Creating a virtual classroom as a means of connecting with students

Since traditional education can't always fit in virtual lessons and online classes, we have to find other ways to learn. We've found that using new technologies, like digital tools and interactive learning platforms, works really well. This way, teachers can keep students engaged and interested, no matter where they are. And, since these tools work well in  classrooms too, they help keep students' attention and enthusiasm high.
The new edition of the combined courses “Making the most of new technologies, apps and social media in the classroom​” and “Discover the best apps and tools for E-learning, Distance learning and Web Design” concentrated exactly on these matters. This session of the course took place in Bologna from 23/02/2023 to 28/02/2023. The participants came from all across Europe, with Antonia Lontou, Christina Xydea from Gymnasium of Arfara, Greece; Sevasti Tasiona, Despoina Simadopoulou, Thomai Margariti from 19th Primary School of Katerini, Greece; Fernando Blanco Hernandez from OÜ Hispaania Maja, Estonia; Elīna Dimza, Randa Misāne from Liepaja Marine College, Latvia; Pia Lindenberger from Johannes-Gutenberg-Schule Heidelberg, Germany; Luiz Carlos Quarteu, Anabela Correia Sampaio, Elisabete Maria Verde, Maria Manuela Pinto from Agrupamento Escolas do Concelho de Caminha, Portugal
Participants in this course learned how to use a wide range of technological tools and how to put them to use by incorporating them into their teaching methods. The goal was to include these new technologies into both physical and virtual classrooms in order to teach more efficiently and effectively. 
Firstly, they learned how to use tools to lead a class on a virtual whiteboard or to present themselves in a fun and engaging way. This was the perfect start to get to know each other and our cultures :)
Another topic explored was how to build a website, which can serve multiple options of use in distance learning. By setting up different pages and enriching them with contents, our participants had the opportunity to personalize their website, write a blog to report the development stages of a project, create portfolios etc..
We opened an interesting discussion on social media: are there only negative aspects of using them in the classroom? Or are there ways we can implement them to engage students and keep their attention? The participants had the chance to share their opinions and discuss their views together with the trainer.
The course went on discussing other tools for collecting and sharing resources and content. The group learnt about platforms that allowed them to collect and enrich videos, images, texts, pdf, and other materials, and share all this content with their students in just a simple click. These tools can be useful for example to describe different parts of a picture, especially in scientific subjects, and to provide a deeper context for a richer learning experience when approaching a new topic, for example in foreign language studies. Participants also practiced tools that function as collaborative walls, where every user is encouraged to post and contribute in building a more exhaustive collection of information.
Amongst the many tools they discovered they also learnt about interactive presentations in which the teacher can request the class’ opinion by submitting polls, creating word clouds, or asking for questions or feedback on the topic being presented, creating video lessons, particularly effective in these times, and online learning quizzes, very useful to test the progress of the students.

The participants left this course with a new knowledge of interactive learning and new technologies and a new set of tools, ready to use them in their real and online lessons. We hope that you upkeep your motivation for warm-ups in the morning and stay  in a good mood!
As always, we close this post with a few words from one of the teachers: “I absolutely enjoyed the course, it was even better than what I had expected. There were a great number of apps presented, in a clear way with adequate examples and enough opportunity for personal practice. The teacher was very helpful, friendly, funny, and fully knowledgeable, not only as far as technology and apps were concerned but about cultural and other info as well. I thank her so much!” 
Discover more about this course here and here

​