By Times of Malta
Two groups of educators, six of them from the Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) of Paola and the others from Romania and Hungary, completed an Erasmus+ teachers’ training mobility programme in Barcelona, between June 23 and 27. One group attended the course ‘Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in education’, while the other group attended ‘Unlock the power of social-emotional learning (SEL) in education’, two pivotal themes shaping the future of education. The organising institute was the DOREA Educational Institute of Cyprus. The comprehensive programme, hosted in Barcelona, brought together teachers from various educational levels and backgrounds. Participants engaged in a dynamic curriculum designed to equip them with cutting-edge methodologies and practical strategies for navigating the complexities and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, while simultaneously deepening their understanding of the critical role of social-emotional development in student success. The ‘Integrating AI learning in education’ module delved into the ethical considerations, practical applications and pedagogical approaches for incorporating AI tools into classroom settings. Teachers explored how AI can personalise learning experiences, automate administrative tasks, provide data-driven insights and foster critical thinking skills among students. The sessions included the basics of AI and its application in education. They also explored innovative AI tools and technologies for improving teaching and learning, addressed ethical and privacy considerations in AI-powered education and ways to adapt AI powered tools to a variety of students capabilities. Workshops covered topics ranging from AI-powered tutoring systems and content creation tools to understanding algorithms and promoting digital literacy responsibly. The aim was to empower educators to leverage AI not as a replacement for human interaction but as a powerful assistant to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. The other course, ‘Unlock the power of social-emotional learning’, emphasised the development of crucial non-cognitive skills. Participants engaged in interactive sessions on fostering empathy, resilience, self-awareness, responsible decision-making and effective communication among students. The training highlighted how SEL is not merely an add-on but an integral part of a holistic education, essential for students’ well-being, academic achievement and future success in an increasingly interconnected world. Strategies for integrating SEL into daily lessons, classroom management and school culture were thoroughly explored. The tutors conducting these courses, one from England and the other from Armenia, were very professional and well-versed for these courses. This Erasmus+ mobility has been an enriching experience. Learning how to ethically and effectively integrate AI into our lessons, alongside robust strategies for nurturing our students’ emotional intelligence, feels truly transformative. We are excited to share these insights at our school and empower our students to face the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow. We will also disseminate what we have learnt to our colleagues. While in Barcelona, we had a guided tour of the old city, provided by the host organisation, and we also found time to visit several other places of interest like the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and walked along the famous promenade Las Ramblas and the Plaza de Catalunya, among others. The Erasmus+ programme, a cornerstone of the European Union’s efforts to promote international cooperation and professional development in education, facilitated this unique cross-cultural exchange. Beyond the formal training, participants benefitted from networking opportunities, sharing best practices and experiencing Barcelona’s rich cultural heritage, fostering a deeper sense of European collaboration and shared educational vision. Emanwel Zammit is a teacher of automobile engineering at ALP Paola and Erasmus projects coordinator.