IASCE Forum - Cooperative Learning in Cyprus

Here is the latest installment of the IASCE Forum, coordinated by Executive Board member Yael Sharan.

Many IASCE members met representatives of the Cyprus Association for Cooperative Learning (CyACL), at the IASCE international conferences in Manchester and Singapore. CyACL's president Neophytos Charalambous tells the story of this relatively new addition to the CL family.

A Short Historical Note about Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Since the Mycenaean settled on the island over 3000 years ago and established the Hellenic civilization, Phoenicians, Romans, Crusaders, Franks, Venetians, Turks and British left their mark on the island. The Republic of Cyprus was established as an independent state in 1960 and has recently joined the European Union. The total population of Cyprus is 760,000 inhabitants (Greeks, Turks and other minorities).

Education in Cyprus

Schooling in Cyprus has a history of more than 150 years, when a number of primary schools were founded by the Orthodox Church. During British rule (1878-1960), there was a feeling of safety and freedom that gave education a push, and primary schools were founded almost in every village. But it was after 1960 that education began to flourish.

The educational system in Cyprus has three levels: primary (6 years); secondary, which offers two three-year cycles (Gymnasio and Lykeio) to pupils between the ages of 12 and 18; and tertiary.

The curriculum includes core and interdisciplinary subjects, and a variety of extracurricular activities.

Technical and professional education offers two 3-yr programs of studies for students who have successfully completed the Gymnasio. Both programs provide a balanced general education, technological training and laboratory practice, to prepare students for industry or for tertiary education.

Teacher Training

The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute is the state institution responsible for teacher training. It is now undergoing reform and will soon be upgraded to the Institute for Development of Education in Cyprus. Its main activities are in-service training of teachers of all grades, pre-service training of secondary school teachers, educational research and evaluation, educational documentation, educational technology, and curriculum development.

The Cyprus Association for Cooperative Learning

As part of the changes in education, the Cyprus Association for Cooperative Learning (CyACL), a non-profit, non-governmental organization, was founded in September 2001 by twenty-one educators. It has become the most popular educational association in Cyprus, and already numbers 650 members. The vision of the Association is to promote cooperation at all levels of school life through CL and the cooperative school. The aims and objectives of the Association are:

• Improvement of the quality of Cyprus Education and of the whole ecology of school.
• Promotion of the implementation of CL in schools in Cyprus, Greece and other countries.
• Cooperation, mutual support and interaction of its members.
• Production, dissemination and exchange of educational material.
• Creation of a Centre of Co-operative Learning.
• Training school teachers in the theory and practice of CL.
• Promotion of educational research on CL.
• Publication of a newsletter and/or educational journal.

We seek to establish connections with educational institutions and foundations in Greece and other countries by participating in international conferences, organizing international conferences and by joining international foundations or associations with similar aims.

We are realizing these aims by doing the following:

• Cooperating and collaborating with any foundation or individual with similar aims as well as with the Ministry of Education and Culture and other services.
• Organizing cultural and educational activities and events to strengthen ties between members and friends and develop a cooperative spirit.
• Publishing and disseminating material to brief members, teachers and the public about the events, aims and objectives of the Association.
• Maintaining a web page and publishing articles, projects and other work in the mass media.
• Creating and maintaining the Cooperating Learning Centre for meetings, communication and interaction of members.
• Initiating research on issues concerning CL.

Membership in the Association is open to teachers from all the levels of public or private schools of Cyprus or abroad, professors, inspectors, educational psychologists and anyone who shares the vision of a modern, qualitative and cooperative school.

The Activities of the Association

By October 2003 we were ready to organize our first pan-Cyprian educational conference. The theme was “The Cooperative School: From theory to practice”. It was a great success. About 400 educators had the opportunity to hear David Johnson's presentation on “Building Acceptance of Differences in the Diverse Classroom through Cooperative Learning.” At the same conference, Professor Dimitris Germanos talked about “The Educational Redesigning of the school environment for the promotion of CL,” Elias Matsangouras lectured on “Interdisciplinary Learning and the Flexible Zone,” and Yael Sharan spoke on “Essential Features of Teacher Education for Cooperative Learning.” All the presentations and lectures were published in a beautiful edition that many individual teachers and schools use as a reference.

At the Second General Assembly of CyACL, held on February 13^th 2005, I reviewed the activities of the first three years. During this time, numerous workshops and seminars have been held throughout Cyprus, some on specific themes such as: "Learning through experiencing Cooperative Learning;” and “Creativity and cooperation” (presented by Dr Nicos Lygeros); “Creating the proper environment for Cooperative Learning” (presented by Professor Dimitris Germanos and Dr Dina Tamoutseli); “Three different types of CL for your classroom or your school;" (presented by Professor David Johnson); and “Utilizing the indoor environment for the development of cooperative skills in the classroom” organized by Professor Dimitris Germanos. In addition there were gatherings on topics such as “The theory of Multiple Intelligence and its educational implementation," led by Professor George Flouris of the University of Athens and “The European dimension in education: Europe in the school and the school in Europe,” presented by Professor George Flouris and Dr George Pasias.

Membership in International Associations

Soon after its establishment CyACL became a regular member of IASCE. CyACL was represented at IASCE’s international conferences in Manchester in June 2002 and in Singapore in June 2004.

Journal “Synergatiki Paedeia” (Cooperative Education)

One of the main objectives of CyACL is the dissemination of the philosophy, theory and practice of CL and the Cooperative School through a journal. We have already published nine issues of the “Synergatiki Paedeia,” which has become the voice of teachers, professors, psychologists and all those who elaborate on the theory, research and practice of CL.

The Second Educational Conference

On November 5-6, 2005 CyACL organized the Second Pan Cyprian Educational Conference in Nicosia. The theme was “Co-operative models, structures of Cooperative Learning and creative thinking.” Lynda Baloche, IASCE co-president, one of four distinguished speakers, spoke about “Planning on creativity and cooperation.” Spencer Kagan addressed the topic, "With over 200 cooperative structures, where do I begin?” Professor John Paraskevopoulos talked about “Creative thinking in the school,” and Professor Sephes Bouzakis elaborated on “Centralization, decentralization and autonomy of the school community: European theory and practice”. I addressed the 350 participants about the vision and the activities of the Association. It is

gratifying to note that the Minister of Education is always present at CyACL conferences, has adopted its principles and has become a fan of CL.  Two workshops followed, one with Dr Kagan on “Aligning instruction with how the brain best learns through co-operative structures,” and another with Professor John Paraskevopoulos on “Strategies for the development of creative thinking.”

We look forward to many more years of development and collaboration.