The project is based on the results of research by the OECD, published in Paniagua, A and Istance, D. (2018), Teachers as designers of learning environments; the importance of innovative pedagogies, Educational research and innovation, OECD Publishing Paris. Based on the needs of the partners and the results of the publication, the project focuses on 3 pillars:
1. Study, share and apply attributes of innovative pedagogical approach;
2. Study, share and apply attributes of six innovative pedagogical / didactic clusters: Blended learning, Computational thinking, Experiential learning, Embodied learning, Gamification, Multiliteracies & discussion based learning;
3. Setting up networks within the school, within the consortium and within Flanders. The Flemish network will specifically look for international connections.
In this project 17 schools from primary and secondary education learn collaboratively on the topic of innovative learning environments. It is their challenge to realize the new curricula in line with the frame of reference for quality in education. The project focuses on what the government asks schools to do to namely to stimulate the development of all learners and in that way to realize the (new) curricula in a qualitative way. To realise this, the consortium of 17 schools will learn in Europe how to develop contemporary innovative learning environments.
What partners learn is shared among colleagues and applied in practice. Via learning networks, they distribute what they learned in the consortium, in Flanders and in Europe. The counseling service of Katholiek Onderwijs Vlaanderen supports the partners.
The international partners are: Tallinn University (Estonia), Dene Magna School (UK), Ysgol Y Deri (UK), Coventry University (UK), Oddeyrarskoli (Iceland), Asociation A.RT. Fusion (Romania), Aalborg University (Denmark), Zavod Republik (Slovenia), Falun Borlänge (Zweden), University Ljubljana (Slovenia), Platon School (Greece), Zakladni School (Czech Republic).
During international courses participants:
1. Study aspects of innovative pedagogical approach;
2. Study one or more innovative clusters;
3. Learn to set up networks that lead to deep professional learning;
4. Share with the team what one learned and apply this in practice to realize the curriculum;
5. Share what they applied in practice (content, process and results) in the consortium network;
6. Distribute the results of what they did in practice (content, process and results) via the consortium in Flanders;
7. Become a member of a Flemish network on 'creating innovative learning environments' that disseminates an innovative pedagogical approach and searchs for international connections (5, 6 and 7 supported by the counseling service).
