Collaborative Opportunities for Professional Inquiry Leading to Organisational Transformation

"<< Background >>The primary motivation for our project is to support teachers and school leaders in an educational landscape which has been transformed by the impact of Covid-19. Teachers and school leaders are at the forefront of this transformation. Indeed, Farrell (2020) points out how ""teachers are positioned at the very centre of a global movement to equip students with the necessary skills of creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving to enable them to engage as global citizens"" (Farrell,2020). The COPILOT project aims to support our teachers and school leaders in this 'global movement."" In particular, we aim to identify and report on collaborative practices which enhance core digital competences of our target groups. We also seek to explore synergies with organisations active in different fields of technology who may have a collaborative role to play in addressing digital transformation in the education sector.Additionally, all project partners will promote the use of the SELFIE tool with associated schools. The use of this tool will enable school leaders to identify digital skills and competences for strengthening with their school in response to the global digital movement.<< Objectives >>The aim of the COPILOT project is to identify and report on impactful collaborative approaches adopted by transnational partners in supporting teachers and school leaders in addressing digital transformation. We will explore how each partner applies the knowledge gained from these collaborative activities to develop the digital readiness, capacity, and resilience of teachers and school leaders.The objectives of our project are linked to the Erasmus+ programme priority of supporting teachers and school leaders. Each objective is also linked to an Erasmus+ topic (identified in brackets after each project objective below).1. To identify participatory approaches and digital methodologies used by schools to support teachers and school leaders with digital transformation (Digital skills and competences)2. To explore the creation of dynamic professional environments in schools by identifying synergies with organisations active in different fields or in other socio-economic sectors (Cooperation between educational institutions and business)3. To increase the capacity and professionalism of partners to work at EU/international level resulting in an application for a Cooperation Partnership in 2023 (Inter-regional cooperation)<< Implementation >>The COPILOT project was implemented through a range of activities that aimed to identify and report on impactful collaborative approaches adopted by transnational partners in supporting teachers and school leaders in addressing digital transformation. The project activities included partner exchanges, online project management meetings, and dissemination activities.Partner Exchanges:There were four in-person partner exchanges throughout the duration of the project. These exchanges provided an opportunity for partners to exchange practices and learn from each other about how they inform, engage, and support their teachers and school leaders with digital transformation. During these exchanges, partners shared best practices, engaged in peer-to-peer learning, and developed new ideas for supporting schools in their digital transformation journey.Online Project Management Meetings:In addition to the partner exchanges, there were nine online project management meetings throughout the project's duration. These meetings were attended by each partner lead and provided a forum for partners to discuss project progress, share updates on their activities, and plan for future project activities<< Results >>The COPILOT project resulted in several outputs, which included a project website, two dissemination events, a final report summarising the learnings from each partner, and an Erasmus Cooperation Partnership application.Project Website:One of the key outputs of the project was a project website which provided information about the project activities, project partners, and project reports. The website served as a platform for partners to share their experiences and best practices.Dissemination Events:The project partners hosted an in-person dissemination event at University College Dublin in May 2023 to share the key findings and recommendations from the project. The event was attended by a range of stakeholders, including educators, policymakers, and industry experts. The project partners also hosted an online dissemination event in May 2023 where each partner presented their learnings from the project. Final Report:The project partners also produced a final report summarising the learnings from each partner.Erasmus Cooperation Partnership Application:Finally, the project partners contributed to an Erasmus Cooperation Partnership application, which aims to build on the learning from this project."