Teachers’ workshop 2024: fostering more inclusive and pedagogical practices in online learning
Early this spring, the Coordination Unit hosted the annual teachers' workshop. In there, the teaching staff of the UniPID Virtual Studies programme were invited to discuss how to continue developing the programme for the next academic year.
The UniPID Virtual Studies coordination is gearing up for the academic year 2024-2025. Consequently, the annual workshop for teachers was organized to review our progress thus far and explore initiatives for enhancing the virtual studies program. The session unfolded in two key segments: initially, the UniPID cycle and feedback gathered during the current academic year were discussed; subsequently, members of the EduCASE-funded project "A Global Learning Space" introduced the toolkit which is being developing to promote more inclusive and pedagogically practices in online learning.
During the workshop's first segment, the UniPID course cycle was introduced to both new and old teachers. Feedback from students and teachers was discussed to identify areas needing further development and to highlight strengths. Besides receiving inspiring and rewarding comments, some challenges were also brought to discussion; for example, maintaining student engagement in online learning and overcoming time differences. In general, it was highlighted how UniPID excels as a valuable learning platform in global development research by offering diverse courses and collaborative opportunities with peers from the global south. It was unanimously agreed that UniPID should prioritize consistently engaging students in key areas to enhance the learning experience.
Positive comments from both students and teachers were highlighted, emphasizing their value in shaping and improving the UniPID virtual studies program. UniPID appreciates the constructive feedback received as it plays a crucial role in the ongoing development and enhancement of the program.
In the second part of the workshop, the spotlight was on the toolkit developed as part of the EDUCACE-funded project "A Global Learning Space". The toolkit's primary goal is to enhance student engagement and foster students as partners in virtual courses.
The project’s team introduced the three essential stages of the toolkit: before, during, and after a course. In the "before" stage, understanding students' motivations and expectations was emphasized. In the "during" stage, the focus was on creating a safe space for dialogue and building connections among students from diverse backgrounds. Finally, in the "after" stage, highlighting the significance of collecting feedback throughout the course to improve future interactions and demonstrate the value of student input was crucial.
After the detailed explanation of this toolkit, the teachers were asked for feedback on how the toolkit can be further developed. UniPID teachers actively participated and provided valuable feedback for the further development of the toolkit, which is expected to be published next autumn. Stay tuned!
After this enriching encounter, we can say that both the teacher's workshop and the development of the toolkit for a more inclusive online learning environment mark a significant step towards empowering students to become active partners in the future of education. By focusing on enhancing student engagement, fostering partnership building, and promoting inclusive pedagogical practices, this initiative paves the way for a more collaborative and interactive online learning environment. With the active involvement of teachers and toolkit developers, the UniPID community is poised to create a future where students play a vital role in shaping their educational experiences and contributing to a more student-cantered approach in virtual education.
What’s next? Stay tuned to UniPID communication channels to be among the first to learn about the toolkit for promoting more inclusive and pedagogical practices in online learning.
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Photo credits: Arthur Lambillotte, 2020 on UnSplash
