Abstract:

In order to meet new civilization demands science search for the most effective teaching methods. Teachers are expected to present an innovative approach to education that shall allow them to overcome the deficiencies of teaching models based on the traditional scheme - an active teacher and a passive student. More and more new technologies are being included into the educational process, but they are usually limited to reading texts, watching films and images via computer connected to the Internet, what is relatively inefficient.

The article presents a new method of education available thanks to the Innovation Laboratory (i-Lab) which was created for the teachers of the special education. The space uses the synergy of several components, such as a special design of an environment, activities stimulating creativity, and an access to the computers with Virtual Brainstorming software (VBS). This combination encourages i-Lab users to work productively, develop new ways of drawing conclusions, participation in the collaborative activities, which can speed up the process of thinking and creating. The article concerns also the methodology of the use of the electronic brainstorming software (EBS) during the classes with the special emphasis on the methods of the activation in the professional preparation of the special education teachers with the examples of the practice and the role of using sensory help during the intensive creative work.

Referring to the experience in working with students of the special education and to the results of the evaluation studies, we will discuss the potential and the barriers of the use of i-Lab and the electronic brainstorming in academic realities.

This article is based on the results obtained during the three-year Erasmus+ KA2 project 2014-1-PL01-KA202-003428 – Innovation Laboratories in the development of competences of special pedagogy teachers and people with special educational needs. The aim of the project was to exchange the experiences and the good practices in the organization of the educational process with the use of new methods of education, available by applying Labs Innovation in vocational teaching and specialized courses.

Keywords:

Electronic brainstorming, Innovation Laboratory, special education, special education teachers, teachers training.