Moving back to in-person academic events after the pandemic, I attended the Sixteenth EATEL Summer School on Technology Enhanced Learning (May 21-28, 2022) hosted in the beautiful Simantro Beach Hotel located in Sani, Halkidiki. This summer, JTELSS22 brought together PhD researchers and academics working in the field of technology-enhanced learning. Thanks to the European Association of Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL), DE-TEL Erasmus+ project, Mikhail Fominykh, Maria Perifanou, and other organizing members for providing me with a fully-funded scholarship to attend this event.

Moving away from the world under lockdown, remote conferences, and academic events; JTELSS provided a fantastic experience of spending a week with like-minded people working to enrich the learning process with the best technologies of the time, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Immersive Technology(AR/VR/MR) and Robotics.

Being a final stage researcher of PhD badly hit by COVID, I was feeling a lack of in-person academic events during my journey toward PhD degree. All keynotes, workshops, speed mentoring sessions, and spending break times at the lovely sandy beach made the whole week an amazing memory for life.

Traveling by the most reliable Ryan Air from Dublin to Milan and spending 8 hours in an almost closed Airport at night, I reached Thessaloniki Airport in the morning of 21st May. Received by prearranged shuttle service Syrtaki Travel at airport arrival and within an hour reached the hotel. Simantro Beach Hotel is impressive in all aspects; food, rooms, other amenities, and especially its location on the sandy beach.

 

Met with this lovely friend today during relaxing break at #JTELSS22. @jtelss ⛵ 🌊 🐟 pic.twitter.com/g7i3gRegfR

— Muhammad Zahid Iqbal (@iMZahidiqbal) May 26, 2022

Before starting the event, Sunday was a full-day excursion at Mount Athos Cruise to explore the historical places and some history of different ruling empires in Greece. JTELSS kick-started on Monday, 22th May, with keynotes and workshops on the various domains of Technology Enhanced Learning(TEL), which continued throughout the week.

During the speed mentoring session, I met with Prof. Ekaterina Prasolova-Førland, who is doing incredible work in eXtended Reality(XR) for Education at Innovative Immersive Technologies for Learning (IMTEL), NTNU Norway.

 

Ethics issues in AIED workshop at #JTELSS22 @jtelss pic.twitter.com/bYPuuRTbyV

— Muhammad Zahid Iqbal (@iMZahidiqbal) May 27, 2022

The whole week went so fast; JTELSS ended on Friday 27th of May with memories, new directions of research & opportunities to collaborate, new friends, and most importantly, new hopes of getting back to the normal world again.

Thanks to the European Association of Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL), the Doctoral Education for Technology-Enhanced Learning (DE-TEL Erasmus+ project), and the SMILE lab of the University of Macedonia for organizing this incredible experience to kick-start this summer. I would highly recommend PhD researchers in Technology Enhanced Learning to participate in JTELSS next year.