Department: ELT
The workshop in brief: The 5th International Workshop on Education: New Trends and Prospects (IWENTP) 2024 convened by English Language Teaching Department, Tishk International University-Erbil on October 23rd, 2024, bringing together a prestigious gathering of educators and scholars. Under the motto “Digital Well-being: Empowering Educators and Learners to Promote Mindful Practices in Higher Education,” the event emphasized strategies to integrate mindful digital practices within learning environments, fostering balance and sustainability in education.
Workshop Structure and Themes
The workshop featured three distinct themes, each focusing on the growing importance of digital well-being and exploring practical solutions to enhance learning outcomes. The first theme was presented in Main Hall 302, offering participants a comprehensive introduction to digital well-being principles, challenges, and potential interventions. This session aimed to spark conversations around the role of educators in promoting healthier digital habits.
Following the main hall presentation, participants were distributed into five sessions, each focusing on the remaining two themes. These breakout sessions provided opportunities for in-depth discussions, hands-on activities, and collaborative brainstorming among educators and learners from various disciplines.
Case Studies and Ethical Dilemmas
A significant component of the workshop involved examining case studies with ethical dilemmas related to digital content. Participants engaged in thoughtful discussions about real-world scenarios where digital content posed ethical challenges in educational settings. Topics included issues of privacy, academic integrity, and the ethical use of digital resources. These case studies aimed to equip educators with the skills to navigate complex ethical situations, fostering a culture of responsibility and respect in the digital age.
Practical Activities and Problem-Solving Sessions
A unique feature of the workshop was the “digital detox” activity. Participants were asked to choose one digital tool or instructional method from the provided instructions map that they found challenging or prone to overuse in academic settings. The task involved analyzing these tools and exploring solutions to “detox” or balance their usage. Participants brainstormed strategies to apply these solutions effectively in the classroom context, focusing on enhancing student engagement without contributing to digital overload.
The interactive nature of the workshop promoted collaborative problem-solving, ensuring that participants left with practical solutions for integrating mindful practices in their respective educational settings.
Conclusion
The IWENTP 2024 workshop underscored the importance of digital well-being in today’s rapidly evolving academic landscape. It empowered educators and learners to adopt intentional practices, aiming to enhance student engagement and mental well-being through mindful technology use. The event concluded with a summary of the solutions proposed by different groups, which will contribute to future research and the development of best practices in higher education.
Participants: 60
Place: Tishk International University
Workshop Themes
1. Digital well-being principles, and potential interventions
2. Ethical challenges of the digital reality in educational setting
3. “Digiatal detox” – strategies and solutions
1. Ms. Fatima Almoufridji from Leiden University, Netherlands
2. Dr. Meretguly Gurbanov from Dowletmammet Azady Turkmen National Institute of World Languages, Ashkabat, 3. Turmenistan· Mr. Reman Sabah Meena from ELT-TIU Erbil
Educators gained insights into digital well-being principles and identified strategies to promote balanced digital habits in academic settings.
• Case studies on privacy, academic integrity, and ethical digital use led to practical guidelines for responsible digital practices.
• The "digital detox" activity helped participants explore ways to moderate overused digital tools, enhancing engagement without contributing to digital overload.
• Collaborative brainstorming sessions produced actionable methods for integrating mindful digital practices in classrooms.
• A concluding session summarized proposed solutions, contributing to a foundation for future research on digital well-being in education.
