29.01.2021

EdTechFest 2021: an encounter with digital technologies during pandemic times

Once again, Beacon opened its doors during the professional development weeks – and several screens – to Digital Technologies with our traditional EdTechFest. This year, the focus was on reflecting and performing in the digital environment, explaining concepts and practices in hybrid spaces.

“EdTechFest 2021: The Hybrid, The Remote, The Possible” was an encounter with digital technologies during pandemic times that invited the faculty team to participate in four lectures and eight workshops with several themes.

In addition to using technology in the classroom, the hybrid education proposal involves other premises, such as teaching customization, flexible learning times and spaces, and students’ autonomy. During this workshop, educators were challenged to live and plan experiences involving hybrid education considering this perspective.

Other topics of current relevance such as “Assessment in Digital Contexts”, “Creative Gamification in Remote and Hybrid Education”, “Digital Resources and Active Learning”, and “Design Thinking” were part of the proposals available.

The event also offered professional training related to digital platforms that our students are already using, such as “Matific” and “Árvore de Livros”. The Matific platform encourages curiosity and discovery through concrete problems from Early Childhood children up to 6th graders (Y6). At Beacon, it gained popularity among students and teachers with its more than 1,500 games and activities, organized by grade level and linked to the chapters of our Math textbooks. During the “Let’s read in New Spaces” workshop, participants were able to get to know all the tools and possibilities of “Árvore de Livros” and “Árvore Atualidades” digital reading platforms, clarify doubts and explore the options of these virtual libraries. These platforms are available to Beacon students and teachers, providing access to books and activities that foster reading, organized for each age group.