EmpowerEDUC: Recognising Excellence in EU Code Week 2023

• November 23, 2023
• Andrew

The EmpowerEDUC initiative for EU Code Week 2023 was a collaborative effort between the Secretariat for Catholic Education (SfCE) and eSkills Malta Foundation. Its goal was to celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding efforts of educators in Church Schools during EU Code Week. The initiative culminated in the Awards Ceremony held on November 22, 2023, at the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA).

A total of 97 initiatives were registered in the six categories of the EmpowerEDUC Awards 2023 and on the EU Code Week 2023 website. Malta led with the highest number of registered coding activities per population among EU participating countries.

Highlights:
– 38% of the registered activities were from Church Schools in Malta.
– The judges selected the top 3 initiatives as finalists at the ceremony.

Initiative Coordinators:
– Natalie Lombardi Calleja and Roberta Trapani Maggi, Heads of the Department for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills within the Secretariat for Catholic Education.

Coding Activities:
The highlighted activities integrated curriculum, transversal skills, creativity, and learner participation.

Ceremony Attendees:
– Delegate for Catholic Education, Directors from the Secretariat for Catholic Education, Chief Administrator, manager, and senior leader for eSkills Malta Foundation, judges, other sponsors, senior leadership members, and various finalists from respective schools.

Guest Speaker:
– Mr. Tommaso Dalla Vecchia, Development and Advocacy Manager at European Schoolnet and EU Code Week representative from Brussels.

Awards Presented:

1. Best Innovative High-Quality Coding Initiative Award (Early Years):
– Winner: Enhancing the story of the Three Little Pigs through Digital Technology by Ms Lorraine Dimech Genuis, St. Monica School, Gzira (Primary).

2. Best Innovative High-Quality Coding Initiative Award (Junior Years):
– Winner: Line Robots, Ozobots, Colour Code & Drive to School with Ozobot by Ms. Isabelle Galea, St. Monica School, Gzira (Primary).

3. Best Innovative High-Quality Coding Initiative Award (Secondary):
– Winner: Digital Day by Mr Adrian Mallia, Ms Marouska Vella Bugeja, Mr Luke Cuccardi & Mr Denilson Brincat, St. Paul’s Missionary College, Rabat (Secondary).

4. Outstanding Newcomer to EU Code Week Award (Primary & Secondary):
– Winner: Ready Maths Go by Ms Shalane Mercieca, St. Augustine College, Marsa (Primary).

5. Best Innovative Girls in Tech Coding Initiative Award (Secondary):
– Winner: Using Encryption to Reveal a Message by Ms Marvic Lanzon, Our Lady Immaculate School (Secondary), Ħamrun.

6. Best Whole School Outstanding Coding Practices Award (Primary):
– Winner: Code Today, Innovate Tomorrow by Ms Chantelle Bartolo Cremona, Sacred Heart College, St. Julians (Primary)