Virtual Teachers’ Toolbox (VTT-BOX) – The Experience of the Costa Adeje International School and the University of La Laguna

Abstract

We present the results which arise from the development of the Virtual Teachers’ Toolbox (VTT-Box) project. The main aim of the project was to develop a virtual web-based service for teachers (toolbox) to support them best with a sophisticated tool to use the pedagogical framework based on an innovative learner-centered approach, including a quality enhancement framework.

The project was designed for students and teachers of the 4th grade of the Obligatory Secondary Education (4th ESO) and Bachillerato, and was focused on the students’ needs with the aim of increasing their motivation and learning success. The development and practical implementation of an innovative motivating self-evaluation tool for students called Self-evaluation Mandala was included. The Mandala is an easy to handle graphic tool which defines learning results based on competences, evaluates students success, motivates them and makes them aware  of the improvement achieved throughout their learning process, increasing motivation and academic success.

This work analyses the results of the development of the project with the students of the 4th ESO and Bachillerato (n=227), and the opinions of the teachers who implemented the project at the Costa Adeje International School. Moreover, the effect of the training with the Mandala self-evaluation tool was evaluated by teachers in training of the University of La Laguna (n=25). The evaluation made by the teachers in training and the students invites to keep working on the development of training events like the one carried out at the VTT-Box project. The dissemination of the project entailed a global training experience that has allowed the enhancement not only of participant teachers and students, but also of teachers from several countries, including teachers in training of the University of La Laguna.