Digital Learning Week is UNESCO’s annual flagship event on digital learning and the transformation of education. Launched in 2023, building on the foundation of UNESCO’s Mobile Learning Week over the past decade, the event aims to convene the community of digital education leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners from various organizations, including UN agencies, governments, NGOs and the private sector to steer technology for education.
UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week presents a unique opportunity to participate in dynamic and thought-provoking discussions, dialogue and the sharing of groundbreaking ideas, and to foster critical and creative thinking to advance the digital transformation of education and to “reimagine our futures together.
Human societies face the dual challenges of digital and green transitions. While technology promises progress, it also introduces ethical issues, particularly with AI, and accelerates digitalization’s impact on climate change. Generative AI’s rapid rise is outpacing regulatory adaptations, and the digital economy’s extractive model and e-waste undermine sustainable development. Education systems must foster human-centered mindsets and digital competencies to align these transitions, ensuring technology supports sustainable and ethical goals.
UNESCO’s 2024 Digital Learning Week enabled presenters, guests, and attendees to explore the linkages between these two transitions to promote the responsible use of digital technology in education.
On June 17, 2024, the global education community converged at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, for a significant event: “Progress Towards SDG4: Stocktake of Transformative Actions in Education.” Convened by the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee, this high-level meeting marked a milestone in the collective pursuit of quality education for all.
World leaders, policymakers, educators, and innovators engaged in a day-long dialogue to assess progress and outline the future of global education. Co-chaired by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font, the summit proved to be a pivotal moment in shaping the future of learning worldwide.
Dr. Okada, who led the Open Schooling Declaration supported by CONNECT team and OSTogether network, joined the dialogue to share insights on innovative approaches for addressing global education challenges. Her participation highlighted the role of fresh perspectives in shaping collaborative efforts.
Theme and Focus
The summit’s overarching theme, “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future,” encompassed several key areas:
Digital innovation in education
Equity and inclusivity in learning
Climate change education and sustainability
Strengthening educational systems in crisis situations
Enhancing foundational learning skills
Key Highlights
The summit’s agenda was packed with high-impact sessions and discussions. Key highlights included:
A high-level dialogue on financing education with insights from ministers and global leaders
Parallel sessions exploring digital learning strategies and initiatives to promote gender equality in education
Focused discussions on supporting and empowering the teaching profession
Sessions on “greening” education and addressing learning needs in crisis situations
A critical examination of strategies to improve foundational learning skills globally
UNESCO Report Launch
The event also served as the launchpad for a key UNESCO report, “The Right to a Strong Foundation: Global Report on Early Childhood Care and Education.” This comprehensive report provided crucial insights into the state of early childhood education worldwide and offered recommendations for improvement.
Event Highlights
Opening and Framing
The summit kicked off with powerful opening remarks from UNESCO’s Director-General, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the President of Chile. Their words set the tone for a day focused on transforming education for a sustainable future.
Financing Education
A session on education financing featured insights from ministers and global leaders, with European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen’s keynote address highlighting the importance of investing in education as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
Digital Learning and Gender Equality
Parallel sessions explored the potential of digital learning and the pressing need for gender equality in education, bringing together perspectives from government ministers, international organizations, and civil society.
The Teaching Profession
A dedicated session examined challenges and opportunities for the teaching profession, with representatives from UNESCO, ILO, and various countries sharing strategies to support and empower teachers.
Greening Education and Crisis Response
In the afternoon, discussions focused on integrating sustainability into education and addressing learning needs in crisis situations, underscoring the importance of adaptable and resilient education systems.
Foundational Learning
A critical session on foundational learning brought together experts from UNESCO, UNICEF, and global education initiatives to discuss strategies for ensuring basic literacy and numeracy skills for all learners.
Looking Ahead
The summit concluded with forward-looking recommendations for the upcoming Global Education Meeting. UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Stefania Giannini, and Chile’s Minister of Education, Nicolás Cataldo, emphasized the need for continued collaboration and action to achieve global education goals.
This landmark event highlighted the challenges facing global education and showcased a collective commitment to finding innovative solutions. The insights and partnerships forged at this summit will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of education worldwide.
