Inspiratorium
About the Programme
for Teaching
About the Programme
Inspiratorium is a programme aimed at teachers. It was launched by the Polish Children’s Fund in collaboration with the Young Explorers’ Clubs network and with the support of the Credit Suisse Foundation.
Inspiratorium was brought into being because we believe that the Fund’s tried and tested approach to educating gifted young people should be propagated. Our extensive experience demonstrates that the activities offered to our scholarship holders within the framework of the GIFTED Programme perfectly complement the school curriculum. Our long-term goal is exposing a growing number of young people to a model of education that emphasises practical skills as well as independence and critical thinking. That is why we want all the know-how we have amassed over the years to be available to teachers, so that they can inspire their pupils as well as instil in them empathy, curiosity, and self-confidence.
Thus, every year we invite 15 teachers from small towns and villages to embark on a journey of mutual inspiration in which they can learn and discuss strategies for working with gifted, enthusiastic, inquisitive, and passionate students. Participants in the Inspiratorium programme are given a unique chance to develop their passions and hone their skills so that they are well-equipped to discover and foster the talents of their pupils.
Our Goals
In our unique programme, which was created specifically for exceptionally committed teachers, emphasis is put on:
- collaborative work in small but diverse teams
- exchanging experiences
- building relationships between participants so that they can support one another both in everyday work and in the implementation of innovative projects
- creating a space for discussion and reflection during classes given to the Fund’s scholarship holders as well as in meetings with artists and scientists
The main goal of Inspiratorium is to introduce teachers to novel ways of working with students. Such knowledge is gained through watching the behaviour of talented young people during dedicated classes organised by the Fund, in conversations with researchers and science communicators, as well as in fruitful exchange with other passion-driven teachers from all over Poland.
What Participants Say
I really appreciated the informal character of all the sessions as well as how the small number of people participating in the Inspiratorium programme encouraged socialising and made it possible for us to develop meaningful relationships. The fact that the meetings were held several times a year further contributed to the strengthening of these bonds – as is rarely the case with similar events.
The Inspiratorium meetings allow me to rediscover my drive for work; they show that going the extra mile is worth it and provides a constant supply of fresh ideas. Despite the diversity of our backgrounds and the fact that we teach different subjects in different types of schools, it is always exceptionally inspiring to just talk about our experiences.
Participating in Inspiratorium has been an extremely valuable experience which has undoubtedly influenced my perception of my own work as a teacher – especially when it comes to supporting students who are particularly committed or inquisitive. Despite having been in this job for more than thirty years, I never cease to yearn for inspiration – not least because both didactic practices and the attitudes of students themselves are changing very quickly. […] Being able to audit classes given during the interdisciplinary camps of the Polish Children’s Fund – as well as to take part in them – has benefited me in many ways and allowed me to gain insight into how to become a successful mentor, how to teach classes in a less conventional (perhaps even unorthodox) way, and how to explain a difficult topic in such a way that it is within the reach of each and every student.
Inspiratorium gave me a lot of energy and made me reflect extensively on my own work. What is more, my attitude towards the students has changed. Now I know that at least 10% of them can be classified as hidden talents – and I would like to make a contribution to their discovery.
