European Award for Excellence in Teaching Honors Work in Technology-Enhanced Learning

Another European item that I wanted to pass along.

September 23, 2022, Vienna – Central European University (CEU) is pleased to announce the winner of the eleventh annual European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities as Prof. Dr. Linda Daniela of the University of Latvia. An internationally recognized expert on technology-enhanced learning, Professor Daniela is Dean of the Faculty of Education, Psychology, and Art and Head of the Scientific Institute of Pedagogy at the University of Lativa. The award is accompanied by the €5,000 Diener Prize and was presented at CEU’s Opening Ceremony on Monday, September 19. 

Professor Linda Daniela’s expertise spans aspects of technology-enhanced learning, educational technologies for learning, educational robotics, educational processes and solutions for reducing social exclusion from the educational processes. She also researches extensively on how to use educational technologies in the learning process in a pedagogically sound manner. 

This approach, which she terms ‘smart pedagogy’ is “where students learn how to organize educational work with the use of technology, taking into account the peculiarities of students’ development, how to direct cognitive load, and how to avoid the negative aspects of knowledge bricolage when knowledge is fragmented and there is no common understanding of the relevant ideas and principles,” she explains. “Students and educators learn together how to turn bricolage in a positive direction when technology inspires creative thinking, because it encourages seeing new relationships between seemingly disparate objects,” Daniela says.

According to Director Michael Kozakowski from CEU’s Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning, and Higher Education Research, the selection committee was greatly impressed by Professor Daniela’s leadership in the field of educational technology and work with future teachers. “Her research and teaching explore potential not just for specific tasks, but to transform what it means to learn, to enquire, and to generate knowledge. At the same time, her teaching displays a strong commitment to inclusion so that this can be realized by all.” 

See a 4-minute video interview with Professor Linda Daniela about her Smart Pedagogy approach here.

For more on Professor Daniela’s teaching, research and work with future teachers, see CEU’s article. 

Photo credit: CEU/Daniel Vegel

Photo caption: CEU Pro-Rector for Research and Faculty Agnes Batory confers the CEU European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities to Professor Linda Daniela at the CEU Opening Ceremony on September 19, 2022

Notes for Editors:

The European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities was launched by CEU for its 20th anniversary in 2011 to honor academics in the social sciences and humanities who teach at higher education institutions in the European Higher Education Area. As a part of CEU’s commitment to excellence in teaching within the institution and across Europe and beyond, the award is administered by the University’s Yehuda Elkana Center for Teaching, Learning, and Higher Education Research. The Diener Prize is made possible by a generous gift from Steven and Linda Diener in memory of Ilona Diener. For further information on the award and previous recipients, visit: https://elkana.ceu.edu/european-award-excellence-teaching

Central European University (CEU)is accredited in the United States, Austria, and Hungary, and offers English-language bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in the social sciences, the humanities, law, environmental sciences, management and public policy. With two campuses located in the heart of Central Europe – Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary – CEU has a distinct academic and intellectual focus. The university combines the comparative study of the region’s historical, cultural, and social diversity with a global perspective on areas of critical enquiry including good governance, sustainable development and social transformation.    

The University of Latvia consistently retains the position of the national, leading and most influential higher education institution in Latvia. In terms of the total number of students, the University of Latvia is also the largest university in the country.

UL is a modern center of academic and professional studies, which, along with research in natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, technical sciences and medicine provides opportunities to acquire various types and levels of higher education to the residents of Latvia and other countries.

Scientific activity at the University of Latvia takes place both in faculties and scientific institutes, conducting research in more than 50 research areas.

ILDIKÓ RÜLL
Media Relations Manager

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