Wrote about us

What did it give them?
New experience, new approaches, new machines. Due to the cooperation in the project, we switched to Unimat machines. I have noticed that even technical teachers who were initially skeptical of the machines (they cannot cut thicker pieces of wood, etc.) today recognize the advantages of Unimat machines. I am personally very satisfied. Students quickly get used to them, lose their fear and work independently or in pairs, which is not possible with classic vibration machines, as they are fixed in one place. My goal is for the students to prepare their own workspace and move and secure the machines themselves.

Did they learn anything?
In addition to new experiences and the exchange of good practices, I gained insight into the functioning of other schools (mainly by participating in the competition in Osijek). I will be moving to a different way of making products: smaller, less complex products, but with a greater emphasis on precision.

Will it help them work with children with special needs?
I see a great benefit in connecting this project with children with special needs. There are no children with special needs at our school, but it is very noticeable how the students focus on their work and forget about their surroundings. Even among students without special needs, there is a noticeable sense of calmness. We are in contact with Kozara Primary School, a school with a program for children with special needs, and we want to work with them on this project, as they see great advantages in our experience.

Would you like to participate in an international competition?
We would be very happy if the project continues. We are already happy to participate in the national competition, but we would also like to participate in the international competition.

During the school year, Fram Primary School participated in the international project Erasmus+ SVK, "Masters of technics".

At the school, we held a school competition in which 8 students (4 teams) participated. 2 teams from the 6th grade qualified for the national competition. We won 2nd and 3rd place.

Mentors, competitors and all participating students are of the opinion that there are not enough competitions where students can practice their manual skills. The project enabled us to spread the popularization of the technique at school, as all students of the school could follow the competition.

We have acquired new tools and machines for sawing and sanding, which are child-friendly and above all safe to use. The project increased the students' desire to create and the enrollment in elective courses in materials processing increased.

We learned a lot from the project. The contestants, who all expressed their desire to create and make various products from wood, won the most. They came to rehearsals regularly and created with all their enthusiasm.

They learned to cooperate with each other, as the task required a team of two students. Precision sawing, proper sanding, and the correct use of joint glue quickly became the norm, and in a way, a healthy rivalry developed.

In the end, everyone was able to realistically evaluate their product.

Since the tools and machines are easy and safe to use, as a technology teacher at our school, I believe that this type of activity should be included among younger students. I am also of the opinion that such activities motivate and calm children. This type of activity is also suitable for difficult children and children with special needs.

Since we know less about how other countries are equipped and how foreign schools deal with students in the field of engineering, technology and developing manual skills, we would be happy to participate in an international competition.

The project gave the teacher a detailed insight into step-by-step work with UNIMAT machines. He learned about examples of good practice and introduced them into his lessons.

The work shown is very suitable for working with students with special needs. The students accepted the work very well, trained in manual skills, got used to working with machines and produced beautiful products.

We participated in a competition with the students, which the students were very excited about. They saw that they could compete with their peers and left the competition satisfied.

We will be happy to participate in further competitions.

What did it give them?
I think it gave them a good experience going forward.

Did they learn anything?
They definitely learned patience, how to train precision, and of course cooperation in pairs

Will it help them work with children with special needs?
This is probably meant for mentors... In all probability, such experience can help them a bit when working with children with special needs, as the participants in the competition were also students with special needs and all competitors were equal or had equal conditions and participated equally.

Would you like to participate in an international competition?
Yes, participation in the international competition is welcome.

The evaluation of the project is as follows:
Regarding the project, part of which took place in Vitanje (in Ksevto), I believe that it was carried out in an excellent organizational manner. Especially at the level of preparation for the competition or implementation, only implementation and finally with results, evaluations. In fact, on every possible level. If I were to compare the competitive part with the competition in Osijek, I think that it was at just as high a level as in Osijek, since the competitive part was carried out quite similarly, but with fewer competitors in terms of number (or mass). Regarding the technical and organizational implementation, I believe that it was in Slovenia at a higher level.

