Innovation

in

Education

Grazio Grixti

Research and InnovationDirectorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability

Department for the Curriculum, Lifelong Learning and Employability (DCLE)Ministry for Education and Employment

Objective:

Learn about how innovation gives a new dimension to

teaching and learning.

MEDE R&I 2

MEDE R&I 3

Self-reflection 4The need for change 9The need for highly skilled workforce 11The starting point for Change 12Pedagogical innovation 13Why innovation? 1821st Century Education 19Student-centred learning: 4 Key Principles 22Learning Spaces 27The role of technology 28The role of educators 30Innovative Educators 31Innovation and Research 33Conclusion 36References 37

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Self-reflection

1. What are the key issues in teaching and learning?

2. What difficulties are the educators constantly

dealing with to support their students to learn?

3. How are they dealing with these challenges?

MEDE R&I 4

The world has changed so fast and change is ongoing…

… our model of learning is changing too

MEDE R&I 5

Is this change being reflected in our classrooms?

MEDE R&I 6

Information: from…

… to this!

Welcome to the

Information Age

MEDE R&I 7

The teacher and the textbooks are no longer

the only source of information

MEDE R&I 8

There is a strong data that shows that we need to rethink learning

Update outdated methods and material, strengthen what works and change what is not working

The need for change

MEDE R&I 9

MEDE R&I 10

The need for highly skilled workforce

• Our society needs all students to excel at

high levels

• Actions should be taken to engage all

students especially those for who the

current system is not working

MEDE R&I 11

The starting point for Change

• Identify strengths, challenges, opportunities

and aspirations

• Find ways to achieve better value and results

Initiate

Inquire

Imagine

Innovate

Inspire and implement

MEDE R&I 12

Pedagogical innovation

+ InnovationPedagogy

MEDE R&I 13

What is pedagogy?

“Pedagogy is leading people to a place where they can learn for themselves. It

is about creating environments and situations where people can draw out from

within themselves, and hone the abilities they already have, to create their

own knowledge, interpret the world in their own unique ways, and ultimately

realise their full potential as human beings.”Steve Wheeler (2013)

MEDE R&I 14

What is innovation?

“Innovation is significant positive change.”Scott Berkun (2013)

MEDE R&I 15

What is Pedagogical Innovation?

Pedagogical innovation is

implementing significant positive

change in ways and means to

lead people to a place where

they can learn for themselves

and fulfil their potential

MEDE R&I 16

What is Pedagogical Innovation?

Executing an idea which

addresses a specific

challenge and achieves

value for both the student

and the educator.

MEDE R&I 17

Why innovation?

+ Educator’s Attitude

21st Century Education

Innovation

MEDE R&I 18

21st Century Education

Collaboration

Communication

Critical Thinking

Creativity

Computational Thinking

Citizenship

Character Education

Competences

MEDE R&I 19

The 21st Century Learner is…

MEDE R&I 20

21st Century Education

• Transforms teaching from teacher-centred to

student-centred

• Incorporates students' skills and interests into

the learning process

• Makes the experience more personalised and

involving the student in his/her own future

MEDE R&I 21

Student-centred learning

4 Key Principles

1. Learning is personalised

2. Learning is competency based

3. Learning happens anytime,

anywhere

4. Students take ownership

MEDE R&I 22

Learning is personalised

Learning happens when teachers

• know the students well

• have strong relationship with them

• know where they are in their

development and how to progress

MEDE R&I 23

Learning is competency based

• Learning is based on students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes

• In competency based system students proceed at their own pace in

every subject, enabling teachers to respond to individual needs,

interests and challenges

MEDE R&I 24

Learning happens anytime, anywhere

• Learning takes place both in the

classroom and outside, during school

hours and beyond

• Students often make important

discoveries about themselves and

the world around them when they

are engaged in hands-on activities

MEDE R&I 25

Students take ownership

• Get involved in decisions about their

roles and learning strategies

• Assume responsibility for their own

learning

MEDE R&I 26

Learning Spaces

• Classrooms as safe spaces so that

when a students try and fail they

feel that they have learned

something

• Students need to be encouraged

to enquire

MEDE R&I 27

The role of technology

• Technology changes how we

teach and what we teach

• Now students with access to

technology have new ways to

engage and interact with the

information.

MEDE R&I 28

MEDE R&I 29

The role of educators

• Guide students

• Create the best learning

environment

• Create the need to learn

• Facilitate self-paced learning

MEDE R&I 30

Innovative Educators

• Driven by the need to improve

practice for improved student

outcomes

• Constantly questioning the common

wisdom

MEDE R&I 31

Innovative Educators• Understand that they cannot exist inside the bubble of teaching

• Getting different perspectives allow them to see the world from

different points of view

• Put these insights together and synthesize to create something new

MEDE R&I 32

Innovation and Research

• Ongoing, better, faster and cost-effective

research is essential

• Figure out what works for what kind of

students under what kind of circumstances

• Provide empirical data about the success rate

of an innovative initiative - Evidence-based

innovation and decision making

MEDE R&I 33

Practical Model of Innovation and Research

Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools

• Connect the most forward-thinking leaders with entrepreneurs and

researchers

• Implement and study innovative learning and leadership practices

• Lead to improved outcomes for students

• Prepare them for learning for life

MEDE R&I 34

Practical Model of Innovation and Collaboration

eTwinning

• A platform for educators and students around Europe to

communicate, collaborate, develop projects, share and contribute

towards the most exciting learning community in Europe.

MEDE R&I 35

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Conclusion

“If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign

you’re not doing anything very innovative.”

–Woody Allen

MEDE R&I 37

References• Berkun. (2013). The best definition of innovation [online] Available at:

http://scottberkun.com/2013/the-best-definition-of-innovation/ [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].• Digital Promise Global, (2018). Accelerating Innovation in Education. [online] Available at:

http://global.digitalpromise.org/.[Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].• EC. (2018). Self-reflection tool for digitally capable schools (SELFIE)| EC. [online] Available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/digcomporg/selfie-tool [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].• Edutopia. (2018). 10 Signs of a 21st Century Classroom | Edutopia. [online] Available at:

https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/10-signs-21st-century-classroom [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].• eTwinning, (2018). eTwinning Community. [online] Available at:

https://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm.[Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].• MEDE. (2015). Digital Literacy 21st Century Competences for Our Age [online] Available at:

https://education.gov.mt/en/elearning/Documents/Green%20Paper%20Digital%20Literacy%20v6.pdf [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].

• NMEF, (2015). Transformation. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6ieXLVCss4.[Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].

• OECD. (2010). A Skilled Workforce for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth [online] Available at: https://www.oecd.org/g20/summits/toronto/G20-Skills-Strategy.pdf [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].

• OECD. (2015). PISA 2015 Results in Focus | OECD[online] Available at: https://www.oecd.org/pisa/pisa-2015-results-in-focus.pdf [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].

• Wheeler. (2013). The Meaning of Pedagogy [online] Available at: http://www.steve-wheeler.co.uk/2013/11/the-meaning-of-pedagogy.html [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].

Thank you

Grazio Grixti

Research and InnovationDirectorate for Research, Lifelong Learning and Employability

Department for the Curriculum, Lifelong Learning and Employability (DCLE)Ministry for Education and Employment

researchandinnovation@ilearn.edu.mt

Research & Innovation - MEDE

RI_MEDE