Applying new technologies to traditional and online teaching

In today’s fast-changing world, teaching is no longer confined to the four walls of a classroom. Traditional lessons now often coexist with virtual classes, pushing educators to rethink how to keep learning engaging, interactive, and fun. 

The new edition of the course “Making the most of new technologies, apps and social media in the classroom” focused exactly on these topics. This session took place in Bologna from 3rd to 9th August 2025. Participants came from all across Europe, including Yulia and Iris from Bayerischer Volkshochschulverband e.V. in Germany, Elena from IES Aguas Vivas in Spain, Michal and Michal from Střední škola informatiky a cestovního ruchu SČMSD Humpolec, s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, and Fernando Jorge, Maria Ana, Carlos Miguel, David, and Marco from CIMBAL – Comunidade Intermunicipal do Baixo Alentejo in Portugal.​

During the course, participants explored a wide range of technological tools and learned how to integrate them into both traditional and virtual teaching methods. 

The course also covered tools for collecting and sharing resources. Participants discovered platforms that allow them to gather and enrich videos, images, texts, PDFs, and other materials, then share everything with their students in just a click. These tools are particularly useful for providing context in scientific subjects, supporting foreign language learning, or encouraging students to engage more deeply with the lesson content. Participants also practiced using collaborative walls, where every student can contribute ideas, creating a richer and more complete learning environment.
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Interactive learning was another highlight of the course. The participants discovered how interactive presentations can transform a lesson into a two-way experience, allowing teachers to collect instant feedback through polls, word clouds, and live questions. These tools proved to be very effective in capturing students’ attention and encouraging even the most reserved learners to take part in the discussion. Special attention was also given to the AI-powered features of many of these tools, showing how artificial intelligence can support teachers in creating engaging content, providing instant feedback, and personalizing learning experiences to the needs of different students.

They also practiced creating video lessons, which are especially useful for explaining complex topics step by step and can easily be reused as revision materials. In addition, they explored online quizzes, a fun way to test knowledge and track progress while keeping students motivated. Through these activities, the educators experienced how technology can make lessons more dynamic, engaging, and tailored to students’ needs. Another outcome was learning how to design and personalize their own websites, adding pages, blogs, or portfolios powerful tools that can enhance both online and face-to-face teaching.

By the end of the course, participants left Bologna with new knowledge, practical skills, and a set of digital tools ready to be applied in their classrooms. They gained confidence in using technology to foster creativity, engagement, and attention, transforming learning into a dynamic, interactive, and enjoyable experience for students whether online or in-person. 
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Discover more about this course here.

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