, Ernst Wimmer, in Technical School for Wood Processing, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture, for teachers of the future upholsters-decorators.
''Upholstering is one of the nicest trades and is really valued in Austria. Our classes are fully occupied because, in schools, we prepare kids for independent work in worshops, which is an advantage''
said Wimmer, surprised by the information that there is a low level of interest for this profile among Serbian students.
Our teachers attentively observed everything their Austrian colleague showed them and then patiently and neaty cut the materials, upholstered parts of furniture, sewed decorative ribbons on. Teaching materials brought by the Austrian professor have been especially useful - textbooks, teachers' handbooks, exercises developed and prepared by teachers who try to make each lesson interesting and different in form.
''It is not only about work techniques, it is also about passing the knowledge to students in a different wasy. In that sense, our colleague's experience is valuable''
said Jovan Vukadin, teacher in Technical School for Wood Processing.
Given the teachers' level of interest and readiness to participate in training, it can be said that exchange of experience and best practice examples are what Serbian teachers lack and need the most. Cooperation established during seminars is the first step towards bridging this gap. |