Fostering Digital Education Excellence: TalTech and GSU Lead Collaborative PRODIGE Seminar in Batumi
Dates:16-18 June 2025
Batumi, Georgia– From June 16 to 18, 2025, educators from across Georgia gathered at the Batumi State Maritime Academy (BSMA) for a training seminar titled "Learning Process: Adapting Digital Pedagogy for DE". This event, a key component of the European Union co-funded PRODIGE project, was delivered by a collaborative team from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and Gori State University (GSU). The training was led by a team of experts from TalTech, including Susanne Durst, Aive Pevkur, and Talshyn Tokyzhanova, who designed and moderated the sessions. The three-day training aimed to equip Georgian higher education professionals with the essential skills and strategies to thrive in the digital academic landscape.
The seminar's agenda was carefully structured to blend expert-led instruction with hands-on application. The first two days began with interactive lectures from TalTech experts to establish a theoretical foundation, covering topics like "Traditional vs. Digital Pedagogy" and "Interactive Teaching Strategies in DE". Following these sessions, the training shifted to practical showcases from the Georgian university teams
On Day 1, five university teams presented pre-recorded video lectures on foundational concepts, including microlearning, digital assessment, and interactive design principles. The day's learning was deepened through a moderated group discussion examining the "Teaching Challenges and Opportunities in DE". Day 2 featured live online lectures where five other university teams demonstrated key strategies for student engagement, including techniques for building community, managing group work, and ensuring inclusivity in a digital setting. These presentations were followed by a moderated discussion, allowing participants to collectively reflect on the live lecture experiences and the strategies that were showcased.
The final day, "Applying and Transforming Practice," featured expert-led sessions to solidify the training's objectives. Marianne Kallaste, Director of the International Business Administration programme at TalTech, delivered a guest lecture on the "Skills and Competences of DE Pedagogy" for 21st-century educators. A key session was an interactive workshop, "Integrating Cultural Diversity and DEI Principles into Digital Lesson Planning in Georgian HEIS," led by Zurab Zurabashvili, Deputy Rector at Gori State University.
We believe the T3.1 seminar successfully met its goals by deepening participants' understanding of how digital education differs from traditional models, how it can be used to develop practical skills, and how to ensure an actively engaged learning community. By bringing together educators to share and refine their digital teaching practices, the TalTech and GSU teams have made a significant contribution to the overarching goal of the PRODIGE project: promoting high-quality digital education in Georgia.