Primo meeting in presenza per il progetto DOCE
From 23 to 25 May, Verona hosted the meeting of the Erasmus KA2 DOCE – Digital and Online Creativity Education project, attended by more than 30 educators from the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
The project was launched in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated the need for digital modernisation of education and training across Europe. In fact, DOCE’s goal is to advance and strengthen the capacity of IeFP teachers to develop and deliver effective, high-quality and inclusive digital education within the creative sector.
It was the first time that the partners had met in person, and to break the ice, an improvisational theatre activity was organised to introduce themselves to the other participants by revisiting the famous balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Afterwards, the partners discussed the obstacles and difficulties associated with the pandemic and distance learning, exchanging feedback, best practices and advice. On the first day, several masterclasses were held on online teaching:
Visual, virtual and interactive learning: what is “Thinglink” and what possibilities does it offer students and teachers?
Activating and motivating online teaching: how can a sense of connection be created among students in an online learning environment?
Blended teaching: how have teaching and learning changed? The Finnish case study.
Organisation and evaluation of online competitions on professional skills
The partners were assigned a task to be carried out in small mixed groups during the three-day meeting: each team had to create a 30-minute digital lesson for students aged between 17 and 22, linked to a cultural or artistic aspect of Verona. The lesson could be designed to be delivered via distance learning or downloaded by students, and had to include a form of assessment of content learning (e.g. a quiz). Some designed a lesson on the basics of photographic composition using the unmistakable views of Verona, others created a website with panoramic photos to learn more about Piazza dei Signori, and others imagined transforming Porta Borsari into a contemporary art exhibition by projecting images onto the monument.
The presentation by world-renowned educational researcher Pedro De Bruyckere had a significant impact. He addressed various topics, providing participants with many points for reflection, including: online/creativity learning, the importance of motivation for school learning, autonomy and freedom in school choices, fake news, and cognitive biases.
Thank you to all the participants for being with us and sharing their professional skills and expertise: it is also thanks to this type of experience and exchange with other countries that we improve as individuals and as a training organisation!