2022 annual report

Modern Didactics Centre is non-profit, non-governmental organization for continuing adult education and in-service training. Modern Didactics Centre was established in 1999 as inter-university centre by an initiative of Vilnius Pedagogical University and the Open Society Fund-Lithuania.

Mission, aims and objectives

Our mission – to initiate and implement strategic educational development projects and programs that contribute to the improvement of quality in education, by continuously monitoring, researching, and analysing the overall situation in education, taking into account the needs and opportunities of Lithuanian educational institutions and adult learners.

Aims:

• To foster educators’ desire and ability to continuously improve their professional activities and actively participate in Lithuanian educational change.
• Contribute to the implementation of the provisions of the Lifelong Learning Memorandum by working with various adult groups.
• Contribute to the implementation of sustainable development goals by providing consulting and expert assistance to partner countries, educating and informing the public about development and sustainable development processes.

Objectives:

• To initiate and implement innovative educational projects.
• To provide professional development for teachers and other adult groups.
• To consult teachers, schools, municipalities, state, non-governmental, and business organizations on educational issues in Lithuania and other countries.
• To provide expert services by conducting research, preparing strategic educational documents and models, and participating in expert groups.
• To disseminate best practices by participating in and organizing national and international conferences, seminars, discussions, study visits, and by preparing and publishing methodological teaching materials.

IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES

PROJECTS

APRICOT – Attentive parental education for wise being and co-being in changing times

No. 2019-1-LT01-KA204-060481

Duration: 1 November 2019–31 January 2022

Co-funder: EU Erasmus+ program

Coordinator: Modern Didactics Centre (LT)

Partners: The Institute of Technology-oriented Women’s Education – ItFeV (DE), Planeta Ciencias (ES), Apricot Training Management (UK)

The project aims to improve parents (grandparents) critical thinking skills and media literacy, enabling them to help children (grandchildren) to access media and social network information in a safe, meaningful and wise way.

• On January 20, 2022, the final event for sharing best practices took place – practical training in critical thinking and media literacy for class teachers, teachers, educational support specialists, and school administration representatives, entitled “The Challenges of Digital Media: How to Help Parents and Children.”
• On November 18, 2022, the project was awarded a diploma in the Lithuanian Adult Education Association’s project competition “Learning that Promotes Change” for critical thinking education solutions for the modern digital generation.

GROWE – Get readers on the wavelength of emotions

No. 2019-1-UK01-KA201-061962

Duration: 1 September 2019–31 December 2022

Co-funder: EU Erasmus+ program

Coordinator: University of Gloucestershire (UK)

Partners: Modern Didactics Centre (LT), The Danilo Dolci Center for Creative Development (IT), The Romanian Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Association (RO)

The aim of the project is to improve students’ subject literacy and social and emotional skills based on authentic contemporary literature for children and adolescents. Literacy and social-emotional skills are very important for successful lifelong learning. This project aims to develop teachers’ competencies in addressing students’ subject-specific and emotional literacy needs.

• In 2022, a data collection methodology was developed to document the testing of the GROWE training program in schools, an integrated subject literacy and social-emotional education program, and a set of best practice tools. An impact study of the training program was conducted in 2020–2022.
• In October–November 2022, project dissemination seminars were organized: “Subject literacy and social and emotional competence education at school and in the classroom”, “Competence assessment: project experience, methodology, and insights”.
• The Modern Didactics centre is collaborating with the Vilnius International Meridian School (VIMS) on the implementation of the project. In 2021–2022, a 40-hour training course for VIMS teachers was held on “Developing readers by nurturing emotional intelligence”.

Visual Creativity and Design Thinking as tools for young learners in a virtual world

No. 2020-1-EE01-KA227-SCH-093376

Duration: 1 March 2021–28 February 2023

Co-funder: EU Erasmus+ program

Coordinator: Tallinn Art Gymnasium (EE)

Partners: Modern Didactics Centre (LT), Tartu Art School (EE), Educraftor Oy Ab (FI), Crossing Borders (DK)

The project aim to integrate arts and creativity to develop digital skills among target groups by the means of innovative practices in a digital era when distance learning becomes the “new normal” in education and youth work.

It aim at enabling learning opportunities for students, pupils, youth, teachers about innovative digital tools making use of and boosting their creativity.

