COOL-Impulse Centre In 2001 the Impulse-Centre for Co- operative Open Learning was set up to spread the concept in on-the-job training courses for teachers. teams of teachers are enabled to implement the concept in their schools. main principle of the training concept is to teach COOL by using COOL methods in a “learning-by doing” approach.

COOL-Network Building a network of COOL-partners is another aim of the Centre. In 2004 quality standards were set up and until schools have applied at the Impulse Centre and were awarded the certificate COOL-Network-Partner-School.

COOL history CO-operative Open Learning Started in STEYR in 1996 in 3- year business school, in 2000 in 5-year form developed along concepts in NL & DK based on Dalton Plan practised in 8 classes, 30 teachers involved considerable response among vocational schools in Austria

DALTON PLAN historical background: Progressive Education Movement –USA around 1900 (John Dewey) Learning from experience, getting in touch with knowledge, teacher as a coach Helen Parkhurst -Laboratory Plan, High School in Dalton /Massachusetts (1919) “it‘s no longer school, it‘s life“ – training of social skills in school are the roots of democracy

DALTON PRINCIPLES freedom & responsibility co-operation budgeting time

What does COOL mean? Regular class-teachers‘ team meetings Assignments in various subjects (also mixed-subject assignments) Open learning lessons for about one third of lessons - students have freedom of choice (what, with whom where and when to work on which assignment) Regular class meetings (chaired by students) to promote communicative skills Constant reflection and evaluation of work by students and teachers Feedback on development of social skills Participation of and refelction with parents

Cooperative Open Learning - focus on students‘ activity

Promoting Students‘ Teamwork with co-operative working methods with regular class meetings (student conferences) with seminars for team-development  Personal development within a community  Constant co-operation of small teams (feedback and evaluation)  Creative and communicative skills to solve conflicts and problems  Leadership and management of organisations

Aims of COOL Making students responsible for their learning process and improving their creative problem solving skills Enforcing individual and communicative skills to guarantee personal development within a working community Shifting the focus from teaching to learning to uncover personal resource and to promote the potential of the individual

Impulse-Centre for Co-operative Open Learning constant development of the COOL teaching concept on-the-job training for teachers coaching schools on implementation coordination of COOL- Impulse-Schools and Network-Partners (40-50 schools all over Austria)

“Teaching is simply like taking a horse to the water, but the leader of the horse cannot make the horse drink.” Helen Parkurst: Education the Dalton Plan (1922)