Tag Archives: Erasmus+ Courses

Heads of School from St Nicholas College Attend the Erasmus+ Course ‘AI Ethics and Bias: Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation in AI Tools’

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A group of school leaders from St Nicholas College recently attended the Erasmus+ Course ‘AI Ethics and Bias: Diversity, Inclusion, and Representation in AI Tools‘ in Budapest Hungary. Ms Josette White, HOS at Attard Primary, Ms Natalie Saliba, HOS at Dingli Primary and Ms Doriann Portanier Mifsud, HOS at Rabat Middle School attended the course. They were also accompanied by Ms Josephine Mifsud, Head of College Network and Ms Amanda Debattista, College Erasmus+ Coordinator.

The course addressed ethical considerations and bias in AI algorithms, student cheating, privacy concerns, over-reliance on technology, lack of representation (gender, age, ethnicity, abilities), and equity issues. Participants were introduced to several tools, and were able to work on practical examples and discuss/share their results with the rest of the class. Some of the tools used during the course were:

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini,
Microsoft Co-Pilot		Artificial Intelligence Chatbots
QuizizzGenerate Quizzes and Assessment with AI
Tengr.aiAI Image Editor/Generator
Adobe FireflyGenerate and Edit Images; Create Videos and Sounds
Udio, SunoAudio/Lyrics/Song Creator
Synthesis, HeygenVideo Generator
Microsoft Reading CoachAI Story Creator and Immersive Reader
QuillbotPlagerism Checker/AI Detector
SlidesgoOnline Presentation Generator

During the course, participants were also reminded about using AI tools ethically, and ensuring inclusivity by catering to diverse student needs. They were challenged into identifying and addressing biases through the crafting and comparison of more effective prompts and commands; thus ensuring that generated texts and images are truly representative.

The Senior Leadership Team at our College throughly enjoyed this great learning experience. As School Leaders, they feel more equipped to use AI Tools in their schools, and look forward to mentoring their staff in using these new resources whilst ensuring an ethical and unbiased experience for all.

This mobility was made possible thanks to St Nicholas College Accreditation funds, co-funded by the European Union.

Erasmus Days 2024: Courses and Training

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One of the main benefits of participating in Erasmus+ Projects is the possibility of taking part in various Professional Development Opportunities, including attending tailor-made courses abroad. Watch this testimonial from Ms Janice Vella Muscat, educator at St Nicholas College Mgarr Primary School, who had the opportunity to receive Erasmus+ funded training in July! #ErasmusDays #ErasmusDays2024 #EUPA #EUPAMalta #ErasmusAccreditation

Erasmus+ Course: Using ICT to Integrate Migrant Students in the Classroom

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Ms. Lara Portelli and Ms. Riann Fenech Gladwish from St Nicholas College, Mtarfa Primary School, attended the Erasmus+ Course ‘Using ICT Tools to Integrate Migrant Students in the Classroom’. The course was held between the 1st and the 5th of July in Florence, Italy. Our educators were presented with various apps they can use in the classrooms to help integrate migrant students at school.

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Erasmus+ Course: ICT Tools for a Creative and Collaborative Classroom

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In July 2024, Ms Janice Vella Muscat – a Primary Teacher from St Nicholas College, Ġanni Cilia Primary School in Mġarr – had the opportunity to attend a five-day course titled ICT Tools for a Creative and Collaborative Classroom in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy. This mobility experience was truly enriching, both professionally and culturally. The course brought together educators from various parts of Europe, including participants from Greece, Poland, Austria, Budapest, and Bilbao. It provided an ideal platform for exchanging ideas and learning about the latest innovations in the field of education technology. 

Ms Janice during her presentation on the Maltese Educational System and Mġarr Primary School

During the course, Ms Vella Muscat was introduced to a variety of ICT tools that can greatly enhance teaching and learning. Some of the key tools we explored included Padlet, Copilot, Gemini, and ChatGPT, each designed to foster creativity and collaboration in the classroom. The educators also delved into digital tools for assessment, such as Plickers, Slido, and Eduaide, which offer dynamic ways to engage students and assess their progress. These tools provide a wide range of possibilities to make learning more interactive and student-centered.

Experimenting with Digital Tools

A significant portion of the course was dedicated to exploring AI tools, which are rapidly evolving and becoming more integrated into educational settings. The discussions surrounding AI tools, especially those for image creation and content generation, highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence on teaching practices. This course not only equipped Ms Vella Muscat with practical ICT knowledge but also gave her a deeper understanding of how AI can shape the future of education. 

This mobility was made possible thanks to St Nicholas College Accreditation funds, co-funded by the European Union.

