On the 6th December 2019 the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills within the Ministry for Education and Employment organized the Embed Digital Literacy Conference and Awards Ceremony.
The Directorate for aims to play a key role in celebrating good practices of digital literacy in the classroom. Through Embed awards, the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal skills seeks those whose exemplary work provides a model for teaching, learning and leading in the digital age. During this prestigious event of this year 90 educators who submitted activities where technologies have been integrated in a meaningful way received a certificate of participation and 21 educators were awarded with a prize.
There were six categories for this award:
- Digital Educator Early Years Award
- Digital Educator Primary Award
- Digital Educator Secondary Award
- Collaborative Award
- Mobile Learning Award
- Research and Innovation Award
Each category was assessed by different adjudication panels mainly formed by Education Officers.
Mr Anton Falzon, who himself is an educator and newscaster, presented the ceremony. During the opening speeches Dr Francis Fabri, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education explained that statistics showing comparisons with European countries are quite positive for Malta and indicate that we should be very positive of ourselves. He maintained that the Ministry is determined to continue investing in education which is leaving many positive results. Dr Romina Cachia was the keynote speaker explained how can we support schools in an age of digital change using the SELFIE tool, which is a tool developed by the European Commission that aims to support the innovative use of digital technologies in teaching and learning.
Following the keynote address there were various interesting hands-on workshops delivered by a number of respected academics and others by representatives of Technology in education private companies. The workshops were:
- Experience with a self-reflection tool for schools: lessons learned, challenges and opportunities.
- Enhance the level of technical literacy of educators.
· A multimodal approach to learning using multimedia.
· Teachers and Problematic Use of the Internet.
· Engagement, Innovation, Transformation – e-Twinning.
· Ozobots and Microbits in the primary and secondary classroom.
· Using J2E to develop digital literacy skills and STEAM activities.
The main activity was certainly the Awards Ceremony. Participants who submitted educational initiatives for one of the Embed categories were first awarded. These were followed by high quality eTwinning awards.
The Embed conference was a learning experience for the educators who were invited because they learnt how to better enhance their teaching and learning with the use of various technologies. However, what makes this event particularly successful is the enthusiasm of a good number of educators whose initiatives leave a very positive impact on students. Further to this, their good practices will have a multiplier effect and set a good example to others.
Embed Digital Literacy Initiative application 2019
The Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills has a key role in promoting good practices of digital competences in the classroom. The Embed Awards recognise those whose exemplary work provides a model for teaching and learning in the digital age.
Educators are invited to submit projects based on a number of experiences and activities related to digital literacy, carried out over a period of time, so as to give ideas the time to develop and mature.
Educators who have never participated in Embed are highly encouraged to take up this opportunity.
CATEGORIES
1. Dedicated Digital Educator Early Years
This category is for educators (teachers, kindergarten educators and learning support educators) of early years (Kindergarten, year 1, year 2). Three educators will be awarded.
2. Dedicated Digital Educator Primary
Three educators from Year 3-Year 4-Year 6 will be awarded.
3. Dedicated Digital Educator Secondary
Three educators from Middle Schools and Secondary schools (Form 1-Form 5) will be awarded.
4. Mobile Learning
This category is for mobile-mediated teaching and learning projects. Two educators from the primary school and two educators from the secondary school will be awarded.
5. Collaborative
This category is for educators who collaborate in a project together. Two educators may submit the project together and both will receive certificate of participation and may potentially be winners. Two projects from the primary school and two projects from the secondary school will be awarded.
6. Research and Innovation
This category is in collaboration with the Directorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability within the Ministry for Education. The criteria are different from the other categories as described below (See Criteria). Two educators from the primary school and two educators from the secondary school will be awarded.
CRITERIA
A. Award judges will use the following selection criteria:
- Quality: The project should give clear evidence that the use of technology enhances learning. Without technology learning objectives would have been difficult to achieve. Technology is used to make learning more effective and offer experiences that cannot be achieved effectively by other means.
- Pedagogical value: From a pedagogical standpoint, curricular objectives should meet different ways of learning. The use of technology can promote learning modes based on exploration, collaboration, creation and reflection.
- Participation: Students have made extensive and relevant use of technology.
- Collaboration: Collaboration between students (not necessarily online) should be rewarded.
B. The applications received for the Research and Innovation category will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Originality: Does this innovation represent out of the box thinking? Is this innovation original?
- Quality and creativity: How can this innovation improve the quality and the way things are done?
- Cost-effectiveness/Affordability: How will the innovation reduce the costs?
- Replicability: Can this new innovation be used in other areas? And how can this innovation plan be implemented?
- Enthusiasm: Will this innovation lead to new ideas in future? Has this new innovation led to new ideas and how these ideas can be integrated?
- Impact: What fundamental changes will this new innovation bring? What gap will this innovation fill and will it reach one of the targets of the strategic plan of your school? Does this innovation identify ways how work can be made more efficiently?
APPLICATION
Projects are to be submitted using the online form http://bit.do/embed2019 by the 29th June 2019
RULES
- The objective is to encourage and award educators and not educational institutions. Whilst DLTS acknowledges that participants have the support of their respective schools and their administrators, only educators who participated are awarded.
- A project entry should cover a school’s activity, lesson, resources or project which has been developed and/or used during scholastic year 2018-2019. Previously submitted projects cannot be resubmitted, unless there have been significant developments.
- Submissions must be supported by evidence that projects abide to the above criteria, as these will be evaluated by the judges. Projects are to be submitted using the online form which will be made available later on. Participants have to submit their names, email, project title, learning outcomes, and brief description of project together with photos and videos of their work only.
- Participants may participate in more than one category but may not participate with the same project in more than one category.
- Deadline for the submissions of entries for the Digital Literacy Embed Awards is Wednesday 28th June 2019.
- All participants are going to be presented a certificate of participation.
- For any queries kindly contact Mr Omar Seguna email: omar.seguna@ilearn.edu.mt tel: 25981565 / 25981569