• On April 20–22, 2022, five project mentors conducted a training session entitled “Visuality and Creativity: Designing Innovative Thinking for Young Learners in the Virtual World,” which was attended by 43 teachers from various schools in Lithuania.
• On June 13–14, 2022, the project partners met in Tallinn (Estonia) to discuss the further course of the project.

QUA.L.I.T.I. – Vertinimo sistemos tobulinimas geresniam mokymui ir mokymuisi aukštojoje mokykloje

No. 2019-1-IT02-KA203-063157

Duration: 28 September 2019 – 27 January 2023

Co-funder: EU Erasmus+ program

Coordinator: L’Aquila university (IT)

Partners: Modern Didactics Centre (LT), Ilmiolavoro SRL (IT), Barcelona University (SP), Vilnius University (LT), Valahia Targoviste Iuniversity (RO), Szczecin University of Collegium Balticum (PL)

The project aim at improving the quality of university teaching through a systemic action in the logic of integration between the evaluation of teaching (institutional level), the construction of benchmarks of the quality of teacher performance focused on teaching-learning processes (programme level) and the training (pedagogical-didactic) of the teacher (individual level).

• A study is being conducted in 2021–2022 to formulate a standard for teaching-oriented lecturers. In the partner countries – Italy, Spain, Romania, Lithuania, and Poland, a quantitative survey of students and teachers and focus groups of education experts will be conducted to formulate a didactic profile for university teachers related to skills, professional qualities, and personal teaching practices.
• The second meeting of the project partners took place on July 5–6, 2022, in Barcelona (Spain).
• On October 20, 2022, a project dissemination seminar “QUA.L.I.T.I. – Improving the evaluation system for better teaching and learning in higher education” was organized for representatives of Lithuanian higher education, during which the following intellectual products were presented: a system of indicators for assessing the quality of higher education teaching, a standard for teaching-oriented lecturers, and methodological and didactic guidelines for teaching-oriented lecturers.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Since 2008, the Modern Didactics Centre has been an accredited adult education centre. Accreditation certificate No. IVP-12 (Order No. V-1686 of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania, November 4, 2020).

18 different professional development programs were implemented. A total of 22 professional development events were held, attended by 815 participants.

In carrying out professional development, the Modern Didactics Centre focused on the needs of its clients and the priority areas for professional development in 2020–2022:

• Improving digital literacy.
• Developing reading skills in all areas of education.
• Fostering a learning-oriented assessment culture.
• Uniting the school community by implementing the principle of inclusion in education.
• Developing critical thinking skills.

A 180-hour pedagogical-psychological knowledge course was implemented for individuals preparing to work and working as vocational teachers, non-formal children’s education teachers, career counselors, and those without pedagogical qualifications.

EXPERTISE, RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

EURYDICE international education information network

Under a contract with the National Education Agency, experts from the Modern Didactics Centre updated the information about the Lithuanian education system published on the website of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ education information network EURYDICE.

Package of tools for the assessment, recognition, and application of teachers’ competencies in their professional activities

Under a contract with the National Education Agency, the Modern Didactics Centre during 2020–2022 prepared a package of tools for assessing, recognizing, and applying teachers’ competencies in their professional activities, consisting of an updated description of competencies for teachers and student support staff (except psychologists) and a set of tools for assessing teachers’ competences (practical tasks, tests, interviews, and other materials necessary for assessment procedures), suitable for determining and recognizing teachers’ competences and planning their professional growth.

Surveys

In order to measure the effectiveness of the integrated subject literacy and social-emotional learning training program of the GROWE project, research was conducted in 2020–2022 involving teacher trainers, practicing teachers, and students, using various data collection and analysis tools.

Consultations

Consultations provided at the Millennium Schools contact fairs on all-day school modeling, inclusive education, cultural education, STREAM, critical thinking, reading promotion strategies, subject literacy and social-emotional competence development, individual progress assessment and monitoring systems.

