Training Teachers in an Interdisciplinary Approach through EMI

Abstract

Rapid advances in technology call for teachers’ continuous professional development (CPD) to respond to the ever-evolving demands that the new digital era brings into everyday classroom practices. The aim of this chapter is to present an interdisciplinary approach that was implemented in 2021 through the VerifyInfoED (Verify Information for Education) PD training program in an era where the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the pre-existing need for innovation in educational practices. The initiative brought together experienced in-service and novice pre-service teachers, in a blended learning (BL) mode. The main aim was to raise awareness of the importance of incorporating new digital and media literacy skills in their practices, in a BL mode, through collaboration, peer tutoring, and peer assessment. The project – the design and implementation of the sessions – was an interdisciplinary collaboration between different University Labs in Greece with English as Medium of Instruction (EMI). An educational platform was employed not only to provide study material but mostly to be a point of reference and interaction among the participants offering them the opportunity to study materials and examples of good practices prior to – then reflect and respond to further practice and activities after – the session, based on the sandwich model (asynchronous, synchronous, asynchronous) of BL instruction.