Methods

How can we prepare young people for the future, what do we need to do as educators and teachers to not only teach effectively, but also to develop students’ professional and transversal competences? What methods can we use to motivate young people to take responsibility for their own knowledge and development?

There are many different ways and methods of developing competences. From a practical point of view, motivational teaching methods (games, group work, exploration, discussion, projects) play an important role in competence development. Game-based and inquiry-based learning, creating a safe learning environment, fostering interaction and collaboration are significant innovations in teaching methods and learning organisation, with a focus on the strengths of students’ personalities and their active participation.

The reform of education and training involves a new type of relationship between the teacher and the learner, new strategies for teaching and knowledge acquisition, more effective methods, forms and tools that also influence effectiveness. The following learner-centred, active learning/teaching methods are recommended to enrich teachers’ methodological toolbox.

"From Sources to a Star"

Systematic inventive thinking. In the case of innovation from resources we are dealing with existing products as opposed to customers and their needs.

Brainstorming

A method for generating ideas that will provide a solution to a problem

Brainwriting

It is a technique for rapid idea generation that eliminates many of the pitfalls of traditional brainstorming meetings.

Innovation Cube

This methodology guides our thinking towards incremental as well as breakthrough ideas, while its application also leads to consideration of future needs.

Ishikawa / Fishbone Diagram

Causal diagram showing potential causes of a specific event/defect.

Ishikawa /Fishbone Diagram

Cause-Effect Diagram

Key Success Factors method

This method focuses on those factors which are the most important for success (Key Success Factors or KSF) and on the basis of which the ideas are evaluated.

Numerical sensitivity analysis (+/- method)

This method focuses on assesment of financial aspects of the invention

PDCA Deming cycle

The PDCA method is used to improve organisational processes and to solve problems.

Prototyping

Prototyping is a process where the ideas are materialised – turned from ideas, scetches into tangible forms.