Erasmus+ Course: AI Enhanced Learning Experiences

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In July 2024, Mr. Jeffrey Zammit, the Education Officer for St. Nicholas College, went on an Erasmus experience in Valencia. During this opportunity, he connected with 16 other educators, primarily principals and heads of schools from various European countries. Together, they participated in a course focused on AI-Enhanced Learning Experiences —one that tries to integrate artificial intelligence into today’s classrooms.

The course mainly focused on two questions that educators and school leaders often face:

  • How can school administrators and educators can effectively use AI in their daily responsibilities?
  • In what ways is AI is impacting leadership within schools?

To explore these questions, participants made use of various web tools, using AI, including:

  • Fobizz, aplatform where educators make use of digital technologies into their teaching practices, ultimately enhancing student engagement.
  • Bot Assistants in Education: These tools provide immediate support to students, facilitating personalized learning.
  • AI in the Flipped Classroom: AI enhances the flipped classroom model by offering personalized learning pathways.
  • ChatGPT: The group discussed the risks of such tool but agreed that it also offers significant educational advantages.
  • Quizizz: An interactive platform that gamifies assessments, making learning enjoyable.
  • Canva: A design tool that helps educators and students to create visuals in their educational materials.
  • Suno: An innovative tool that assists educators in creating songs, enhancing the learning experience through music.

Each day of the course featured a “Reflection Roundtable,” where participants engaged in discussions about their learnings and exchanged insights with one another. This collaborative environment fostered deeper connections and enriched the overall educational experience.

Click on the following link to download a presentation with all the activities covered during the course:

Presentation: Exploring AI Web Tools

This mobility was facilitated by the accreditation funds from St. Nicholas College, which were co-financed by the European Union.

Erasmus+ Course – Inclusive Education for School Leaders: Setting the Vision and Agenda

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A group of eight members of the SLT, including St Nicholas College Network Head of College Network Ms Josephine Mifsud and Director General People Management Ms Mary Scicluna recently attended the Erasmus+ funded course ‘Inclusive Education for School Leaders: Setting the Vision and Agenda‘ in Florence, Italy. The course focused on helping school leaders acquire the strategic managerial tools necessary to promote inclusion in their schools for the benefit of the whole community. The target audience for the course are school principals and deputies, who want to increase the capacity of their whole staff to bring inclusion in the school’s everyday life.

Participants were also able to analyse a variety of case studies to find out paradigms and strategies (e.g., the Low Arousal Approach) on how to shape an emotionally caring environment in their schools to support both the learners and the staff in adopting behavior that promotes inclusion at all levels.

Apart from the College HCN (Ms Josephine Mifsud) and DG People Management (Ms Mary Scicluna), the course was also attended by Ms Marianne Cachia, Ms Elizabeth Galea and Mr Robert Saliba (Heads of School); Ms Deborah Montebello and Ms Annemarie Camilleri (Assistant Heads of Schoo) and Ms Amanda Debattista (Project Coordinator). The course also met one of the College’s main aims for our Erasmus+ Accreditation: Inclusion of Migrant Learners in our school community. This mobility was made possible thanks to St Nicholas College Accreditation funds, co-funded by the European Union.

Sharing of Good Practice: Dingli Primary School Educators share their Erasmus+ experience with their colleagues during a whole-school COPE session

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Educators from Dingli Primary School had the opportunity to share their Erasmus+ Mobility experience with their fellow educators during a COPE session organised by the school.

Ms Dorianne and Ms Kim attended a course in Vukovar, Croatia, titled ‘Play and Learn – Digital Tools for the 21st Century’. On a separate website post, we have gone into detail about the course and their experience working with teachers from other European Countries. Click on the following link to learn more, and download copies of their resources: Dingli Primary School Educators attend Erasmus+ Course in Croatia.

Similarly, Ms Jade and Ms Stephanie had the opportunity to accompany 6 students on an Erasmus+ Pupil Mobility in Bari. We have already featured this mobility on a separate website post – click on the link to learn more and download a copy of their resources:

Dingli Primary School Students Participate in Erasmus+ Pupil Mobility in Bari

All the educators participating in the COPE session enjoyed learning about the school’s Erasmus+ Experience and learned more about European-Wide Collaboration. During the Summer, two additional members of staff – Ms Elizabeth Galea, Head of School and Ms Annemarie Camilleri, Assistant Head of School – will be attending an Erasmus+ Course for Principals; they will also have the opportunity to share their experience upon their return.

This mobility was made possible thanks to St Nicholas College Accreditation funds, co-funded by the European Union.