Tips and tricks for better usage of Oracle Academy teaching resources – guideline from practical experience, with special focus on solutions for frequent challenges

Oracle Academy Tech Chat

In this podcast, Dusa Vukovic, Principal of the Grammar School for Computer Science, Oracle Academy Teacher and Oracle Academy Instructor speaks from her experience using Oracle Academy materials in the classroom, as well as an instructor for Oracle Academy. She speaks about practical things teachers will discover while using Oracle Academy curriculum in their classrooms.

------------------------------------------

Episode Transcript:

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:37:04 Unknown Welcome to the Oracle Academy Tech Chat. This podcast provides educators and students in-depth discussions with thought leaders around computer science, cloud technologies, and software design to help students on their journey to becoming industry ready technology leaders of the future. Let's get started. Welcome to Oracle Academy Tech Chat, where we discuss how Oracle Academy helps prepare the next generation's workforce.

00:00:37:06 - 00:01:10:06 Unknown I'm your host, Ljiljana Krkić. Oracle Academy program manager. In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Dawsonville College principal of the Grammar School for Computer Science. Oracle Academy teacher and Oracle Academy instructor. She will speak about her experience using Oracle Academy materials in her classroom with her students, as well as an instructor for Oracle Academy. She will speak about practical things teachers will discover while using Oracle Academy curriculum in their classrooms.

00:01:10:08 - 00:01:37:02 Unknown Hi, Dusa. Welcome. Could you please tell us a little bit about your background and your current role? Hello. And also coach, I'm the principal of the grammar school for computer science. It's a school with a especially demanding curriculum designed for students talented in computer science. I have more than 20 years of experience in teaching programing in database topics.

00:01:37:04 - 00:02:06:17 Unknown I'm also author of the several textbook, on computer science since 2010. I have been an instructor for teacher courses within the Oracle Academy program, leading training sessions in Serbia, Montenegro, Turkey, Austria and the Czech Republic. This is really impressive. And could you please describe in more details your early experience with Oracle Academy, and what led you to become an Oracle Academy member as a teacher?

00:02:06:17 - 00:02:36:23 Unknown I'm aware that, especially in the past, but even today, education often provides a lot of theoretical knowledge without giving students a clear sense of how it's applied in the real world. When I first heard about the Oracle Academy program, I immediately thought, this must be different. Oracle is known for its excellent software solutions. So I assumed that their courses would be packed with real world examples and content that could be applied immediately.

00:02:37:01 - 00:03:04:22 Unknown Online courses and training are now a standard part of daily life. Back in 2007, when I took my first Oracle Academy course, very few people had ever experienced online training. Many couldn't imagine what it's like. The online portion of the training back then was nothing like we have today. It involved live chat sessions with only occasional image, and the internet connection was dial up.

00:03:05:00 - 00:03:30:01 Unknown I still remember the sound of the modern screechy as it connected to the landline. It's so funny to think now about the landline. Most people don't even use today. For me, it was an incredibly experience that back in 2007, I was able to follow from my home and online course with instructor Pat Hays was teaching from her office in the United States.

00:03:30:03 - 00:03:56:11 Unknown It really showed me how Oracle was not just keeping up with technological advancements, but actively applying them. That experience inspired me to be a part of that kind of innovation. I wanted to offer my students the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of technology, learning skills that could be immediately applied in real world scenarios. Yeah, these were really very specific times.

00:03:56:17 - 00:04:23:22 Unknown And tell us, what were some of the key challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them? This is an excellent question. One of the biggest challenges when working with students is capturing their interest and keeping their attention. Many people myself included, agree that this issue is even more pronounced today, largely because kids are surrounded by technology and endless distractions on the internet.

00:04:24:00 - 00:04:52:21 Unknown However, the question of attention and engagement is an essential part of the teaching and learning process. When students are engaged, then focus. The results are always better. They don't just learn a single lesson. It's not about that. It's about developing a desire to keep learning and discovering new things throughout their lives. The Oracle Academy materials play a significant role in sparking students interest and keeping them engaged.

00:04:52:22 - 00:05:23:11 Unknown Students quickly realize that these aren't just abstract concepts, but practical skills that can help them secure good jobs. The lessons give them an opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and skills that are highly relevant to the real world. In my classes when I teach, I organize activities in a way that maximizes student involvement. I don't just stand in front of students delivering delivering lectures.

00:05:23:13 - 00:05:54:01 Unknown Let me give you some examples. When we are starting a new lesson, I give the students a list of questions that they need to answer by exploring the new materials they read, the lessons they go through, the content and search for answers. In that case, the reading is far from boring. The reading is engaging and interactive. All students are given the same amount of time and the same set of questions, and they are required to write down their answers.

00:05:54:03 - 00:06:22:06 Unknown Later, we compare the results as a group with the goal of helping each student see where they stand and what they can improve. For example, if one student answers 27 questions, another only 15, we analyze what happened. What challenges they face. What could have they done differently? It encourages peer learning as they teach each other through their mistakes and success.

