The workshop is about The Role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the PYP. It is designed for administrators, coordinators, teachers, and school counselors in PYP schools. The central aim of the workshop is to help these educators develop a deep understanding of how ICT can be used as a vital resource to transform teaching and learning practices rather than being treated as a stand-alone subject area.
The workshop emphasizes that ICT is crucial for PYP schools to help students and staff develop the learner profile, apply the understanding, knowledge, and skills of the PYP curriculum, become lifelong learners, and take positive action as members of our information and technology-driven global society. It aims to be a truly paperless and interactive experience, engaging all participants in the active use of the internet and electronic resources to support teaching and learning.
The workshop is structured around the central idea that when integrated purposefully and thoughtfully, the use of ICT in the PYP facilitates the development of international-mindedness by enhancing and expanding opportunities for inquiry, action, and reflection. It utilizes an inquiry-based pedagogical approach, encouraging participants to be actively involved in their own learning and to take responsibility for it. Participants are invited to be ‘agentic learners’ who nurture their own ICT skills, make choices, have a voice, and take ownership of their professional learning.
Specific concepts that will be explored include form, causation, and connection. The workshop will delve into lines of inquiry such as:
- The purpose and philosophy of ICT in the PYP (form).
- Promoting international-mindedness through ICT and the PYP curriculum model (causation).
- Planning for the meaningful use of ICT tools and processes (reflection).
- Systems and structures that support ICT implementation and integration (connection).
Essential (teacher) questions that will guide the inquiry include:
- What is the purpose of ICT in the PYP?.
- How can the use of ICT impact the development of international-mindedness?
- How do we know when and how to integrate ICT to support the best learning in the PYP?
- What kind of systems best support teaching and learning through the use of ICT?
Throughout the workshop, participants will be encouraged to engage in reflective threads to consider their learning journey. They will also be able to become familiar with workshop tools such as Padlet (electronic workbook) and Google Drive (collaborative space for participant pages). The workshop will also address topics like digital citizenship, digital literacy, online safety, and the development of ICT policies. Participants will be asked to select three capabilities related to ICT integration and digital literacy to focus on during the workshop. Overall, the workshop aims to empower educators to effectively integrate ICT to enhance inquiry-based learning, promote international-mindedness, and develop essential skills for students and staff in the PYP.
Inquiry is the leading pedagogical approach that guides this workshop. This means that the workshop is designed with the understanding that participants are actively involved in their own learning and take responsibility for that learning. The entire workshop is approached with a spirit of inquiry.
As a learner in this workshop, you are invited to embrace this vision and apply it to your own professional development. This encourages you to become an ‘agentic learner’, someone who nurtures their own ICT understanding, strives to make choices, have a voice, and take ownership of their own professional learning.
The workshop itself is structured as an inquiry. It has a Central Idea: “When integrated purposefully and thoughtfully, the use of ICT in the PYP facilitates the development of international-mindedness by enhancing and expanding opportunities for inquiry, action, and reflection”. It also has Key Concepts: form, causation, connection, and reflection. Additionally, the workshop is guided by Lines of Inquiry that delve into the purpose and philosophy of ICT in the PYP, promoting international-mindedness through ICT, planning for the meaningful use of ICT tools, and the systems supporting ICT integration.
Furthermore, the workshop utilizes Essential (teacher) Questions to provoke thought and guide the inquiry process, such as “What is the purpose of ICT in the PYP?” and “How can the use of ICT impact the development of international-mindedness?”.
The focus on “Reflective Threads” further supports the inquiry-based approach by encouraging participants to continually reflect on their learning journey: where they are going, where they are now, what they need to improve, and how to improve their learning and that of others.
This workshop centres on integrating ICT purposefully within the PYP and is fundamentally driven by inquiry, not just as a concept but as the very essence of the learning experience. I designed it to be a living example of inquiry-based pedagogy, empowering participants to become “agentic learners” who actively shaped their professional development. The workshop’s structure, anchored by a central idea, specified concepts, and lines of inquiry, provides a framework for exploration. I enrich this framework with carefully crafted inquiry tasks, moving beyond theoretical discussions to practical application. These tasks, like “Making Sense of Inquiry Cycles,” directly involve participants in experiencing the inquiry process.
In essence, the workshop does not just talk about inquiry, it actively embodies it in its structure, guiding questions, learning activities, and the expected role of the participants as active and responsible learners.