DISSEMINATION OF GOOD PRACTICES

Good practice seminars

• On January 20, 2022 The Modern Didactics Centre organized an event to present the results of the APRICOT project entitled “The Challenges of Digital Media: How to Help Parents and Children”.
• On April 20–26, 2022 The Modern Didactics Centre participated in the Millennium Schools Program contact fairs in Anykščiai, Vilnius, and Klaipėda, where presented its activities and professional development programs and led creative critical thinking workshops.
• On June 16, 2022, the 7th National Education Leadership Forum “The Meaning of Education Today” was held on the topic “What Should Change in Educational Practice, School Life, and Education Policy Decisions in the Face of Widespread Existential Anxiety?” The forum was organized in cooperation with the Centre for School Improvement, Primum esse, and the Faculty of Philosophy of Vilnius University.
• On October 20, 2022, the high education representatives were presented with the project QUALITY and the developed intellectual products: a system of indicators for assessing the quality of higher education teaching, a standard for teaching-oriented lecturers, and methodological and didactic guidelines for teaching-oriented lecturers.
• On October 20, 2022, the Modern Didactics Centre assisted the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania in organizing the academic meetings entitled “School: Learning From the Past to Create the Future – meeting with Prof. Habil. Dr. Marija Barkauskaite”.
• On October–November 2022 dissemination seminars for the GROWE project were organized: “Developing Subject Literacy and Social-emotional Competencies at School and in the Classroom”, “Competency Assessment: Project Experience, Methodology, and Insights”.
• On November 25, 2022, the Modern Didactics Centre, in cooperation with the Centre for School Improvement, together with partners – the Lithuanian Educational Research Association and the Lithuania 2050 National Progress Strategy Development Group, invited the education community to an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Lithuanian education concept. The participants recalled the history of the document’s preparation, the people who created it, and its main ideas, and discussed the significance of the Concept for the present and the future.
• On November 26, 2022 Daiva Penkauskienė, director of the Modern Didactics Centre, and Virgita Valiūnaitė, project coordinator, led an educational workshop entitled “Learning to Be and Live in Changing Times: A Media Literacy Program for Parents” at a conference for parents and education specialists “The Modern Child 2022. Generation Z,” organized by the Panevėžys Family Association.

Presentations at international conferences and national events

• March 31, 2022. Presentation by Daiva Penkauskienė “The Competence Portfolio of a Modern Teacher” at the education innovation exhibition “School 2022. The world is changing, and you?” organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania and the National Education Agency.
• October 14, 2022. Presentation by Daiva Penkauskienė “Phenomenological and/or Phenomenographic Research Approach: How, What, and When to Choose?” 6th Conference of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA) “Educational Practice and Research in a Turbulent World,” organized by the Lithuanian Educational Research Association and the Education Academy of Vytautas Magnus University.
• October 20, 2022. Presentation by Daiva Penkauskienė “Quality of studies as an indicator of personal wellbeing: evidence from an international study” at the 11th International Scientific Conference on Social Innovation “Socin’22,” organized by Mykolas Romeris University.

PUBLICATIONS

Modern Didactics Centre experts participated in the preparation, translation, and editing of the following publications:

• Kovacs, M., Vacaretu, A. S., Screech, B., Butler, E., Penkauskienė, D., Valiūnaitė, V., Bosco, A. & Biondo, A. (2022). Training course curriculum. GROWE project.
• Butler, E., Screech, B., Kovacs, M., Văcărețu, A. S., Penkauskienė, D., Valiūnaitė, V., Bosco, A. & Biondo, A. (2022). Methodology for data collection. GROWE project.
• Butler, E., Screech, B., Kovacs, M., Văcărețu, A. S., Penkauskienė, D., Valiūnaitė, V., Bosco, A. & Biondo, A. (2022). Data analysis: Survey of GROWE training course piloting 2020–2022. GROWE project. GROWE project.
• GROWE: Toolkit. Set of good practice to for developing students’ literacy and social-emotional skills. (2022). (Open Educational Resource). GROWE project.

COOPERATION

In implementing joint activities in 2022, we cooperated with the „Diemedis“ school, Vilnius University, Mykolas Romeris University, Centre for School Improvement, company „Primum Esse”, the Lithuanian Adult Education Association, non-formal education institutions, general education schools, and institutions engaged in the improvement of teacher qualifications.

MEMBERSHIP

The Modern Didactics centre is a collective member of the following organizations:

• Lithuanian Adult Education Association
• Lithuanian Development Education and Awareness Raising Network (LITDEA)
• Lithuanian Association of Education Centers Employees
• Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking International Consortium (RWCT IC)

Daiva Penkauskienė, director of the Modern Didactics Centre, represents the Centre in the following organizations:

• Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA)
• Reading and Cultural Literacy Association
• International Literacy Association (ILA)

FINANCING

The Modern Didactics Centre is not funded by the state budget.

In 2022, 65% of its income came from training, consulting, and expert services, and 353% from EU support for project implementation, 0,06% – COVID-19 state subsidy.