My contribution to the competition in Vitanje was initially a list of all the competitors and their mentors, i.e. creating the minutes of the competition and at the end a record of the rankings of individual competitors and help in handing out awards to the competitors.

I learned that running a technical competition is a very demanding process that was not in my hands, but all the praise to the heads of the organization, because I know that behind it there is a lot of work, coordination, etc.

I believe that the competitors were also impressed by the implementation and final part of the competition and would be willing to participate in similar projects.

I involved most of the students in the second level of primary school in the project, as we held a school round, where I selected two best students. They were both girls from the 8th grade.
The victory in the national round was celebrated by the girls themselves, the entire school, parents, and even the residents of the town.

I believe I gave the girls more confidence. Technical competitions don't have to be won only by boys. I motivated others, and now they are looking forward to the next round.

Nowadays, when technology is increasingly connected to everyday life, it is essential that children from a young age gain experience with modern tools and technologies. Thanks to the combination of innovative machines and the Erasmus+ project, we managed to create a project in Primary schools that not only enhances children's technical skills but also has a significant impact on local and regional levels.

Impact of the project at the local and regional level
The project had a positive response not only at the level of individual schools but also within entire communities and regions. In towns and villages where the project was implemented, it was shown that children are acquiring new skills that are invaluable for their future. Local communities appreciated the opportunity to expand educational possibilities for children and helped promote the project at the regional level.

Reactions from local governments and school authorities were extremely positive. Mayors and regional representatives praised the project's contribution not only to technical education but also to the overall development of children. In some regions, there is even consideration of extending the project to other schools, thereby increasing the reach of this successful program.

Dissemination of project results
To ensure the project's results reach a wider audience, we used various communication channels. Information about the project, including photo documentation and videos, was shared on our official website and social media platforms.
We created a section dedicated to this project on our website, where we regularly update information about the progress and results of individual activities.
On our Facebook page, we shared posts and photos from workshops and demonstrations showing how children work.
On Instagram, we posted visually engaging posts and stories from school workshops to engage a wider audience, especially young people and parents.

Involvement of children from target groups
One of the key goals of the project was to ensure that children from various target groups, including children with special needs, girls, and refugees, were included in informal education. We are proud to have created an inclusive environment where every child had the opportunity to develop their skills.

Children with special needs were given the opportunity to work in small groups with individual support, allowing them to progress at their own pace. Girls were actively encouraged to participate in technical projects, which helped boost their confidence and interest in technical fields. Refugees who participated in the project gained not only technical skills but also improved language and social competencies, helping them integrate better into local communities.

The overall benefit of the project was reflected in the improvement of basic skills for all involved children, which is confirmed by feedback from teachers and parents. This project thus not only contributes to technical education but also to the development of a wide range of skills necessary for a successful future for children.

The "Masters of Technics" project from the Erasmus+ program represents a successful model that could inspire other educational programs at both local and regional levels.

I mentioned the project at a staff meeting. The feedback from colleagues was positive.

I will involve students this school year to improve practical skills in technical lessons. The target group will include all second-level students (boys, girls, students from marginalized groups, and students with special needs).

The project "Masters of technics – manual skills are priceless," in which our school was involved, was completed with enthusiasm passed on to us by the project implementers from the SEA agency, who participated in the Erasmus+ program, and the co-implementers from Slovenia and Croatia.

From the first meeting in Modra, which was also attended by the owner of the company producing small machining tools, I knew that getting involved in the project was the right step that would move our school forward.

At the first meeting, we had the opportunity to work on the scroll saw and verify the safety of the machines designed for children.

Through webinars, we learned how to handle machines and kits, design and draw templates for cutting on scroll saws. We not only learned how to work with the program but also how to obtain it for schools for free through a form on the program's website.

We also attended training on the maintenance and servicing of the mentioned machines. The great advantage was the webinar recordings, which allowed us to review and practice individual activities.

