by Impuls Educació
Education is constantly changing, and within this evolution, some projects become true pioneers, opening new ways of learning and understanding. In a context where good educational practices are increasingly essential, the Espiral International Awards have established themselves as one of the most important recognitions in the field of education.
More than just an award, the Espiral Awards encourage innovation, motivate teachers to share their successes and foster the creation of a learning network that enriches the entire educational community. Since their inception, the Espiral Awards have highlighted the need to rethink and improve teaching practice, integrating new technologies and methodologies that prepare students for the world that awaits them. This article traces the origins of these awards, their evolution and current relevance, exploring how the winning projects have inspired educators around the world. In times of great change, the Espiral International Awards remind us that there is always room for improvement in education.
First Steps
In 2006, the Espiral Awards were created with a clear and ambitious purpose: to recognise and give visibility to those educational projects that used technology and creativity to enrich learning. The initiative sought to motivate teachers to share their good practices and, above all, to dare to explore new ways of teaching and learning. The Espiral Awards were born with a special mission: to celebrate those who innovate and transform the classroom into a space of discovery, where every lesson is an opportunity to positively impact students.
The ‘Golden Spinning Top’, the symbol of excellence in the Espiral Awards, quickly became an emblem of reference. Over the years, it has represented much more than an award; it is a statement of commitment to change and creativity in education. From the very first editions, the projects awarded with the Golden Spiral proved that integrating technology into education is not only possible, but that it opens the door to more active, connected and meaningful learning.
The golden spinning top has encouraged the award winners to continue sharing their methodologies with other educators
One of the first recognised projects was that of a mathematics teacher who used basic programming for students to develop practical applications of mathematical concepts, making learning more tangible. Another was a teacher who used video games to teach history, demonstrating that learning can be exciting and effective at the same time. These teachers, and many other award winners, found in Espiral a space of support and recognition that motivated them to continue innovating.
The golden spinning top has become a seal of quality and has encouraged the award winners to continue sharing their methodologies with other educators. The educational community has grown around these awards, generating networks of collaboration and support in which teachers learn from each other, adopting and adapting practices that enrich their own classrooms. In this sense, the Espiral Awards not only highlight individuals, but reinforce a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in education.
Espiral Awards reinforce a culture of excellence and continuous improvement in education
From local to global
Over the years, the Espiral Awards have evolved in scope and projection, going from being a recognition in the Spanish sphere to an international platform of reference. In each edition, the range of categories has expanded, and the awards have begun to cover a broader spectrum of knowledge areas and methodologies. Today, the Espiral Awards are a showcase for global educational innovation, highlighting both innovative practices in the use of technology and projects that promote inclusion, emotional development and active student participation.
As the educational world transforms, these awards have adapted and evolved, integrating new categories that respond to the challenges and opportunities of the moment. In addition to recognising the use of ICT in the classroom, the Espiral International Awards have rewarded projects that promote digital skills, collaborative learning experiences and the integration of tools that improve student motivation. This recognition of innovation and creativity has allowed many teachers to dare to try methodologies that they might not otherwise have explored.
An inspiring example of this evolution is the incorporation of the categories ‘Teaching Cooperation’ and ‘Teaching Guide’, a recognition of those projects that have been able to take advantage of the potential of technology not only as a support resource, but also as an essential element in the development of values and skills for the 21st century. With this expansion of categories, the Espiral Awards not only recognise creativity, but also encourage the entire educational community to be at the forefront and rethink their practices.
Over the years, teachers from different countries and disciplines have found in the Espiral Awards a source of inspiration and a reminder that innovation is possible and necessary at all levels of education. The award itself has become a symbol of continuous improvement, where each teacher is both learner and teacher, sharing and building an educational community committed to progress and excellence.
Teachers from different disciplines have found in the awards a reminder that innovation is possible and necessary
More than a prize, a movement
The Espiral Awards have been, since their first editions, a catalyst for building an educational community committed to innovation and continuous improvement. More than an individual recognition, these awards represent an incentive for teachers to collaborate, share their knowledge and experiment with new methodologies that enrich their students’ learning. The network that has grown up around the Espiral Awards is now a space for exchange, a place where every teacher finds support, inspiration and the opportunity to improve and transform their own practices.
Espiral International Awards Gala 2024
The Espiral Awards 2024 gala was a celebration that made it clear that education is a driver of social change and development. In this edition, the Espiral Awards honoured projects that stand out not only for their innovation, but also for their positive and transformative impact on the lives of students and teachers. The awards are organised in several categories, such as Student Impulse through Teaching Guides, Cooperation and Technology, each with its own golden spinning top, the highest recognition.
The Espiral Awards 2024 gala was a vibrant celebration of innovation and resilience in education. This annual event recognises teachers and projects that have transformed teaching, adapted to contemporary challenges and promoted cutting-edge educational practices.
This annual event recognises teachers and projects that have transformed teaching and adapted to contemporary challenges
Golden Spinning Tops in the three categories 2024
“Avatars on earth on a journey into the unknown” by Tomás García Ruiz in the category “Impulse in the Student through the Teaching Guide”: This category rewards projects that, through effective teaching guidance, have achieved a significant impact on student learning.
“Africa. A Thousand Stories” by teacher Javier Ibáñez Iborra from the Sixth Grade Primary School of the Tafalla Public School (Navarra, Spain). The interdisciplinary project aims to get to know the stories of Africa, learn about its potential from a positive point of view, and actively engage with human rights, the SDGs and climate change. In the category “Pupil Empowerment through Teacher Cooperation”, which recognises initiatives that foster collaboration between teachers, institutions and communities, enriching the educational process.
Finally, “Discovering the magic in us” by Elena Vercher, from the category “Student Empowerment through Technology”, which highlights projects that integrate technological tools to enhance the learning experience and develop digital competences in students.
The Polytechnic University of Madrid in collaboration with Down Madrid presented the project “Let’s move for energy poverty” and received the Golden Spinning Top in 2023. This collaboration allowed young people with intellectual disabilities and university students to work together on the development of a good practice guide to save energy in homes. The project not only addressed a relevant social problem, but also promoted inclusion and mutual learning among the participants.
And in the category of ‘Student Empowerment through Technology’, the project “IRPA, let them create” was awarded the Golden Spinning Top in 2023. Led by Susan Rivera, this initiative implemented UDL (Universal Design for Learning) to respond to the personal needs of learners, promoting autonomy and creativity in the use of emerging technologies.
More than an award, an invitation to action
The Espiral Awards are more than an award; they are an invitation to action, a call to everyone in the education community to reflect on their commitment to change and continuous improvement. Each of the winning projects demonstrates that education can be transformative and that, with the right tools, every teacher can make a real difference in the lives of their students.
The 2024 gala has shown that innovation has no borders or limits, and that teachers from different parts of the world share a vision: to build inclusive, relevant and motivating education. The participation of countries such as Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico underlines that this transformation is a collective effort, a shared mission that is strengthened with each collaboration, reflecting the growing influence of the Espiral Awards in the global education community. This diversity of participants enriches the exchange of experiences and innovative practices, strengthening education in Ibero-America.
Education involves us all, and it is in our hands to continue inspiring, creating and promoting spaces where teaching becomes a true engine of change. Today, the challenge is clear: it is not enough to observe; it is time to participate and to be an active part of this collaborative network that is committed to a better future.
By recognising and disseminating exemplary projects, these awards inspire the education community to adopt practices that prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century. They show that innovation is possible, but for it to be sustainable, it needs everyone’s support.
What are we doing to support this movement? If you are a teacher and want to be part of this education revolution, enter the next edition of the awards.
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