Dr. Okada also introduced her new book, Knowledge Cartography for Young Thinkers: Sustainability Issues, Mapping Techniques, and AI Tools (Okada, A., 2024). This work contributes practical insights to the ongoing dialogue on innovative educational approaches, particularly in sustainability education through open schooling and knowledge mapping. It emphasizes real-life problem-solving that actively engages students, communities, and experts.
Stay tuned for more updates on how these global initiatives will translate into action at local and national levels.
News . Events Groundbreaking Study at Oxford Education Research Symposium
Miss Bernardes, Dr Rabello and Dr Okada to Present Groundbreaking Study at Oxford Education Research Symposium
Miss Márcia Bernardes, representing the Secretary of Education of São Paulo, is set to present a pioneering study at the Oxford Education Research Symposium, organized by Oxford Symposia. Her presentation, titled “CARE-KNOW-DO: Primary Pupils Connected with Sustainability Education and Multiliteracies,” will highlight how primary education in São Paulo is fostering sustainability awareness and promoting multiliteracies among students aged 5-12.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Cintia Rabello and Dr. Alexandra Okada (Scientific Coordinator of CONNECT), aligns with the conference’s mission to expand the understanding of education and its impact on global issues. The Oxford Education Research Symposium serves as a platform for scholars to explore and discuss innovative theories and practices in universal education. This event is recognized for presenting research that broadens the scope of knowledge in various educational fields.
Their research examines how open schooling, framed within the CARE-KNOW-DO model, engages young learners with urban forest fauna and sustainability themes through multiple literacies. The pupils participated in interactive activities such as drawing, mapping, writing, and collaborative discussions. After these hands-on tasks, they reflected on their learning experiences using digital questionnaires.
A key finding of the study is the diversity in literacy practices that the students engaged with. Open schooling encouraged the development of language, numeracy, information, digital, and scientific literacies. These skills were practiced not only in traditional classroom settings but also within the community, involving families and external experts. Although 46% of the students expressed challenges in justifying their ideas with evidence, a significant 88% showed enthusiasm to participate in similar future projects. Additionally, the research underscored the relevance of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) in problem-solving, with 100% of students recognizing its importance.
The study emphasizes the growing connection between sustainability education and multiliteracies, as well as the benefits of integrating open schooling to enhance student engagement with real-world issues. Miss Bernardes’ presentation at the Oxford Symposium offers a crucial contribution to the global conversation about how education can better equip students for future challenges while fostering a deeper connection to sustainability.
This research is part of a broader initiative supported by the EU-funded CONNECT project, which aims to strengthen the role of open schooling in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability across educational systems.
News . Events ASE Annual Conference 2024 at the University of Northampton UK
The Association for Science Education (ASE) is thrilled to announce its Annual Conference, set to take place from January 4th to 6th, 2024, at the University of Northampton. In collaboration with AQA, this year’s conference will feature a rich variety of sessions, including international contributions, a fantastic exhibition, and exclusive offers for attendees. As always, ASE continues to provide invaluable content for science educators across all stages.
Each day of the conference has a special focus. Thursday will be dedicated to Post-16 education, with a spotlight on those leading and delivering professional development through the Futures Group programme. Friday offers an exciting dual focus with Technicians Day and Early Career Teacher Day. Throughout all three days, sessions will be available for both Primary and 11-19 educators, ensuring comprehensive coverage for all teaching stages.
One of the highly anticipated sessions is led by Dr. Alexandra Okada, who will present on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 08:45 to 09:35 GMT in LH115 (Learning Hub Level 1). Her presentation, “Effective Connection with Science through Open Schooling and Storytelling”, will explore how the CONNECT-science questionnaire assesses students’ emotional engagement with science. Additionally, she will highlight how the powerful story “Our Green Library: CARE-KNOW-DO” serves as a catalyst for fostering students’ passion, scientific knowledge, and actionable insights. Dr. Okada’s session is a part of the EU-funded CONNECT-science.net project and the UK Green-Forum, which works closely with both primary and secondary schools to inspire the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards.
Professor Jonathan Osborne (Stanford, USA), Dr. Ale Okada (Open University, UK), Prof Chris Harrison (Kings College London, UK)
As the largest Science Education Conference in the UK, ASE is proud to be supported in 2024 by key sponsors such as AQA, Philip Harris (Findel Group), Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Oxford University Press, VITTA Group, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.
We look forward to an engaging and inspiring event for all educators committed to advancing science education!
For more details and to register, visit the official ASE website.
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