2020 Professionalization Seminar for Middle and High School Education of the Semper Altius Network of Schools.
By: Héctor Carsolio
During June 26th and 27th, and July 3rd and 4th, the professionalization seminar for middle and upper-middle education of the Semper Altius Network of Schools was held, for the first time in a virtual format. The objective was to support teachers and coordinators in their personal and professional improvement process, incorporating the experiences of recent months so that they could have tools to strengthen their integral development as individuals and educators facing the next school year.
With the presence of more than 800 teachers and coordinators from practically all the Network's schools, two keynote lectures were held: the first focused on the meaning of being a teacher from a philosophical anthropology perspective; and the second aimed to guide teachers in valuing their professional and personal experiences from the perspective of thanatology and logotherapy.
Additionally, two workshops were offered, each consisting of a webinar interactive and collaborative work in small teams. The first workshop helped teachers identify the media and instruments that the school can use for evaluation starting the next school year, taking into account the possibility of distance learning in virtual and blended modalities. The second workshop focused on designing strategies to strengthen critical thinking from an instructional design perspective, also considering the possibility of working in both environments next cycle.
It should be noted that, despite being held remotely, the seminar was complemented by a gallery of videos and brief presentations on the following topics: healthy lifestyle habits, your digital footprint, the meaning of life, the emotional health of teachers in times of contingency, The Value of Community: Engagement in Challenging Times National Geographic, and a review of the STEAM Makerspaces approach by the company «Hacedores».
All participants showed commitment to their profession and to each of their students, by dedicating this time to prepare and continue in the academic debate that seeks to develop the best strategies for effective distance teaching and learning, which will ultimately result from a mix of passion, creativity, adaptability, innovation, and personalized support for each of the network's students.
