Thanks to the joint efforts of Microsoft Croatia, the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNET), and Storm Computers, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education, the Classroom of the Future was opened at Rovišće Primary School in Rovišće, near the city of Bjelovar. Rovišće Primary School was presented with a digital classroom equipped with cutting-edge technology, including 30 tablets with keyboards, an interactive smartboard, and wireless network equipment.
The classroom is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that will enable students to better prepare for the future labor market and the challenges of the 21st century.st century. 30 tablets with keyboards, an interactive smart board, wireless network equipment, and wheels for storage and recharging of the tablets will be available to students in class. All teachers and students will have access to Office 365 for schools, a set of useful tools intended for the education sector, free of charge for all teachers and students in Croatia. This includes an e-mail account with 50 GB of storage per user, Lync software for communication, shared file usage in OneDrive with 1 TB of storage per user, Office Online (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) via web browser, Teams, antispam and malware protection, and community support by phone.
Among these tools, OneNote and Teams are worth highlighting. OneNote can best be described as a replacement for teachers’ and students' notebooks. It not only allows for taking notes by hand or keyboard but also offers a wide range of options available through different computer software. OneNote enables students to organize better, research, and collaborate with each other. Considering that it supports viewing documents, pictures, diagrams, videos, and other formats, it allows teachers to create multimedia and interactive lessons. It is accessible from different computers, tablets, and mobile phones.
„Digital transformation of companies creates preconditions for a more effective economy, and the digital transformation of education prepares young people for the future. We are pleased to have participated in this initiative, the sixth in a row, with our partners, thereby creating preconditions for yet another Croatian school for exceptional digital education. Investing in the knowledge of young people is the best possible investment in the future,” said Tatjana Skoko, Director of Microsoft Croatia.
Teams is a tool that enables communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and skill development. Communication in Teams allows students to collaborate with their peers regardless of their location, communicate with teachers, or follow presentations by guest speakers in a safe environment.
Children in primary schools today are growing up with computers, smartphones, touchscreens, and other technological wonders, and they use them instinctively because they have always been surrounded by them. For that reason, they can easily accept and use them. The goal of the classroom of the future is to utilize the advantages of modern technology and promote interactive teaching where students and teachers can share teaching materials, test their knowledge, search for information, and participate in different activities that foster critical thinking and research. Teachers can also benefit by implementing modern tools in their teaching because they can easily share teaching materials with students via smart screens or directly to their tablets, they can have instant insight into student progress in class or during activities, and they can check understanding through short quizzes, surveys, or discussions.
„Almost 90 percent of modern jobs require a certain level of digital skills and competence, and education is key in preparing young people for successful participation in society and the labor market. We are pleased to have the opportunity to ensure better working conditions for teachers with the support of Microsoft and to showcase the advantages of information and communication technologies in improving the quality of education,“ said Goran Kezunović, the CEO of CARNET.
„We are proud that Rovišće Elementary School is among the first schools in Croatia to be included in the smart classroom project. Both students and teachers have welcomed this project with joy. Our students inspire us with their curiosity and thirst for knowledge. We are grateful because we see great potential for raising the bar of excellence in primary-level education, which will significantly help our students in their future secondary and university education. Teachers will create digital teaching content in cooperation with our partner companies and adapt it to the Croatian education system and language. A big thank you to all who made this project possible,“ said Blanka Klemić, the principal of Rovišće Elementary School.
Storm Computers, an experienced implementer of similar solutions, was responsible for the hardware in the classroom of the future. Storm Computers also provides additional support through teacher training courses.