More than 60 teachers, parents and education leaders gathered at the Higher Theological Seminary (KUS) in Tallinn on 31 October for an education conference titled “Looja nägu” — “The Face of the Creator.” The day asked what a school would look like if it supported a child's creativity and helped each person grow into the creator God made them to be.
The conference was led by Regiina Viires and Mikael Raihhelgauz, who invited participants to think, dream and look at existing education models afresh. At registration each person received an envelope describing one of four characters: a teacher, a parent, a pupil starting school and a pupil finishing school. Through the talks and workshops, participants listened from that character's viewpoint and collected keywords about what he or she expects from education, building a shared picture by the end of the day.
Meego Remmel opened the question of what it means to be created in the image of the Creator, and Katrina Nurmoja spoke about curiosity. Tom Rudmik, who came from Canada, presented his school's story and the experience that shaped a learning environment valuing creativity. Afternoon workshops explored block-building, art as the language of imagination, and the Imaginal school's digital learning platforms. A closing panel with Edgar Roditšenko, Liivika Simmul and Darja Levanchuk ended the day.
The conference did not set out to offer ready answers or a single school model. Instead, it made room for questions and shared dreaming: how to support teachers and parents, and how to shape learning so that young people not only acquire knowledge but learn to think, create and take responsibility. The day was reported by Külli Orehhova for the Estonian Free Church Union.
(Originally published in Estonian. Summary translated by CC / Connexion.)
Source: Estonian Free Church Union (EKB Liit) — kogudused.ee/looja-nagu-kristlik-hariduskonverents/
