May 2024 – In May 2024, the POSITIVE LEARN project held a short-term joint staff training and co-creation activity in Bottrop, Germany, hosted by Hochschule Ruhr West. This event marked a significant step in the project’s mission to foster positive eLearning practices and innovations in school education.
A Participatory Approach to Innovation
The project’s participatory methodology brings together diverse stakeholders, including educators, researchers, etc, to co-design practical and sustainable solutions for eLearning. The Bottrop event focused on building shared understanding and advancing tangible outputs, such as:
- Increasing quality and capacity in school education
- Enhancing adoption of positive eLearning innovations
This collaborative effort directly supported the development of the Competency Framework for Positive Digital Solutions (R2) and Open Learning Scenarios (R3), essential components of the project.
Key Sessions and Activities
- Project Introduction and Focus on Technostress
Participants explored the impact of technostress on education, laying the foundation for positive digital interventions. - Feedback on Frameworks and Scenarios
- Competency Framework: Participants provided valuable feedback to refine this tool for supporting educators in adopting digital solutions.
- Pedagogical Framework: Discussions highlighted strategies to integrate positive practices into eLearning.
- Insights from Pilots
Lessons learned from pilot implementations of learning scenarios were reviewed, offering critical feedback for refinement and scaling. - Visioning Generative AI in Education
A forward-looking session explored the potential of generative AI to transform schools, teachers, and students while considering its implications for well-being in school settings. - Co-Creation of Learning Scenarios
Collaborative sessions allowed participants to design innovative and context-aware learning scenarios, informed by their lived experiences and expertise. - Visit to the FabLab
The team visited the FabLab at Hochschule Ruhr West, a space for creativity and hands-on innovation, which inspired further exploration of practical applications in education.
Outcomes and Future Directions
The event successfully fostered collaboration among partner organisations, resulting in critical insights and inputs to shape the project’s frameworks and scenarios. A secondary outcome was the promotion of sustainable positive eLearning practices within partner institutions, laying the groundwork for broader adoption across schools.
This training activity highlighted the power of collaboration and co-creation in advancing educational innovation, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to drive positive changes in their contexts.
