Enseigner au-delà du manuel scolaire : une semaine d'innovation pratique 

What keeps students truly engaged in learning today? It’s a question many educators are asking as classrooms continue to evolve. Content alone is no longer enough—how learning happens matters just as much. This idea was at the heart of a week-long training course in Porto, where teachers explored practical, adaptable ways to bring more interaction and meaning into their lessons.

From May 10th to May 16th, 2026, the course “Innovative Teaching Methods for Teachers and School Education Staff” gathered a diverse group of participants: Elisa (Live-säätiö sr, Finland); Monica, Miriam, and Soraya (Istituto Omnicomprensivo Primo Levi, Italy); Katalin (Batthyány Lajos Gimnázium, Hungary); Heli, Kati, and Valli (Tallinna Muinasjutu Lasteaed, Estonia); and Francesca and Maria (Istituto Comprensivo Luigi Capuana, Italy). Coming from different educational contexts, they spent the week sharing experiences and building ideas together.

The course opened with a focus on the bigger picture: what it means to teach today. Through brainstorming and group discussions, participants reflected on current challenges, from working with digitally immersed students to balancing traditional expectations with new approaches. The conversation naturally moved toward the skills that matter most now, such as communication, collaboration, creativity, et l’esprit critique. Rather than abstract theory, these ideas were grounded in real classroom situations shared by the group.

As the week progressed, attention shifted to how learning can be designed more effectively. Participants explored the differences between formal and non-formal education and looked at models that explain how people learn through experience. These concepts were brought to life through interactive activities, including a collaborative challenge that required teamwork, problem-solving, and quick thinking. It was a clear example of how active learning can increase both engagement and understanding.

Midweek sessions focused on apprentissage par projet, encouraging participants to think beyond isolated tasks and toward more structured, meaningful learning experiences. A key part of this process was learning how to build strong “driving questions” that give direction and purpose to student work. By discussing examples and starting to design their own ideas, participants began to see how this approach could be adapted to their own classrooms.

Later in the week, the course explored how learning can extend beyond the traditional classroom. Sessions combined digital approaches with outdoor and experiential learning, showing how different environments can support different types of engagement. Whether through interactive quizzes, collaborative boards, or structured outdoor challenges, the focus remained on participation, feedback, and real-world connection.

The final stage of the course highlighted the importance of peer learning and teamwork. Through hands-on activities, participants experienced strategies that encourage students to work together, share responsibility, and reflect on their learning. They also explored simple but effective ways to give constructive feedback, making assessment a more active and supportive process.

By the end of the week, participants had not only explored a wide range of methods but had also experienced them from a learner’s perspective. The course didn’t promise quick fixes or dramatic transformations. Instead, it showed how thoughtful, practical adjustments—combined with collaboration and reflection—can make teaching more effective and engaging.

Participants left Porto with new ideas, renewed motivation, and a clearer sense of how to adapt their teaching to the needs of today’s learners.

En savoir plus sur ce cours ici.