SHOWCASE FILE - EDTECH TOWN

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EdTech Town

WELCOME TO

Hey, welcome to the EdTech Town!

I heard you've been traveling the world for a long time, searching for creativity and innovation in education!

That's so exciting! I'm Jad, and I know the EdTech Town like the back of my hand. Shall I show you around this amazing place?

So, let me tell you a bit about the city. Here at the EdTech Town, you'll find 4 main spots...

Oh, look, that was quick, we're here! Let's begin the adventure?

This is the Central Station, where you'll find the basic information that you might need!

No, I think I will skip it.

Yes, let's have a drink.

We can maybe sit down for a drink at EdTechBucks and I'll tell you all about the history of this town. Shall we?

Hello! What would you like to drink?

Know all about our partners.

TEA

Know all about the EdTech Town amazing citizens

Know all about the founding patrons of the EdTech Town

HOT CHOCOLATE

COFFEE

Have a nice day!

No, I think I will skip it.

Yes, let's have a drink.

Oh you changed your mind?

The EdTech Town was founded during the 21st century's Pandemic when a group of brave innovators started an educational track at the Digital Society School (DSS), located in Hoogeschool van Amsterdam. DSS is a unique place where challenges are transformed into innovative projects.The EdTech Town specifically works on more innovative, accessible, and inclusive education! People from diverse backgrounds - really, reeeally diverse - form teams to work on these challenges using tools from the world of design, technology and education, and of course, searching for social impact!

EDTECH NEWS

TEA

HOT CHOCOLATE

COFFEE

MOVE TO NEXT LOCATION

Know all about our partners.

Know all about the EdTech Town amazing citizens

Know all about the founding patrons of the EdTech Town

At EdTech Town, you'll find the most amazing innovators! Our society is divided in two groups:1: The Core team2: The TraineesA core team is a group of people responsible for leading the projects and making sure innovation and result comes together. Here you'll find academics, designers, coaches and project managers. The trainees are a group of temporary citizens who undertake a 5-month program to work on the projects. They come from over 20 countries and diverse backgrounds: from the fields of international relations, psychology and design to philosophy and arts. That's why our EdTech Town is so great.

EdTECH NEWS

Our partners understand that positive impact on society goes hand in hand with value creation for their own organisation. They are ready for digital, integral solutions for ‘people, planet and prosperity’, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sure, they might not know how to get there yet, but that is exactly what we’ll work on together.

EDTECH NEWS

......

NEW LEARNERS HUB

EVIDENCE FOR TEACHING (EIPSI)

TOMAS

ESCAPE THE ROOM

Here you can see four houses. Each one has a precious project inside. Pick one and explore it!

Would you like to explore more projects, or head to the next location?

TOMAS

NEW LEARNERS HUB

EVIDENCE FOR TEACHING (EIPSI)

ESCAPE THE ROOM

ClientHogeschool van Amsterdam, entrepreneurship students.

How can digital technology be integrated into the design of the Educational Escape Room (EER) in a way that supports the learning outcomes of entrepreneurship studies?

Research has shown that millennials prefer informal learning experiences, such as ER, due to their flexibility and because the activities generally engage and heighten students’ interests (Oblinger 2004 and Vlachopoulos & Makri, 2017).

Challenge

Solution

Digital elements can supplement the physical components in an EER by offering adaptability. Digital components can be more easily reprogrammed for purpose-built EERs, thus making digital/physical EER elements reusable.

Since a physical escape room is normally not sustainable, we developed a sustainability calculator to help clients realize the digital escape room in a physical setting. This way, they can assess their material against different categories and become sustainability heroes.

Challenge Tomas (Talent, Development, Match and Select) is the matching platform for talent with skills in different sectors.

ClientMetropool Regio Amsterdam, Startup Amsterdam, Gemeente, Amsterdam Economic Board, HvA

The profile would have different criteria to measure the current level of partnerships between companies for talent development. The T-Passport not only allows you to showcase your work, but also gives you an additional benefit of participating in social return projects that contribute to society.

Solution

The solution of this project was the T-Passport, which is an impact profile that would provide talent initiatives and companies the opportunity to have a specialized space showcasing their goals and accomplishments whilst recognizing them for their collaborative work in this industry.

Challenge How can we enhance the digital onboarding experience of trainees to ensure learner retention and satisfaction, while supporting their well-being?

ClientAmsterdam University of Applied Sciences

The Virtual Society Hub (VSH) is a digital space where trainees can connect and collaborate. It aims to promote social interaction and enhance a sense of belonging. The VSH not only focuses on making the integration of new trainees more smooth within the Digital Society School but also throughout their time in Amsterdam. This hub serves as an inspirational platform that can be re-modified to fit other companies that hosts trainees. Some of the elements to help trainees better integrate into DSS and Amsterdam that are included in the Virtual Society Hub are: the Culture Corner, Workshops and Portfolio Reviews and the Chat Space.

We aimed to build a modular virtual hub that could be used by companies and the educational system. New Learners Hub focuses on 7 pillars (Chickering & Reisser, 1993): (1) developing competence, (2) managing emotions, (3) moving through autonomy toward interdependence, (4) developing mature interpersonal relationships, (5) establishing identity, (6) developing purpose and (7) developing integrity.

