To engage students, it’s a complex challenge: using innovative methods can be a significant resource to motivate them and to enhance their learning. Thanks to different kinds of studies and research, today there are many tools available that can be used in the school environment: project-based learning, non-formal education, outdoor education, and ICT are some of the many opportunities that can be integrated with traditional teaching methods.
The new edition of the course “Innovative teaching methods for teachers, school and adult education staff” took place in Bologna from 10/10/2022 to 14/10/2022. The participants came from all across Europe, with Kristina Mikaliūnienė, Asta Buškuvienė, Rūta Bernikienė from Radviliskis V. Kudirka Progymnasium in Lithuania, Dusica Antic, Ivana Milosavljevic from First technical school in Serbia, Māra Kreicberga and Tatjana Vinokurova from Private Secondary school KLASIKA in Latvia, Marcin Witowski from Zespół Szkół Ekonomicznych im. W. Stysia w Świdnicy in Poland, Elif Özcan from Gebkim MTAL in Turkey, Natalia Cobo Dabán from OÜ Hispaania Maja in Estonia.
At first, Project Based Learning allows students to delve into content in a more direct and meaningful way, starting from a topic question and trying to investigate real world issues. Analysing the principles of PBL, the participants of the course had the opportunity to discover how teamwork, collaboration, and creativity can help students to discover the way to deal with real problems, learning strategically and searching for the answers from the start.
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On the other side, visual strategies and teambuilding games showed the power of Non-Formal Education. In fact, starting from the activities, we explored the Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and we learned how it allows it to pass from reflection to conceptualization and application, giving the student an active role in the learning process.

Thanks to an ICT tool, the teachers had the opportunity to participate in a special type of treasure hunt, discover Bologna and deepen the power of Outdoor Education in a very funny way. Some of the advantages of Outdoor Education that emerged during the debriefing are, on the one hand, the increase in motivation and creativity; on the other, the improvement of the psychophysical well-being thanks to the contact with nature and the consequent reduction of stress. Moreover, Mara and Tatjana provided us with a wonderful presentation of the outdoor activities that they use back at their school. We had a chance to deepen into different types of activities.

Finally, we explored innovative teaching methods with ICT. We practised several tools in class, finding out new ways to engage students, assess and display a lesson. This course helped participants to understand how to work with a more innovative approach in their classes.
By Friday, team spirit was so high that it was difficult to say goodbye. However, our group was very eager to go back and start applying all the many ideas that emerged during the course. Another great week of inspiration was over, but only to be continued back in their countries.

Discover more about this course here