Empowering Educators and Education Managers with IoT-Enabled Skills for Next-Generation Computing and ICT Education

Summary

The project transformed the experience of four education leaders into a national initiative that strengthened digital education across Malta. Following their Erasmus+ training in Arduino programming, the project team created professional development resources that reached all computing and ICT teachers. 

The project produced online tutorials, classroom resources, worksheets and pedagogical materials that support teachers as they introduce robotics and dedicated systems into the relevant curricula. 

"This project showed that the greatest value of professional development comes from what happens after the mobility activity. The knowledge gained was shared across Malta so that teachers and students could benefit from new ideas, practical resources and modern approaches to computing education.” 

Topic(s) addressed

• Digital education 
• Robotics 
• Internet of Things 
• Arduino programming 
• Teacher professional development 
• Curriculum development 
• Cross border cooperation 
• Digital competence 
• Innovation in classroom practice 

Target group(s)

• Two education officers and two heads of department who participated in the Erasmus+ mobility. 
• All computing and ICT teachers across Malta and Gozo who received professional development and access to the online learning resources. 
• Secondary school students who now benefit from richer Computing lessons that include robotics and dedicated systems. 

Methodologies used

The project combined computing, electronics, and robotics with practical classroom pedagogy through Arduino-based learning. Knowledge gained during the mobility led to the development of online tutorials, teacher training, classroom resources and collaboration with higher education and industry. Discussions with MATSEC contributed to updates to the national computing syllabus, including the introduction of dedicated systems and robotics. The project also led to the creation of RoboSprint, a national robotics competition that encourages students to apply classroom knowledge to authentic challenges while also serving as an outreach initiative designed to increase interest in STEM.  

Innovation environment

Post-mobility online meetings were held with partners in other countries to support joint work on improving local curricula and  developing a shared approach to disseminating skills to help teachers apply the project outcomes in the classroom. Knowledge gained from the mobility became part of national CoPE sessions, including online tutorials, workshops, teaching resources, curriculum materials and outreach materials, such as animated subject introduction clips and bookmarks. These were shared during national events, such as the Ministry for Education Subject Fair for students. Discussions continue within the MS Teams community, where educators exchange ideas and classroom experiences. 

Teachers’ role

Teachers and trainers adapted international ideas for local classrooms and thus became leaders and innovators, not just participants. The project focused on teacher wellbeing by offering flexible, self-paced modules and supportive communities, so teachers could build skills while balancing their daily teaching responsibilities. This approach boosted confidence and expertise in Arduino, robotics, digital teaching, and the updated computing and ICT curricula in Malta. Peer learning was also emphasised through workshops, European networking, and online collaboration.  

Impact and output

The mobility activity had a direct impact on the target groups, with participants developing specialised expertise in the development and programming of dedicated IT systems. Although no participants were identified as having fewer opportunities, the dissemination approach reduced barriers to access through online resources, self-paced modules and freely available materials that allowed teachers to benefit equally regardless of their location or availability. The spill-over effect extended the project’s reach beyond the initial group, with newly qualified teachers also gaining access to the same training and curricular materials. In addition to introducing robotics into lessons, teachers set up robotics clubs and organised internal school competitions. 

Learn more about the project