Three STEM instructors from MIT presented to over 200 PGCE students as part of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Digital Competency Framework (DCF) conference.

On Friday 26 February 2021, three STEM instructors from Equal Education Partners’ Global Teaching Labs (GTL) in Wales 2021 programme with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presented for Cardiff Metropolitan University’s PGCE students as part of their Digital Competence Framework (DCF) conference. This event was sponsored by Equal Education Partners on behalf of the Welsh Government as part of the GTL in Wales programme with MIT.

The GTL in Wales programme with MIT is a uniquely impactful and transformative educational opportunity for Welsh students, bringing expert STEM instructors from MIT to classrooms and staff rooms across Wales. Through this partnership initiative, the Welsh Government, MIT and Equal Education Partners aim to enhance engagement with STEM subjects through exploring real-world issues and to empower learners to strive to achieve their full potential in and beyond the classroom. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, January 2021 saw the GTL in Wales programme with MIT adjust to a fully virtual format. The 18 participating instructors worked remotely, across 8 time zones, with 24 schools and colleges which also served as hubs for engagement with other schools, colleges, local and regional organisations in the Science & Technology sector, Seren Network hubs, and other organisations. For more information about the GTL in Wales programme with MIT, go to gtlwales.online/

The three instructors contributing to the DCF conference were Daniela Ganelin, Kanoe Evile and Maria Ascanio Alino. Daniela was one of the first instructors to teach through the GTL in Wales programme with MIT in 2019. She is a former high-school teacher with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics, Master’s in Computer Science (AI Concentration), and a teaching license from MIT. She is now the Director of Curriculum at Inspirit AI. This year, Daniela joined Equal’s project management team to make the programme even stronger. To read more about Daniela, go to gtlwales.online/team. Kanoe is a second-year student at MIT majoring in Biological Engineering and minoring in Linguistics. She is originally from Hawaii and plans to pursue a career in medicine to improve the quality of and access to health in her home community and the greater Pacific area. Maria, from Madrid, is also a second-year MIT student who is specialising in Computer Science and Engineering. Her interest in education began when she became a mentor for CodeIt and she also has experience teaching Mathematics, Science and Spanish. To read more about Kanoe and Maria, go to gtlwales.online/instructors2021.

“I would like to thank Equal Education Partners for their commitment during the DCF conference at Cardiff Met. It has been a privilege to work with the MIT undergraduate and postgraduate students they have developed and supported. The range of cross-curricular work their presenters have undertaken through GTL MISTI Global Teaching Labs in Wales has been outstanding. Our PGCE students clearly benefited from these experiences and were keen to explore the work that they had completed in Welsh schools. I am in no doubt that this will impact upon our student’s application of the DCF during their final school placement. Thank you”.

Jason Davies, Senior Lecturer in Education, Cardiff Metropolitan University

“We are thrilled to be able to contribute to Cardiff Metropolitan University’s DCF Conference by having our STEM instructors from MIT present on the exciting and innovative projects they’ve done with schools across Wales. It’s a pleasure to work collaboratively with Cardiff Met and to see their commitment to developing excellent NQTs who will thrive in their careers. Wherever we can support this, Equal  Education Partners will endeavour to do so.”

Liam Rahman, Managing Director & Head of Partnerships, Equal Education Partners