After attending the regional competition in Croatia, we were thrilled with the well-organized event and full of energy to prepare our students for our national competition. The Croatian hosts, very friendly people, explained everything we needed and willingly answered our additional questions.

We regularly worked with the machines during technical lessons at school, and by adhering to basic safety rules, we also performed maintenance on the machines, which greatly interested the children. Our reward was a 3rd place in the national "Masters of Technics" competition.

The national "Masters of technics" competition was organized at a high level, with valuable prizes for the best and a rich accompanying program. The participation of the owner of the small machining tools company in the competition was a great experience for both children and teachers. It was evident from the students' work that they had been practicing throughout the year, and the evaluation of individual products and the selection of winners was challenging. The judges included the project organizers from SEA, co-organizers from Croatia and Slovenia, and the owner of TheCoolTool company.

Although the personal meetings and webinars with the project partners were conducted in English, thanks to the members of the organizing team and their translations, everything was well explained.

In conclusion, I would evaluate the entire project as very good, successful, and worthwhile. From the meetings with people passionate about the cause and willing to help, both we and our students took away great experiences and the desire to continue.

The "Masters of technics" project had a positive impact on students and the Roma community, especially thanks to the participation of a member of the marginalized community in the competition. The participation of a Roma student in the competition led to increased self-confidence. Realizing his own abilities and having them recognized, which was appreciated for the participating pair even at the final evaluation of the school year in front of school students, parents, and municipal representatives, can motivate other members of the community to strive to achieve their goals and improve their education and skills.

Success in the technical field motivated others to actively participate in technical activities. There was an increased interest from both boys and girls in the technical club.

The feedback was mainly from students. More children would like to participate in the national competition in Slovakia. They enjoyed working with the kits.

I shared the results of the project through our school's website, and I will write an article in the upcoming community newsletter.

I involved students from the target group – girls and students with special needs in the school education. They certainly improved their skills, especially manual ones. The girls mostly achieved better results, their work was more precise, and they showed greater interest.

I informed the school leadership and other teachers about the project's goals, and they showed great interest in the activities the students were engaged in. I passed on my personal experience with the machines' work, repair, and maintenance, material preparation, and technical drawing through the program to a colleague who teaches technical education. The reactions to the project were positive in every case, emphasizing the practical acquisition of skills, manual control, maintenance of machines by students, and work safety.

We disseminated the project's results through our school's website, Važecká 11 in Prešov, and through the school's Facebook page.

We involved 7th, 8th, and 9th-grade students in the project, both boys and girls, Ukrainian students, students with special needs, and one student with a mental disability.

Regarding the involvement of the target group, yes, we mainly involved children with special needs, but of course also other students during technical lessons, where the students enjoyed working with Unimat machines. With frequent use of these machines, they gained more practice and thus improved their skills.

The project had an impact on the school and the community. The girls were praised, and the mayor rewarded them with a 30-euro gift card. The feedback from the school leadership led to splitting the largest class into two groups for technical lessons, which was included in the new timetable.

I don't use any social networks, and the competition photos were only published on the school website, Primary School Svätý Kríž.

Children from the target group – in our case, only girls and students with special needs – were all involved in the lessons, and I already have several students signed up for the next round of the competition, so I will have to select participants. I believe it helped most of them, and it will continue to help improve their basic skills in the future.

The project received very positive feedback not only among the children at school but also from their parents and the town's residents. They were excited that we were returning to teaching practical skills, especially working with wood and using safe machines. Parents of preschoolers on open day were also delighted to see that this clever machine could be used on school premises.

The principal regularly informed about the project on the school's website, as well as in the local "Kremnické noviny" newspaper. Older children enjoy working with the machine and then assembling the individual models. Younger children prefer pre-cut animal figures, vehicles, etc., which they sand and color with markers.

In the project, I managed to involve children with special needs, Down syndrome, Ukrainian girls, and Roma children. In my opinion, these children felt a sense of success in front of their peers, as they do not often experience this in regular subjects. Their level of basic skills improved, and their fine motor skills also developed.