Digital and Innovative Conference

As part of the study visit, the Digital and Innovative conference was held in Trbovlje on Thursday, 20 April 2023, where participants learned about the digital transformation strategy and the strengthening of digital competences in Slovenian education, and had the opportunity to try out a variety of modern teaching equipment – a suit with motion sensors, virtual reality goggles, robot controls, industrial robotic arms, etc.

“Slovenia is one of the leading countries in the field of computerisation of education and is effectively implementing the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan of two years ago, which has two priorities: to promote the development of high-performance digital education and to strengthen digital competences for transformation. However, we should not forget that literacy also includes other activities such as raising awareness among teachers and parents, ensuring equal opportunities, cybersecurity and so on,” noted Dr Igor Pesek, Head of the Digitalisation Education Unit at Ministry of Education.

The focus of the roundtable discussion held during the conference was on the development of a pedagogical approach in which digital learning technologies are used systematically by teachers in vocational and professional education.

“Technology is a necessary tool for the modern student and teacher, but it must be used in a meaningful and planned way. Using technology all the time, just because it is available, can do more harm than good to young people’s learning”, said M.Sc. Janez Damjan, Director of the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training, the project promoter.

Participants agreed that the use of technology in the classroom needs to be well planned and monitored, and adapted as necessary, if the labour market is to produce skilled young people.