Publish at April 19 2023 Updated April 19 2023
In a world that is not very tender towards what is considered old, innovation is the watchword. Everything must always strive for a more innovative mode, more in tune with the times, desires, etc. While this is not in itself a bad thing, there are some areas that have difficulty knowing how to innovate without losing their soul. Education is one of them. Of course curricula and instruction must meet modern and future needs, yet how do you change the formula without risking missing out on students?
We might first cite the changes brought about by technology. Digital work environments (DWEs) and the potentials of augmented and virtual reality are among the elements that are metamorphosing pedagogical approaches. For Jean-Charles Cailliez, educational innovation is not a goal but a posture adopted with learners that helps in the transformation of a practice. This can be seen in the different types of learning that flourish as much in schools as in the media that focus on didactic strategies: whether it is context-based learning, adaptive teaching, learning through discussions, etc.
Whether in elementary school or higher education, it seems to be impossible to really give a clear and unambiguous definition of pedagogical modernity. It relies mostly on adaptability, in general, and organization to the hilt. This means preparation and ideation beforehand to ensure that the project does not harm the knowledge and skills of the learners. Learning labs then come to the rescue of those thinking about innovative methods.
In fact, if the world of, for example, entrepreneurship has understood that it is sometimes better to test in an incubator one's ideas, the world of learning has followed suit. Already in 2016, Denis Cristol showed the beginnings of these places of educational experimentation. The phenomenon has not run out of steam over the years. On the contrary, it has gained in popularity, particularly in a world that has in some cases forced the hand of teachers to change their approach. "Learning labs" predate the pandemic, but their contribution has grown in importance in light of this crisis.
From the University of Sherbrooke's Incubator of Pedagogical Innovations to Lab'Hybridation at the Institut des Hautes Études de l'Éducation et de la Formation (IH2EF), the world is increasingly getting places like this to think about innovation and technology integration. These places are an environment where teachers and educational engineers can come together and discuss methods for improving teaching.
The digital angle is often at the heart of the discussions there. Because while institutions push for the implementation of various technologies, faculty can bring this type of discussion down to earth. For example, Strasbourg's Idea Incubator was the site of discussions in 2019 where profs recalled the difficulties of obtaining equipment, preparation time for digital solutions and lack of support.
This is a very interesting environment for all as it is a meeting place of different professions and, in the case of graduate schools, faculties that can share good and bad practices. This lab located in Geneva shows that members can analyze different innovative projects of the school and bring follow-ups on what happened. In this way, the implementation of technological solutions no longer becomes just wishful thinking but a realistic strategy where all aspects are addressed.
Thus, whether it is to reduce digital inequalities or simply to think a 21st century educational institution, labs or idea incubators seem to be the platform to look at and implement concepts.
Only in France, in February 2023, Educsol identified at least 17 ranging from pedagogies using virtual reality to art classes using smartphones. Not all of these ideas will result in sustainable pedagogical strategies, but they will have the benefit of pushing the thinking and encouraging teachers, principals, technicians, learners, local businesses, and others to think about education with a modern twist.
Photo credit: en.depositphotos.com
References:
Allouche, Elie. "Numérique Et Innovation Pédagogique (incubateur Académique De Strasbourg)." Education, Digital And Research. Last updated May 15, 2020. https://edunumrech.hypotheses.org/1598.
Cailliez, Jean-Charles. "Innovating in pedagogy, a question of posture!" EducPros. Last updated April 9, 2022. https://blog.educpros.fr/jean-charles-cailliez/2022/04/09/innover-en-pedagogie-une-question-de-posture/.
David, Mickaël, and Nathalie Oriol. "Pedagogical Innovation at the University." OpenEdition Books. Last updated 2022. https://books.openedition.org/pup/56718?lang=fr.
GASSIN, Philippe. "Learning Lab." IUT De Béziers. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://old.iutbeziers.fr/learning-lab.html.
Haeuw, Frederic. "Innovative Learning Environments." Frédéric Haeuw's Blog. Last updated June 7, 2022. https://www.haeuw.com/2022/06/les-environnements-d-apprentissage-innovants.html.
"Incubateur D'innovations Pédagogiques (i2P)." University Of Sherbrooke. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.usherbrooke.ca/i2p/.
"Le Lab'Hybridation." IH2EF. Accessed April 14, 2023. https://www.ih2ef.gouv.fr/le-labhybridation.
"Academic Incubators." eduscol. Last updated February 2023. https://eduscol.education.fr/2669/les-webinaires-iai-par-class-code.
"Retour D'expérience Sur L'incubateur D'innovation Pédagogique." HES-SO Geneva. Last updated March 14, 2023. https://numerique-hesge.ch/2023/03/14/retour-dexperience-sur-lincubateur-dinnovation-pedagogique/.
Rocher, Clément. "Les Learning Labs, Des Espaces Au Service De L'innovation Pédagogique." L'Etudiant. Last updated April 23, 2021. https://www.letudiant.fr/educpros/enquetes/les-learning-labs-des-espaces-au-service-de-l-innovation-pedagogique.html.
Singh, Ayushi. "A Guide to Innovative Pedagogy." Teachmint. Last updated January 16, 2023. https://blog.teachmint.com/innovative-pedagogy-a-guide/.
Voyer, Samantha. "Living Laboratory of Innovation in Education (LaVIE)." CTREQ. Last updated March 8, 2023. https://www.ctreq.qc.ca/projets/laboratoire-vivant-dinnovation-en-education-lavie/.
Worrell, Bradley. "Innovation Incubator Helping Transform Teaching, Learning." Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine. Last updated March 10, 2023. https://www.colorado.edu/asmagazine/2023/03/06/innovation-incubator-helping-transform-teaching-learning.
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