- Veteran picture book author Opal Dunn wins Outstanding Achievement Award
- Additional awards given to nature-inspired curriculum and environmental campaigns
- Multiple projects recognised for their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Today, the British Council ELTons Awards for innovation in English language teaching were presented in a virtual ceremony hosted by English musician and broadcaster, Reverend Richard Coles. Pioneering picture book writer Opal Dunn received the Outstanding Achievement Award, while several projects were celebrated for their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) for the first time in the awards’ history.
Opal Dunn, who has written over 40 English language picture books and worked in the ELT sector for more than 60 years, is responsible for much of the enthusiasm of language teachers for visual aids. Additional winners in the awards’ 18th year included a ‘Smart Review’ revision tool; a nature-inspired curriculum aimed at pre-primary learners; and a global community for teachers to reduce the ELT sector’s environmental footprint.
The independent judging panel selected the five category winners from a highly competitive field of 29 finalists. Entries were submitted from 35 countries across six continents, ranging from original courses and apps, to projects addressing global challenges.
Six entries, including an educational book about a child with ADHD and a bank of resources for those teaching students with dyslexia, were presented with the ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). This new accolade for 2020 celebrates finalists whose resources bridge educational inequality, reflect diversity and promote the inclusion of typically underrepresented groups.
Mark Robson, Director of English and Exams at the British Council, said:
“The story of the ELTons 2020 is truly one of firsts: our first virtual, themed ceremony, ‘Connecting People in 2020’, and the first to recognise finalists’ commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. What remains the same is the enduring ambition of the finalists and winners to pioneer innovative teaching solutions which respond to the ever-evolving needs of students and teachers, and the unpredictable times we are living through. It is encouraging to see so many projects addressing global challenges and trends, including the rise of remote learning and climate change.”
The awards ceremony was held virtually, with attendees invited to meet the finalists in interactive booths, find out the winners live on the virtual stage, and connect with fellow innovators and leaders through group and one-to-one video calls. The event was streamed live to the public via the ELTons website.
Celebrating the theme ‘Connecting People in 2020’, an exhibition from up-and-coming UK artists was displayed in a digital booth, including works from theatre performer StammerMouth, rapper Awate, and dancer Patrick Ziza. A poem by spoken word artist Sophia Thakur, exploring intimacy in the age of isolation, opened and closed the ceremony.
A worldwide call for applications for the ELTons 2021 will be made in the coming months.
ENDS
For more information, please contact: Vicci Nelmes, Media Relations Officer: +44 (0)7933 386075; vicci.nelmes@britishcouncil.org
The full ceremony can be watched here: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-events/eltons-innovation-awards/eltons-2020
Winners and finalists of the British Council ELTons Awards 2020
The Award for Digital Innovation
Winner: Busuu English Smart Review (Busuu; UK / Spain)
A review tool which allows users to revise vocabulary and grammar using adaptive quizzes and review rules as they go.
Finalists:
- Journey 2 Basic Skills: pre-beginner (Klik2learn with City of Glasgow College; UK)
- Learning Sugar (Beijing Educapple Technology Co. Ltd; China)
- Macmillan Navio (Macmillan Education; UK / Netherlands / Spain)
- WordUp app (Geeks Ltd; UK)
The Award for Local Innovation in partnership with Cambridge Assessment English
Winner: The Garden Project – Brazilian Edition (Angelica Manca, Hoopla Education Pte Ltd with Macmillan Do Brasil Editora, Comercializadora, and Importadora E Distribudora; Singapore / Brazil)
A nature-inspired curriculum and the first pre-primary programme to combine Project Based Learning (PBL) with the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) framework.
Finalists:
- I am not naughty – I really mean it! (Basirat Razaq-Shuaib with The Winford Centre for Children and Women; Nigeria)
- Reading Genius – Bilingual Stories (Infant Jesus Matric Hr Sec. School, Kalpakkam; India)
- Sciencepedia (Shehani Gamage, M. Kodithuwakku, Dr N. Wickramasinghe with National E-Learning Centre; Sri Lanka)
- Starfish (Pearson Educación de Mexico, S.A. de C.V.; Mexico)
The Award for Excellence in Course Innovation
Winner: New Magic Minds! (Learning Factor; Brazil)
An innovative course that aims to transform the way English is taught in the classroom through creativity, logical reasoning and critical thinking.
Finalists:
- Evolve (Cambridge University Press; UK)
- GLOBAL STAGE (Macmillan Education; UK)
- Kids’ Web (Richmond; Brazil)
- Literary Horizons. Analysis and Essay Writing (Pearson ELT Canada; Canada)
- The Wheels Series (Macmillan Education; UK / Spain)
- Wide Angle (Oxford University Press – English Language Teaching in partnership with Blink; UK / USA)
The Award for Innovation in Learner Resources
Winner: Pearson and BBC Live Classes (Pearson English; UK)
A unique live and interactive learning environment in English with classes all over the world.
Finalists:
- Be Mindful (Elementary and Junior High) (BE+Live by UNOi – Grupo Santillana Mexico; Mexico)
- Dear Doctor: English writing skills for clinical practice and the Occupational English Test (Dr Stephen J Nickless MRCGP; UK)
- Readable (Playlingo with Ufi Charitable Trust; UK)
- REAL LIVES Series (ELI Publishing with Terre des Hommes Italia ONLUS, VIS – International Volunteer Service for Development, ActionAid International Italia Onlus, and GUS; Italy)
The Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources
Winner: The ELT Footprint Community (ELT Footprint Community; Spain)
A global community which offers a space for people from across the ELT world to discuss initiatives, look for support, and contribute ideas about how to reduce the ELT profession’s environmental footprint.
Finalists:
- Critical Thinking in ELT (National Geographic Learning; UK)
- Dyslexia Bytes (Martin Bloomfield; UK)
- GSE Teacher Toolkit (Pearson English; UK)
- Hacking Creativity – Techniques, Exercises and Activities for the Creative Language Classroom (PeacheyPublications Ltd; UK)
- PEPELT – Picturebooks in European Primary English Language Teaching (Tatia Gruenbaum with PEPELT team; Netherlands)
- The NO Project ELT Teaching Resources (The NO Project with The Rights Lab; Greece / UK)
The ELTons Judges’ Commendation for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Winners:
- Dyslexia Bytes (Martin Bloomfield; UK)
- I am not naughty – I really mean it! (Basirat Razaq-Shuaib with The Winford Centre for Children and Women; Nigeria)
- Journey 2 Basic Skills: pre-beginner (Klik2learn with City of Glasgow College; UK)
- Kids’ Web (Richmond; Brazil)
- REAL LIVES Series (ELI Publishing with Terre des Hommes Italia ONLUS, VIS – International Volunteer Service for Development, ActionAid International Italia Onlus, and GUS; Italy)
- The NO Project ELT Teaching Resources (The NO Project with The Rights Lab; Greece / UK)
The Outstanding Achievement Award: Opal Dunn
Opal Dunn has been pioneering the use of children’s picture books in ELT for the last 60 years and is responsible for the enthusiasm of many teachers around the world for using these books as flexible resources to provide children with exposure to rich, authentic language.
About the ELTons
The ELTons Awards for innovation in English language teaching are the British Council's own international awards. Now in their eighteenth year, the ELTons aim to find the latest, most original ways to learn and teach English from around the world, with awards for courses, resources for teachers and learners, digital innovations and for projects which bridge educational inequality. https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-events/eltons-innovations-awards
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org