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Program results
The Academy was established in 2019
The Great Works Academy is a unique Slovak educational program, established in 2019. So far, 2,370 participants have completed the program, including 153 elementary school students, 358 adults in schools, and 1,890 high school students from 46 schools across Slovakia.
In the 2024/2025 school year
registration for the program is still open at more than 50 schools
more than
?
high school students
more than
430
high school students
more than
?
elementary school students
more than
?
colleagues
Jakub, Bratislava
I think one of the most important things the Academy can teach us is to be open to people who listen to us and even more open to those who love us and know us.
Karolina, Levoca
It was the biggest surprise I’ve ever experienced; it really gave me a lot, and I didn’t expect to feel any change, but it happened! I used to absolutely dislike reading books, but after this year, everything is completely different. Thank you!
Nina, Nitra
I just want to ask you never to stop this program. What you are doing here is something monumental. It is essential for as many young people as possible to join the Academy to experience it firsthand.
How our students have improved
in the 2023/2024 school year
We create the Academy's program with regard to the development of specific skills in high school students.We design the Academy's program with a focus on developing specific skills in high school students.
Program participants therefore complete internationally recognized tests (DIT and SCIO) at the beginning and end of the school year. and a self-assessment form.
A comparison of the results before and after graduating from the Academy demonstrates in which areas and to what extent the program has contributed to the development of students' key competences.
Critical thinking
Academy students improved their critical thinking
and solving moral dilemmas. Their results were
8.2 times higher
as required by a successful learning activity.
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DIT (Defining Issue Test) test of critical thinking in collaboration with the University of Alabama
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SCIO reading comprehension test
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Self-assessment form
Reading comprehension
Students of the Academy improved their reading comprehension (average percentile) by 5.6 points, which is 2 points better than students who apply to Slovak universities using SCIO and take the same test.
In practice, this means they can better understand the text, recognize more important details, and perceive its many hidden meanings.
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Concentration
46% of students claim that their concentration has improved thanks to the Academy .
77% of students expressed that they listen better and interrupt less (focusing on the thoughts of others).
70% of students say that thanks to the Academy, they find time to reflect on their thoughts (focusing on their thoughts).
47% of students expressed that they are more active in class (focusing on the subject matter and actively reacting to it).
Character development
In the field of character development, we want to help students navigate their ability to become a better version of themselves. This concept is also called "education of desire" (from the English schooling of desire, Karen Bohlin, Teaching character education through literature: Awakening the Moral Imagination in Secondary Classrooms, 2005 ) .
The education of desire happens thanks to the moral imagination, which we specifically focused on in the testing:
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77% of students claim that their ability to see has improved thanks to the Academy
and to understand the different perspectives of life and the characters of people. -
The Academy opened new life perspectives and ways of thinking to 55% of students .
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69% of students perceive an improvement in empathy and understanding of others.
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64% of students perceive that thanks to the Academy they can better assess themselves, situations and others.
How do elementary school students develop in the program?
Primary school children's moral imagination improves more than secondary school children.
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How do teachers develop in the program?
91% of teachers would recommend the Academy to their colleagues.
Teachers improved more than students in critical thinking and reading comprehension.
Academy teachers have improved their critical thinking and solving moral dilemmas . Their results were 14.9 times higher than required for a successful educational activity.
Academy teachers improved their reading comprehension (average percentile) by 5 points .
MORAL IMAGINATION OF TEACHERS
72% of teachers say that thanks to the Academy, their ability to see and understand different perspectives of life and people's character has improved.
For 51% of teachers, the Academy opened up new life perspectives and ways of thinking.
67% of teachers perceive an improvement in empathy and understanding of others.
53% of teachers perceive that they better assess themselves, situations and others.
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Juraj, Trnava
I was pleased to observe how students enrich each other and are surprised by each other's views/conclusions.
Zuzana, Bratislava
The academy taught me to better understand my students, to better understand the meaning of the discussion. I like to get to know each other, learn new things, ask questions and want to hear the answer to them - the Academy satisfied and fulfilled all my life aspirations, values and needs.
Valéria, Levoča
Even another year with the Academy of Great Works confirmed to me that it is a program that moves me forward personally and professionally
How do teachers develop in the Academy for Colleagues program?
86% of participants of the Academy for colleagues would this program
recommend to their friends and colleagues.
Participants of the Academy for colleagues
in the 2022/2023 school year
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78% of participants say that thanks to the Academy they can communicate better with their colleagues.
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84% of participants claim that they have better relationships with their colleagues.
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75% of the participants claim that they gained new inspiration for their own learning and education.
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59% of participants listen more to their students/children.
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94% of participants perceive that they have grown intellectually.
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75% of participants got to know themselves better.
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59% of the participants claim that the Academy for colleagues encouraged them in the teaching profession.
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91% of participants found time for themselves (reflection, reflection).
parent
I found time to slow down, self-reflect, reevaluate the life I lead. It allowed me to go a little deeper in life - to know beauty, truth and love
also in art. All this thanks to works
and to the people I'm almost about
he knew nothing.
teacher
I got to the other side of the "barricade". I perceive the needs of students better and reflect more on differences of opinion.
a school employee
The academy was beneficial for me in opening up new horizons, in supporting critical thinking and in accepting other views and opinions on different areas due to the diversity of the group. I also perceive personal development, when I found time for myself, to work with my thoughts and to devote myself to culture in the given areas.