Islands of Innovation Feedback Collation (2022-2025)

Event Description

The Islands of Innovation events were annual, highly interactive and creative online professional learning experiences organised by the Centre for Innovation in Education. Each year, the event invited educators and practitioners to collaborate across thematic “islands” using platforms SpatialChat and Padlet, with activities ranging from pedagogical exploration to playful co-creation. The event emphasised imagination, innovation, and practice-enhancement through immersive digital environments.

Attendance

• 2022: 126 attendees (27 feedback responses) over 3 time zones/days
• 2023: 48 attendees (22 feedback responses) over 2 days/time zones
• 2024: 85 attendees (21 feedback responses)
• 2025: 125 attendees (30 feedback responses)

We planned the events to be globally inclusive across different timezones. Due to the interactive nature of the event and licensing restrictions, we had to restrict attendance numbers to enable participants a full, immersive experience throughout the event.

Quantitative Ratings Summary

*Ratings: from 1 to 5, where 5 is the most positive value.

Rating show consistently high rating across the four years, especially in the support and communication provided for the event, but also for overall rating and content quality. Interestingly, platform was also highly rated in 2022, 2023, and 2024 with a small dip in 2025, which is probably due to the keynote feature of the platform that some people found a bit more restrictive in terms of participation potential.

Feedback excerpts (2022-2025)

Explore event resources

"I shall be reviewing all the materials in all the Padlets that were created and used throughout the conference as there were some really interesting pieces of information that I would like to explore further." (2023)

"I do want to revisit some of the PPTs to see if there are take-home messages for my practice." (2024)

"I have so many resources and readings to explore." (2025)

"I want to implement more authentic learning and assessment into my teaching... I also intend to implement Padlet more..." (2022)

Continue conversations or connections

"Make more space for attending these kinds of events... I also want to renew my work and interest in exploring how to get work with masks/avatars into digital space..." (2023)

"I made a connection with someone at the conference to give a guest lecture on their course." (2025)

"Will look at using a similar platform. And I'll follow up with contacts I made via the event." (2024)

"Connecting with a couple of people I met on the day." (2023)

Share ideas with colleagues

"I would share the idea for a more creative event space with my colleagues. I also learnt a lot about using padlets in the sessions which I would share." (2022)

"Discuss the ideas from the 100% online MBA with colleagues to see if that kind of curriculum design might work for programmes at our institution." (2024)

"There were a couple of talks that gave some ideas about the use of OneNote and password protected Padlets that I am interested to share with my colleagues and maybe try myself." (2025)

"That Quality Assurance is not something that happens after an online course is created... I am going to share this principle with colleagues."(2024)

Reflect on or rethink practice

"Oooh yes, certainly. Will need some further time though to reflect on the learnings." (2024)

"I'm curious to explore some more of the islands that I didn't see. I'm certainly reflecting a bit more about the metaverse and the opportunities therein." (2022)

"Lots of ideas I want to take forward. The ungraded activity gave me food for thought." (2022)

"I'm going to remind myself to stop being so serious and to enjoy the rollercoaster ride!" (2025)

Enhance practice / implement innovations

"Yes, especially the simulation game." (2023)

"I would like to experiment with Spacial Chat if a suitable opportunity arose." (2022)

"I found the card game session by Roger Saunders very inspiring and I will be using his advice for implementing games in teaching..." (2024)

"I would love to use this online platform in future and facilitate another opportunity to share our work (Op Enigma)." (2025)

"I want to introduce more interactive game/play-based learning and also loved the idea of using masks/avatars..." (2023)

"Yes thinking about learning spaces and how we can incorporate more innovative ideas into teaching." (2023)

Try new tools, platforms or formats

"The use of SpatialChat and Padlet." (2022)

"Yes will try and integrate SpatialChat into some of the employability modules I lead on." (2023)

"Some digital tools I had not used before, such as the animation one, so would like to explore the uses..." (2025)

"I loved being introduced to the platform... I like the idea of making virtual learning spaces..." (2022)

Co-creation and collaboration

"Co-creation of materials/programmes with students." (2022)

"More co-creative activities." (2023)

"The ideas from the Collabora Island! I have no specific 'One Thing' but the 'general chatter' of community and co-creation was literally heart-warming." (2022)

Professional identity or motivation

"A shot in the arm and helpful boost when I needed it as a reminder as to why I do my job..." (2023)

"I lead TEL CPD at LSTM so find these sessions v useful." (2025)

"I came away with lots of new ideas... some themes that I would like to explore more personally..." (2023)

Back to: Centre for Innovation in Education