Constant development of science sets new trends in education. Apart from implementing traditional teaching methods, educating young minds also should involve stimulating and promoting student's autonomy even in the case of the youngest students. The unique project of the Polish Academy of Kids, recently joined by the Jagiellonian University, opens universities to the youngest students regardless of their social background and school results. The children participating in the sessions of the Polish Academy for Kids may carry out their own lectures together with academics.

Every session of the Polish Academy of Kids includes two presentations. The former is given by a young scientist and the latter by an academic.

Dr Tomasz Pudłocki, the author of the lecture: "History is likeable", delivered during the last session, noticed that the Polish Academy of Kids also poses a challenge to a more mature generation "as it is difficult to combine academic discourse with a lively narrative". However, he was nicely surprised not only by a great deal of enthusiasm on the part of his listeners but also by their ability to arrive at conclusions:

In my narrative I referred to fairy tales, comic strips, and toys in order to make children conscious of the fact that over generations the world of childhood was evolving. I also stressed that the world we grow up in (the environment, the world of people and objects around us) shapes our sensitivity, understanding of the world, mentality, and morals. References to the familiar world triggered so much energy in children that there was a risk that the time devoted to reflection would be wasted. However, it turned out that Pestalozzi, postulating in his 19th century writings that teaching through playing does not have to mean chaos, was right. Soon sheer playing evolved into more systematic analysis and we managed to draw a few conclusions from our 20-minute meeting.

Up till now the Jagiellonian University has organized two sessions of the Polish Academy of Kids, during which the participants could share their interests with peers and academics.

More details on the Polish Academy of Kids: http://akademiadzieci.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/project-e28098polish-academy-of-kids_.pdf

In order to watch the photographs from the previous session, click here: https://picasaweb.google.com/101949691767388003494/PolskaAkademiaDzieciWykAd2011_12_16?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJn-pLvgvMmULA&feat=directlink