NIS International Research-to-Practice Conference

Inspirational Speakers

Keynote Speakers

David Marsh

David Marsh, Director of Innovation and Outreach, EduCluster, Finland

David Marsh PhD has developed strategic and innovative educational practices in Finland over 25 years. Now Director of Innovation and Outreach at EduCluster Finland, University of Jyväskylä Group, he has professional experience in over 40 countries, contributed to over 150 publications, and received 5 degrees from the United Kingdom, Finland and Spain. An extensive track record in the European Union complements work carried out in Africa (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa), East Asia (Japan, Korea), Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Middle East (KSA, UAE, Qatar), Russia, Southeast Asia (Brunei, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam), North America, (Mexico, USA), and South America (Argentina, Colombia, Peru). In the 1990s he co-launched Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) under the auspices of the European Commission. In recent years his work on transforming education has ranged from designing blueprints for new schools, and developing teaching and learning processes alongside analytic and research tasks. Special focuses of interest are on the impact of languages on the mind and brain, building positive school ecosystems, and adjusting educational practices to accommodate the needs of digitally astute young people. His current work-in-progress is The Children of Cyberspace: Towards a New Understanding, due for publication in 2019.

X NIS International Research-to-Practice Conference, 25-26 October 2018: Keynote Speech

Innovation through Integration

The digital generation is now in early adulthood. Experience from early childhood of living with integrated technologies influences how this current generation processes and uses information. These technologically astute young people are increasingly generating their own contexts for and habits of learning. The speed at which this is happening often outpaces the introduction of responsive adaptation and innovation in education. At the same time our societies are experiencing forms of convergence and integration on an unprecedented scale. This is driving demand for high-performing educational systems to further innovate so as to realize the potential of these young people, and the societies in which they live. The fast pace of social, technological and digital convergence requires a substantial shift in educational culture and practices. We need to match the current generation leap with a complementary education leap. One feature enabling an education leap is curricular design that combines deep learning of knowledge alongside ability to manage 21st Century competences. One solution, now applied in Finland, is a form of cross-curricular convergence called phenomenon-based learning. This is where students study a single phenomenon from different academic perspectives, for achievement of both academic and competence-based learning objectives, through innovative teaching and learning practices.

X NIS International Research-to-Practice Conference, 25-26 October 2018: Keynote Speech

How does teaching and learning change in CLIL contexts?

This workshop will examine issues and answer questions on the origin of CLIL as it emerged in Western Europe. During this time teaching in an additional language was considered to require some adjustment of traditional pedagogical perspectives. This realization led to the adaptation of teaching and learning practices in those schools in which achieving and ensuring a high level of quality was a priority. During the workshop we will explore how some of these key practices are realized in classroom teaching.