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The members of the European project Erasmus + Digital TA (2022-25) met between June 6 and 9 in the city of Limerick (Ireland), to share ideas and make progress in a joint action plan for the development of the pilot test that will begin in September of this year. In this trial, newly qualified in-service primary and secondary school teachers will test the first version of the digital tool. Once developed, the platform will enable pre-service and in-service teachers to share their challenges, reflect on their teaching practices, access tutorials, explore case studies, and participate in a vibrant learning community. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive set of features, the platform aims to foster collaboration, professional growth, and knowledge sharing among educators at different educational levels. The transnational meeting was held at the facilities of the University of Limerick (UL), which is also a member of the project. Through a presentation by Jennifer Hennesy, Assistant Dean International, and Paul Conway, Teacher Education Professor, attendees learned more about how the university operates. The meeting was also attended by:  Artesis Plantijn University of Applied Sciences (AP) of Belgium; Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci of the Czech Republic; Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach and Swiętokrzyskie Centrum Doskonalenia Nauczycieli (SCDN) from Poland, as well as Centro de Formación del Profesorado de Segovia, Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER) and Universidad Europea del Atlántico (UNEATLANTICO) from Spain. Geraldine Mooney and Oliver McGarr, Professors at the UL School of Education, also spoke at the conference to offer their views on mentoring and reflective practice in the field of education. In addition, Alona Forkosh, Senior Researcher at the Academic College Levinsky-Wingate, gave a virtual talk to discuss her experience in the European project PROMENTORS (2020-2023), an initiative that aims to improve teacher training in Israel. The DigitalTA partners will hold their interim meeting in November of this year in Antwerp (Belgium). Those interested in the project can find out more about it through the project’s website.

The first days of our transnational meeting have allowed us to contribute and exchange ideas. The opening day, in a warmer-than-normal Ireland, began with a welcome session by Jennifer Hennesy, assistant dean of internationalization, and Paul Conway, professor of initial teacher education. (more…)

Thomas Prola, Project Manager at FUNIBER, spoke on May 9 at the Teaching Conference “Teaching collaboration in the processes of innovation and improvement of university teaching” organized by the Department of Didactics and Educational Organization (DOE) of the University of Barcelona (UB) to publicize the Erasmus Plus DigitalTA project among teachers of the Spanish institution.  The professor and researcher explained the latest advances of the European initiative, led by the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic) (UNEATLANTICO). The day also included the participation of several teachers from the department who presented various innovative experiences based on cooperation among the teaching staff.  Also present at the session was the Institute for Professional Development (IDP-ICE) of the University of Barcelona, a center of the institution at the service of the professional development of the different groups of the educational world, in all its dimensions and tasks. The Erasmus Plus DigitalTA project (2022-2025) aims to improve the practical education of teacher training students and young teachers in European Union countries, reducing professional attrition when transitioning between learning to teach and teaching to learn. The project proposes the development and validation of a European approach based on a digital platform for the support of the teaching practice to facilitate the transition from theory to practice.

Thomas Prola, Project Manager at FUNIBER, spoke on May 9 at the Teaching Conference “Teaching collaboration in the processes of innovation and improvement of university teaching” organized by the Department of Didactics and Educational Organization (DOE) of the University of Barcelona (UB) to publicize the Erasmus Plus DigitalTA project among teachers of the Spanish institution.  The professor and researcher explained the latest advances of the European initiative, led by the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic) (UNEATLANTICO). The day also included the participation of several teachers from the department who presented various innovative experiences based on cooperation among the teaching staff.  Also present at the session was the Institute for Professional Development (IDP-ICE) of the University of Barcelona, a center of the institution at the service of the professional development of the different groups of the educational world, in all its dimensions and tasks. The Erasmus Plus DigitalTA project (2022-2025) aims to improve the practical education of teacher training students and young teachers in European Union countries, reducing professional attrition when transitioning between learning to teach and teaching to learn. The project proposes the development and validation of a European approach based on a digital platform for the support of the teaching practice to facilitate the transition from theory to practice.

Josep Alemany and Thomas Prola, responsible for the Erasmus Plus project DigitalTA (2022-2025), met last April 26th at the campus of the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic) (UNEATLANTICO) in Santander with Guillermo González, Chief of the Technical Unit of Evaluation and Accreditation of the Department of Education, Vocational Training, and Tourism of the Government of Cantabria, to discuss possible cooperation strategies. At the meeting, the result of the collaboration agreement between the General Directorate of Innovation and Educational Inspection of the Department of Education, Vocational Training, and Tourism of Cantabria and UNEATLANTICO analyzed the current status of the project and reviewed the various lines of joint action for the proper development and implementation of the project, in which current and future teachers in Cantabria will have a prominent role. To this end, different activities will be carried out to disseminate and publicize the project, and the professionals targeted by this initiative will be involved in different processes: On the one hand, primary and secondary school teachers recently graduated and incorporated to an educational center will participate in the design of the digital tools and in the pilot experiences of the project. Students of the Teacher Training Degree and Master in Teacher Training will also play an important role, collaborating in the review and co-design process of the digital tools, as well as in the pilot training sessions. In addition, Higher Education teacher trainers will be invited to participate in the practical training and, especially, in the tutoring of the teacher training students who will participate in the design process of the new tutoring and mentoring tool. In addition, experienced teachers and mentors from primary and secondary education, in charge of young teachers and with tutoring responsibilities in their schools, will be invited to collaborate during the pilot learning activities. Finally, participation in the pilot experiences and the development of the platform will be offered to official teacher training organizations. The project aims to improve the practical education of teacher training students and young teachers in European Union countries, curtailing professional attrition when transitioning between learning to teach and teaching to learn.