Digital Education Labs (LED): Seminars Inspiring Educational Transformation
The Directorate-General for Education (DGE) continues to foster educational transformation in Portugal through the Digital Education Labs (Digital Labs), designed to promote innovative pedagogical practices and integrate technological resources into the curriculum. As part of the project's implementation, the DGE organized two major seminars in 2024: the Seminar for School Directors, held on October 2, and the Seminar for Digital Ambassadors, conducted on November 13 and 14.
A- Seminar for School Directors: School Leadership as Catalysts for Innovation
At the October seminar, headteachers met to discuss the strategic role of Digital Labs in pedagogical transformation and in developing the competences outlined in the Profile of Pupils Leaving Compulsory Schooling.
Figure 1 - Workshop for School Directors – DGE Seminar, October 2, 2024
During the event, invited headteachers presented concrete experiences of organising and running Digital Labs. Accompanied by teachers and students, they shared the challenges faced and the practical solutions adopted, highlighting the positive impact of Digital Labs on learning and their potential to promote active and interdisciplinary methodologies.
Participants formed discussion groups to address key topics, including:
- Organization and Communication: Strategies for organizing the Digital Lab spaces and encouraging innovative pedagogical practices.
- Capacity Building: Methods to prepare teachers and students to effectively use the Digital Labs.
- Collaboration: Strategies to encourage the exchange of best practices between schools and teachers.
- Methodologies: Maximizing the use of Digital Labs for active and multidisciplinary learning initiatives.
This event reinforced the importance of school leaders in the success of the project, highlighting the need for efficient organisation, ongoing collaboration and pedagogical integration of the laboratories.
B - Seminar for Digital Ambassadors: Capacity Building and Dynamic Strategies
The seminar held in November aimed to train Digital Ambassadors, who play a key role in disseminating good practices and supporting schools. In partnership with the ICT Competence Centres, the event included panel discussions and practical workshops.
Figure 2 - Seminar for Digital Ambassadors – DGE, November 13–14, 2024
Panel Discussions:
- The Role of Leadership: School directors shared strategies for integrating the Digital Labs into their school clusters, addressing organizational challenges, and setting clear pedagogical goals.
- Actions by Digital Ambassadors: Digital Ambassadors explored solutions for the installation and effective utilization of the Digital Labs, including strategies to actively engage teachers and address physical constraints in schools.
- The Role of School Digital Lab Teams: Teachers shared initiatives to engage the whole school community in the management and effective use of the Digital Labs.
Practical Workshops: Digital Ambassadors, organized into groups, developed creative strategies for Digital Lab installation, organization, and pedagogical integration. Their conclusions were presented in creative pitches, fostering an exchange of ideas and inspiring innovative practices.
A Promising Future for Digital Education Labs
Both seminars reinforced the role of the Digital Education Labs as transformative spaces that enrich learning and develop essential competencies in students. By integrating technology and innovative pedagogical practices, Digital Labs are redefining how schools approach teaching and learning.
Since October 2024, all 803 schools included in the project have at least one Digital Lab, totalling 1,300 labs installed in schools covering the 2nd and 3rd cycles of basic education and secondary education. This achievement marks a significant milestone in advancing educational innovation in Portugal.
Figure 3 – Digital Lab of Professor Agostinho da Silva School Cluster (see below)
Figure 4 – Digital Lab of Alcácer do Sal School Cluster (see below)
Figure 5 – Digital Lab of António Rodrigues Sampaio School Cluster (below)
For more information on the Digital Education Labs, visit the official website: led.dge.medu.pt.
Author: Ana Alves