2008 Worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum

 

Hong Kong: November 4th – 6th , 2008

Over 250 teachers, school administrators and education policymakers came together in Hong Kong for the 2008 Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum. Now in its fourth year, the forum brought together the world’s most creative educators from more than 64 countries to celebrate and share best practices, showcase innovative classroom projects, and learn about new technologies that are helping transform the learning process. 

The event focuses on the 21st century learning skills and the role technology can play in addressing classroom challenges, enhancing teaching practices and inspiring teachers everywhere to seek and apply innovative approaches that help prepare students for today’s changing world.

Representing Ireland at this year’s ITF in Hong Kong were Kathleen O’Connor and Kate O’ Connell.  Kathleen a graduate of St Patrick’s College teaches at and is the principal of St. Joseph’s NS, Ballyadams, Co. Kildare.  Kate teaches at Kilvemnon NS, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary.

Both teachers are members of the Empowering Minds Learning community (http://empoweringminds.spd.dcu.ie ) which uses the constructionist approach developed by Professor Seymour Papert  (http://www.papert.org ) of MIT’s Medialab (http://www.media.mit.edu ) and pioneered in Ireland by Dr Deirdre Butler at St Patrick’s College.

Kate and Kathleen along with all the other teachers from around the globe spent the first two grueling day showcasing their projects, learning about new technologies and planning new projects to work on when they return to the classroom. These new projects will be collaborative in nature with the teachers and students working with a number of different countries focusing on common theme. 

It was with great excitement and trepidation that all the teachers listened to the announcement of the semi-finalists on the morning of 5th November.  Twenty eight projects made it through and among them were the two Irish projects.  Heartiest congratulations must be extended to these two exceptional Irish teachers who made it through, as the standard of the projects was exceptional.

Kathleen’s project was entitled “Coalmining: An Underground Story”.  Using a range of digital tools and including members of their families as part of a community of learners, the children work collaboratively, in a cross curricular fashion to explore the theme of mining.  Kate’s project, Flying High: Exploring Aviation integrated every subject in the primary school curriculum and made extensive use of a range of digital tools. The children used LEGO® to construct their own working models of aeroplanes, building hydraulic lifts to raise the planes and stimulate flight.

The awards ceremony was held on the evening of the 6th November at a wonderful Gala dinner in the amazing Jumbo Floating Restaurant where is was announced that Kate had come third in the ‘Innovation in Content’ category.

To find out more about the World Innovative Teacher event at Hong Kong and to download detailed descriptions of both Kathleen and Kate’s projects you just have to register on the link below:

http://uk.innovativeteachers.com/Pages/Welcome.aspx

 

Last Updated: Wednesday November 26 2008