“Change processes in schools are influenced by many factors that also involve many different roles and stakeholders. Digital technology is one of the processes of change that most professions have encountered, and the benefits and challenges it brings. Many of us know how digital technology affects and changes our conditions as employees and citizens. Digital technology changes the prerequisites for work tasks and work processes. All of these aspects are also encountered by teachers, in their classrooms as users of new technology. How did schools make changes to become users of digital tools, and what mechanism do bureaucrats, school leaders and teachers, perceive as important to make such a change, and what can we learn from them?.” The iHub4Schools report tries to answer the questions.
Digitally-Innovative School? Hmhm…what does it mean?
The concept of digitally innovative schools have gained a lot of attention recently politically, practically and as a research trend.
No clear definition, but the well-established understanding of digitally innovative school: schools have systematically integrated technological possibilities into the different levels of practices from pedagogical practices in classrooms with student or to the collaborative and leadership practices of the members of the organisation (e.g., Agélii Genlott et al., 2019).
The workshop about digitally-innovative school was organized on 24 October 2022 by STEPS and iHub4Schools partners for the DIGI ENE Network of Excellence, “Developing and Sharing Excellence on digitalisation of teaching and learning” Initiative. The recording is now available!
? Watch the presentation of Kairit Tammets (Professor of Technology-enhanced Learning at Tallinn University, School of Digital Technologies, Centre for Educational Technology) reflecting on: What leads to innovation? What does the “digital innovative school mean"? and focusing on the importance of "whole-school approach" as well as “evidence - informed change” (how to understand what is the gap) and the importance of the networking in scaling up innovation without spending billions (teacher-to-teacher mentoring).
? Is your school making the most of digital technologies for teaching and learning? How to assess the digital potential of your school? – listen to Liisa Ilomaki (professor in Education and Technology, at the University of Helsinki) & Minna Lakkala (professor in Educational Psychology at the University of Helsinki) reflections based on real-life experiences coming from work with schools (an example from Porvoo where the school team evaluated their school’s digital practices through a template of innovative digital schools which helps to reflect the status in their school).
?Which are the characteristics of digitally-innovative school? Presentation of the of digital innovation practices in schools - sharing of the research results by Cecilie Hansen (Researcher SLATE: Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology at Bergen University)
❓What do you think are the elements that lead to innovation? And which are the characteristics of digitally-innovative school? Leave your comment!
The research carried out within the HORIZON 2020 project iHub4Schools describes that having a strategy, a clear vision, a common understanding of goals and aims, and a collaborative culture as very important parts of scaling up digital processes in the school. One very important characteristic of an innovative school is the culture of sharing and collaboration between the teachers themselves and the leaders. Having the possibility for training, openness, time, and place for sharing within the school are also seen as important by the teachers. Another aspect is the practices of the leaders. Support from the school leadership is one of the main support mechanisms to develop an innovative digital school.
iHub4Schools HORIZON 2020 project which proposes an adaptive and flexible whole-school peer-learning mentoring model built on the innovation hubs. The project supports school leaders and teachers to adapt technology-enhanced learning practices and scale-up innovation.
Learn more about the project: https://www.ihub4schools.eu/
Follow iHub4Schools: https://www.facebook.com/ihub4schools
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