CARDET Celebrates Teacher’s Day with Targeted Professional Development Seminars

Recognising the pivotal role of educators and the evolving challenges of contemporary classrooms, CARDET actively contributed to Teacher’s Day on Tuesday, 10 February, by delivering two specialised professional development seminars. The initiatives underscored CARDET’s continued commitment to supporting teacher wellbeing, fostering collaborative school cultures, and advancing innovative teaching practices through digital technologies.

The first seminar, “Teacher Wellbeing and Collegiality”, was held at Ethnarch Makarios III Lyceum A’ in Paphos and facilitated by CARDET researcher Elena Xeni. The session centred on cultivating positive school environments, strengthening collegial relationships, and promoting approaches that enhance wellbeing and mental health within educational settings. The seminar reflected the guiding principles of the Thriving Schools and PERMA-Digital projects.

Grounded in Positive Psychology and the PERMA model, the training highlighted collegial support as a critical protective factor against professional stress and burnout. Through interactive activities, participating educators examined common barriers to collaboration, including workload pressures and professional isolation, while exploring practical strategies such as mentoring, peer observation, and the development of Professional Learning Communities. The seminar concluded by encouraging educators to actively cultivate collegial support initiatives to reinforce resilience and professional growth.

The second seminar, “Engaging Students through Innovative Digital Methods and Tools”, was conducted at Agios Ioannis Lyceum in Limassol and Polemidia Lyceum, and facilitated by CARDET researcher Simoni Khenkin. The seminar introduced contemporary, practice-oriented approaches aimed at enhancing student engagement, drawing on methodologies and tools developed through CARDET’s TINKER, Digital Harmony, and Glitter projects.

Particular emphasis was placed on developing a foundational understanding of Generative AI tools and their practical applications in secondary education. Educators explored how such technologies can support lesson planning, classroom organisation, and the creation of instructional materials, addressing persistent challenges such as time constraints. Participants engaged with tools including ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, and creative platforms such as CanvaAI, gaining insights into how digital innovation can meaningfully enrich teaching and learning practices.

By investing in educator wellbeing and equipping teachers with forward-looking pedagogical tools, CARDET continues to promote resilient, collaborative, and future-ready school communities. Teacher’s Day served as a timely reminder that empowering educators remains central to advancing meaningful and sustainable educational innovation.