Article
10-12-2024
As expected, AI was one of the most discussed topics at OEB 2024. Many sessions, keynotes and workshops focused on AI and how artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the educational landscape. Many speakers highlighted the balance between the opportunities and challenges of AI. So did Gerd Leonhard, who delivered the plenary opening on 28 November. Inclusiveness and AI also came up regularly. In her keynote, Payal Arora shared her insights on this, based on her own work: the inclusive AI lab (Universiteit Utrecht).
Besides AI, there was also room for micro-credentials at the OEB. Paul den Hertogh, together with Laura Widger (SETI, Ireland) and Kerstin Schoerg (SFU, Austria), provided a workshop on the maturity model they developed for the European Digital Education Hub. Participants from all over the world sat down with each other to form a recommendation for an institution’s Executive Board based on a maturity assessment. There were great discussions about the differences between European micro-credentials and the definition used in other parts of the world. Paul: ‘What stood out was that the South African definition is almost identical to the European one. Enquiries revealed that they have indeed looked closely at European developments and are keen to match them. A nice development, because that means our micro-credentials can be well recognised there, and vice versa of course!’
Nynke Kruiderink, together with Channa van der Brug, led a conversation on Centres for Teaching & Learning. After a brief introduction of CTLs, the conversation could really start. How does one see a CTL, what benefits are there and what challenges remain here? It was a valuable conversation from which Nynke shared a few more takeaways:
- CTLs are a necessity because teachers will run into increasingly complex issues in the future.
- It is important to introduce a CTL in an evidence-informed way. This makes it easier to understand its importance.
Want to read more? Check out Nynke’s LinkedIn post.
Dimitri van Dillen looks back positively on the days in Berlin. His highlight was his participation as a table moderator during the closing session ‘The Trend is Your Friend’. They talked about how trends offer not only challenges but also opportunities for the education of the future. Which trends were chosen by the session participants as the most important trends for the future of learning? Personalisation through a conscious use of AI, more human-centred and sustainable forms of education as well as new technologies to support self-directed learning. Want to read more? Check out Dimitri’s LinkedIn post.
Finally, drinks for the Dutch delegation were also a great success: it was nice to network with Dutch educational professionals and share insights on the OEB and future of education.