Solution

ClientErasmus +, University of Barcelona, University of Ljublana, Durham University, University of Bucharest, department of education of municipality of Barcelona

Challenge How might we encourage teachers to use (evidence-informed) research to overcome social inequalities and promote school inclusion at all levels?

Due to some schools being in rural areas or having less technology available, we make sure that the deliverables are quick, easy to people with subpar internet connectivity. The final prototype was designed in the form of a website and a toolkit for teachers where key findings would be incorporated to create an easy and quick solution to their problem.

Solution

The aim of the website is to 1) educate teachers about what Evidence-Informed Practices are and why to use them, 2) help find practices easier and quicker, and 3) link self-made communities to help encourage sharing experiences. This all contributes to encouraging teachers in fighting inequality in the classroom.The toolkit is designed for teachers who are not yet familiar with what Evidence-Informed Practices are and why it is beneficial to use them. The toolkit contains a card game, an infographic about Evidence-Informed Practices and promotional materials for schools.

Sure, let's go! The next location is the famous Amusement Park in EdTech Town: EdtechLand! There, you'll feel the adrenaline of the courses that we've built here!

¡Let the fun begin!

edtechland

amusement park

Enter park

EDTECHLAND

Awardsachieved:

You will have to redo the previous missionsto return to where you are now

Stay

Exit

ARE YOU SURE?

THE PIñata code

Start

Break the piñata to read the message inside!

Next

"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela

Next challenge!

You have won your first badge

EDTECHLAND

Awardsachieved:

Answer correctly and make your horse reach the finish line first!

HORSE RACE

Start

go!

A - Algorithm, D-Dalmatian, D- Dogs, I -IKEA, and E-Edelberry

A - AdministrationD-Design, D- DevelopmentI - ImplementationE-Existence

A - Analysis D-Design, D- Development I -Implementation E-Evaluation

1/5

ADDIE is a cool framework for designing cool learning experiences! Do you know what it stands for?

Try again!

1/5

Wrong!

go!

About Technology Enhanced Learning and the impact of gamification on learning

About how to make students do their homework

About creating robots for online education

2/5

What do you think you can learn from our course "Online Education: Useful Tools and Applications"?

Try again!

2/5

Wrong!

go!

Due to the geopolitical changes

Teachers needed new resources to engage their students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Students were lazy and didn't want to learn

3/5

Why do you think our course "Designing Learning Resources for Online Education" became demanded?

Try again!

3/5

Wrong!

go!

An architectural style

A videogame

YOU

An active learning method to enhance student's performance

4/5

What is a "Flipped Classroom"?

Try again!

4/5

Wrong!

go!

Teach about technology as the only resource

Develop 21st century skills to work with education in diverse contexts

Create social impact by developing inclusive learning

5/5

Which one is NOT a goal of the EdTech Track's courses at the Digital Society School?

Try again!

5/5

Wrong!

Next!

You have won your second badge!

Leave the park

CONGRATULATIONS!

Continue journey

EDTECHLAND

Awardsachieved:

NEXT LOCATION

Now you're about to enter the mystical part of EdTech Town! You'll meet Maria Irenis, our very own fortune teller. How about going inside and discover what the future holds for you?

Well, hello there. I can tell just by looking at you that you're a brave explorer. The innovation spirits told me that what brings you here is to discover innovation in education. Very well, let me tell you what the universe has for you.

Generating ideas

Creative research

Empathy

PICK A CARD

Head to next location

Generating ideas

Creative research

Empathy

PICK A CARD

There is no innovation without empathy. How about getting into your audience’s shoes to find incredible insights for your challenges and projects? A Day In Life can be a way to go!

Empathy

A DAY IN LIFE

1. Based on your question, define the elements you want to better understand about your target audience. 2. Recruit participants and arrange to observe and follow them for some hours or a day.3. Follow participants and capture the information. Ask participants to explain the reasoning they have for doing things in a certain way. 4. Analyse the data to gather insights.

Coming up with great ideas is nice, but what if…you came up with the worst ideas ever? The Dark Side method will show you a fresh angle of your challenges!

Creative research

1. Define your design challenge or question. For instance, “How can we make our city more sustainable?”2. Reframe it in the most negative way possible. For example, “How can we make our city the most polluted?”3. List down as many idea as possible that solve your new question.4. Randomly take one idea from the list, and add another idea that transforms the first solution into a positive one.5. Discuss all ideas with your group.

DARK SIDE

Find it difficult to generate fresh, creative ideas? Fear no more! Lotus Blossom will solve your problems!

LOTUS BLOSSOM

1. Draw a square in the middle of your paper and write down the central theme in it. 2. Think of 8 related ideas and write them around the square using a new square for each. 3. Take each of the 8 previous themes and create 8 new themes around it. Write them in new squares. 4. Blossom as far as you think is relevant.

Generating ideas

Not now

Before you go, the spirits told me something else... I can see in your future that you and the EdTech Track will talk and have an amazing partnership together. You should get in touch right now and have an abundance of fortune in your life.

Get in touch with me!

It is getting dark! We should hurry up back to ferry. Otherwise, we will miss the last one!

I guess we are here on time. Let's wait for your ferry. Meanwhile let me share a bit about what happens at DSS.

Digital Society School and EdTech for Social Change track have been organising outstanding events like the Showcase and Global Goals Jam in the last years.

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It was a pleasure to be your guide. Goodbye, and hope to see you soon!

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