Discovering ICT tools for education

Last week we had the pleasure to work together with teachers and education staff from Slovenia,  Lithuania and Hungary supporting them in integrating ICT and new technologies into teaching and discovering the best digital and distance tools and app for education and language learning.
During the course the participants together with ELA trainers and staff discovered and practiced various tools, apps and web platforms useful for teaching, both for lessons in presence and online. But not only that, as one participant noted in final evaluation of the course “I really recommend this training, because you can use all of the knowledge you learned in your professional and also personal life”.
The tools addressed were selected based on the needs of the participants, some of the main tools that were explained and practiced have been: Snapseed, Photogrid and Canva for easily editing photos, creating collage and engaging students in multimedia creation; Magisto and Powtoon for creating short videos, captivating presentations and video-explainers; Socrative and Quizlet for formative assessment, quiz and self-study; Mentimeter for creating interacting presentations and stimulate students learning; Ted Ed and EdPuzzle for creating a lesson around a video; Edmodo for distance learning; Google Jamboard for creating collaborative learning experiences. The participants had the chance to get acquainted and learn about many others tools including Thinglink, Learning Apps and many more.
The participants established a positive cooperation and appreciated that the course that gave them a valuable opportunity to increase their skills and get in contact with fellow educators. One of the participants wrote in the final evaluation “I would recommend this course to all teachers who are starting (or have just started teaching online) and they need new ideas and tools to use with their students”. Another teacher commented “I strongly recommend taking the ICT course because it really helps with how to make use of different kinds of platforms or apps as a teacher, or someone who works with teachers. It focuses on practice which is a really positive thing".
The participants also appreciated accommodation, tours and, above all, the typical Bolognese food!
“It was an educational holiday: the best holiday!”