Microsoft Malta awards most innovative teachers

A Maltese teacher is attending Microsoft’s European Innovative Teachers Forum in Moscow this week following a local competition.

The winning project was developed by Miriam Schembri from St Thomas More College Fgura Primary A. Entitled “Tell me a Story”, Ms Schembri’s project consisted of thematic activities such as storytelling, targeting early childhood skills and development through the application of technology and the use of computers.

Antoinette Costa from St Thomas Moore School in Zejtun placed second while the third place was awarded to Edith Galea from St. Nicholas College in Rabat.

Now in its eighth year, the European Innovative Education Forum forms part of the Innovative Teachers and Schools programme, a global community of educators and schools sponsored by Microsoft’s Partners in Learning programme. The forum is a gathering of innovative teachers and other education experts from all over Europe and provides an outstanding opportunity to reinvent education and get new inspiration. The Moscow forum is expected to attract over 300 teachers from around 44 different countries across Europe who will be meeting to share ideas about innovation in education and the role of ICT in education.

Fiorella Ellul Sullivan, Microsoft Malta Academic Program manager, said “Malta too has a lot of valid experience in the field of ICT in education to offer to other European and global countries as the high level of participation in this competition clearly shows and we are proud at this year’s competition entries which have been of a very high standard.”

Prof. Grace Grima, director general at the Directorate of Quality and Standards in Education described this competition as an opportunity for teachers to showcase the very same efforts that they put into delivering ICT education to their students.

Lorna Schembri, service manager ICT in Education at the Directorate for Educational Services said: “Nowadays educators recognise the fact that technology is not just a subject but it’s a supportive tool, making activities more interactive and more motivating both for the pupils and for the teachers themselves.”

The winning project submitted by Ms Schembri is accessible at http://tellmestory.wikispaces.com.