00:06:22:08 - 00:06:57:08 Unknown I also use Oracle Academy Solve it with SQL workshop to encourage students to explore new tools. I provide them with lessons and instructions and they work through the materials practically using a new IT tool, something they haven't used before. At the end, we assess the results together, discussing what went well and what could be improved. This hands on approach not only builds technical skills, but also develop critical thinking and problem problem solving abilities.

00:06:57:13 - 00:07:25:14 Unknown Thank you. And I agree. Focus is a challenge for all of us nowadays. And thank you for all of the advices regarding the groups and organization. And now this leads me to, another question. Tell me, how do you start your school year with new students? How do you introduce Oracle Academy to them? Oh, well, at the beginning of the school year I create Oracle Academy accounts for all students.

00:07:25:16 - 00:07:54:22 Unknown So that gives them access to complete learning materials throughout the year. We go through the curriculum gradually, and I always make sure to point out which lesson we've reached or which specific task we're working on. In that way, they can track their progress for hands on work. Their plenty of examples and exercises within the course itself. I make sure to go through those tasks in class.

00:07:55:00 - 00:08:28:11 Unknown Sometimes we work together. For example, I'm at teacher's computer demonstrating things we have to do, and all students follow on their own computers at other times. I assign tasks for them to complete independently while I circulate around the classroom. Occasionally we practice quiz questions during class, which helps them prepare for the certification exam. When we go over quiz questions, we always discuss them.

00:08:28:13 - 00:08:56:22 Unknown If I notice from their answers that they haven't fully grasped something, we revisit the lesson afterwards. Do I make more example to make things clearer for my students? Wonderful. And now from your teacher's, perspective, you have been Oracle Academy instructor for teacher courses for many years. Could you please tell us more about that experience? Well, this is very important for me.

00:08:57:00 - 00:09:33:07 Unknown The experience I have as an Oracle Academy instructor for teachers working with teachers is especially valuable. Each teacher brings their own experience from the classroom. Those experiences are always visible during training sessions. The process of knowledge exchange in teacher training is never one sided. While I train teachers on how to use Oracle Academy materials in their lessons, I also absorb knowledge from them about their teaching methods and how they work with their students.

00:09:33:09 - 00:10:02:03 Unknown When you're a teacher, your focus isn't just on the subject matter. The main focus is on how to help students acquire knowledge and skills. The way a teacher learns sometimes might not be the same way a student needs to learn. We don't all alone in the same way. Some people prefer to read a lot. They best learn by carefully going through the lesson, only moving to the task.

00:10:02:06 - 00:10:38:16 Unknown After reviewing everything thoroughly. Others skip the long texts. They don't like to read. They go straight to the tasks and they then return to the lesson text only when they need help solving a problem. Some students enjoy learning through competition. Others dread it. These are just a few examples in direct work with students in the classroom. The process of teaching and learning reveals how many different ways there are to learn, and what patterns can lead to knowledge acquisition.

00:10:38:18 - 00:11:03:18 Unknown The training sessions I've led as an Oracle Academy instructor gave me the chance to meet many teachers, not only from my own country, but from other countries as well. This has allowed me to peek into other classrooms and get to know the diverse teaching methods used by teachers with their students. Thank you so much for those valuable advices.

00:11:03:20 - 00:11:27:05 Unknown And now, one final question. If you could give one piece of advice to faculty or students, what would it be? Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts. I think that the most important thing is to take care of yourself and each other. And that includes using the knowledge you gain in a way that benefits people in the world.

00:11:27:07 - 00:11:58:10 Unknown Always think about how you can apply your knowledge to make life better for all of us. In the past, teachers used to teach the same lessons and assigned the same task. Year after year, from the time they started working until they retired. That's just not the case anymore. Technology is constantly changing and advancing. Those changes don't only affect subjects related to information and computer communication technologies.

00:11:58:12 - 00:12:28:00 Unknown They also impact how other school subjects are taught. Oracle Academy is always introducing new materials and new courses. Teachers shouldn't be afraid of the new. Teachers don't have to master every detail of the course before introducing it to the students. It's perfectly fine for teachers to learn alongside students and explore new concepts together as they come up in the class.

00:12:28:01 - 00:12:56:11 Unknown Students shouldn't believe that there is a person who knows everything. That's not the teacher's role. The teacher's role is to spark a passion for learning in students. It's not embarrassingly scary not to know something. What matters the most is the desire to explore and learn. Thank you so much for sharing highlights from your huge experience with us and with Oracle Academy that TEDx audience.

00:12:56:13 - 00:13:15:08 Unknown It is a pleasure to work with you. Thank you Ljiljana. I'm so happy to be part of the Oracle Academy program. That wraps up this episode. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for the next Oracle Academy Tech Chat podcast.