Teaching methods at Víkurskóli

Practical and creative arts

Creative and practical classes are taught in rotations throughout all school years, covering subjects such as textiles, visual arts, multimedia, drama, woodworking, and home economics, along with a variety of electives. Philosophy, relaxation, health education, LGBT+ education, literacy, creative writing, sex education, and gender studies are also taught in short intervals.

 

Ugla modules

One of Víkurskóli’s unique features is the Ugla modules (literally “Owl”), an interdisciplinary learning module in which teaching is integrated across subjects such as Icelandic, natural science, social studies, and information and technology education. The Ugla modules are organized by Ugla teams that focus on the strengths of each teacher. Great emphasis is placed on diverse, interconnected projects that are assessed according to the learning objectives of all participating subjects. Student collaboration is significant, and methods of formative learning are used in the Ugla project just as in other subjects at Víkurskóli. Emphasis is placed on creative comprehension, and students are provided with opportunities to utilize the school's tools and equipment for this purpose. Students are encouraged to influence their learning and take responsibility for their own education. The Ugla modules are constantly evolving and they are now taught in all grades. In the 8th and 10th grades, there are six hours per week in Ugla modules, while the 9th grade has seven hours per week. The entire grade participates in Ugla modules at the same time, with students divided into different groups depending on the subject matter. One Ugla module can span 2-4 weeks, depending on the scope. Here’s more about the plan for each Ugla module

Thinking Classroom

The Thinking Classroom approach uses different teaching methods in mathematics that focus on increasing student activity and encouraging independent thinking and collaboration. This method is based on the research of education scholars. The goal is to help students apply mathematics in various situations, build deeper understanding and critical thinking skills, and emphasize student collaboration and teacher teamwork. This teaching method draws from the research of many education scholars, and Peter Liljedahl is one of the key figures behind the approach.

Other

• The school is one of the knowledge schools in Formative Learning, and staff have chosen 'Education for Responsibility' as support in discipline matters.
• Víkurskóli is an Erasmus+ member and takes part in two Erasmus+ projects. Over the past five years, the school has organized many Erasmus trips both with and without students.
• Víkurskóli has received the Reykjavík City Rainbow Certification, which we are very proud of.
• We are in the process of becoming a UNICEF rights-respecting school in collaboration with the youth center.
• Víkurskóli places strong emphasis on good parental collaboration, for example, with open houses twice a year