On the occasion of LUDOVIA#BE, held in Spa, Wallonia, from October 22 to 24, 2024, we encountered several outstanding initiatives. Over the coming weeks, you’ll find a selection of articles and short videos showcasing these highlights, which we hope will inspire your current and future projects.
Interview 🎙️ Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Nicolas Delbar, who works at the General Department of Digital Education at the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
To clarify, Wallonia encompasses schools located in Wallonia and the German-speaking community. Meanwhile, schools in Brussels are managed by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, which also oversees education in Wallonia (excluding the German-speaking community).
Now that this distinction has been made clearer (I’m sure it’s helpful! 😊), Nicolas Delbar will discuss the various initiatives his department manages to serve the educational community.
“The General Department of Digital Education supports the digital transition in a transversal way, benefiting users of the education system,” he explains as an introduction.
This involves several goals, such as developing digital literacy, leveraging technology for administrative simplification, driving digital transformation, promoting inclusion, and supporting broader policies implemented by the General Administration of Education.
“In fact, the Department of Digital Education is part of the General Department of Education within the Ministry of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation,” he emphasizes.
Digital strategies have been developed not only for compulsory education but also for adult education through programs like promotion sociale (targeting adults, including professionals seeking new training and qualifications) and distance learning. “In our department, we ensure the implementation of these strategies,” he specifies.
Nicolas Delbar and his team don’t work directly in schools. Instead, they provide tools and resources for public institutions and teachers, such as resource platforms. One example is the e-classe.be platform.
Since Nicolas Delbar began working on digital education, he has observed changes in habits. The COVID period significantly impacted the education sector, leading to the creation of several platforms to support remote teaching.
“Since COVID, several schools have adopted Happi environments,” he notes.
What’s particularly interesting is the interoperability between platforms.
The e-classe.be resource platform has transitioned to a Moodle interface, which facilitates interoperability, especially within the Happi environment.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in registered users on the e-classe educational resource platform, which now hosts over 8,000 resources,” he points out.
Regarding teacher training and support, the PIX platform is widely offered, similar to what is done in France.
“When discussing digital strategies, we focus on the goal of achieving a minimum standard of equipment in every classroom, followed by additional equipment linked to pedagogical activities or specific projects,” Nicolas Delbar explains, highlighting ongoing discussions with other stakeholders, including regional and private sector actors, to ensure consistency in equipment across the education system.
The digital strategy for education within compulsory education is part of a broader reform: the Pact for Excellence in Education, which encompasses 19 initiatives, with digital only being one of them!
More information:
www.enseignement.be
e-classe.be
happi.cfwb.be
