Fostering Classroom Engagement: Integrating ICT, Emerging Technologies and AI Tools in Teaching and Education

It is not always easy to keep the classroom motivated, engaged and enthusiastic when it comes to teaching. This is when ICT tools such as apps and web platforms become essential in helping teachers to communicate and transfer knowledge while also maintaining their students’ full attention. Nowadays it is fundamental to know our way around interactive learning so that we can offer our students an alternative and non-traditional style of learning and keep them engaged. 

The course “Integrating ICT, new technologies and AI tools into teaching and education​” took place in Palermo from 19/07/2026 to 25/07/2026. The participants came from all across Europe, with: Maria Dolores from ÍES MOLI DEL SOL, Ana María from IES Ega San Adrián, Pablo from EOI TERUEL and Adrián from IES Dertosa all in Spain, we had with us as well Zuzana from University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava in Slovakia, Katsiaryna from Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management in Gdańsk (WSTiH) and Krzysztof with Jarosław from Szkoła Podstawowa nr 2 Przymierza Rodzin all in Poland, Maria Teresa from University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering in Portugal and Priska from Freistaat Bayern in Germany.

During this course the participants learnt how to use a vast range of technological tools and to put them into use by integrating them into their teaching methods. 

First of all, they had a look at the most simple and easy tools to create pictures, videos and podcasts with AI that are very effective when it comes to teaching. These tools can be used in fact for a variety of purposes: preparing multimedia content, introducing a new subject or summing up an old one, challenging the students’ to create their own work in order to engage their creativity. Video presentations in particular are extremely helpful to energize students and get their attention. 

During these years traditional education started leaving space to virtual lessons and online classes. Therefore it was inevitable for this course to also explore the applications that are useful to hold an online class such as a virtual whiteboard that can create engaging and captivating online lessons and also collaborative learning experiences.

Moreover, the participants had the chance to dive into the technological world with plenty of practical activities about the ICT and assessment tools, learning how to create a smart presentation/material/virtual working space for their students, using tools dedicated to organizing graphics, posters and collages, interactive exercices and much more. This helped them enhance their creativity, making it ready to be used during their classes.

This course allowed participants to confront themselves with each other and learn from their shared experiences. The participants left this course with a new knowledge of interactive learning and a new set of tools, ready to use them in their classrooms. There is no doubt that this approach will increase the students’ creativity, engagement, attention and motivation and help transforming learning into a fun and dynamic activity! 

Discover more about this course here.