Discovering the realm of ICT tools to enhance students’ engagement

Engaging and motivating students in the classroom can be challenging. That is why ICT tools, such as apps and web platforms, are essential. These tools enable teachers to communicate, collaborate and share knowledge effectively while keeping students’ attention. Mastery of interactive learning techniques is now vital for offering students an alternative, dynamic learning experience that keeps them fully engaged.
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The latest edition of the course “Integrating ICT and new technologies into teaching and education​” was held in Palermo from 30/06/2024 to 5/07/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Veronika, from Základní škola Kopřivnice Alšova, in Czech Republic; with Neringa and Ilona from Jonava Justinas Vareikis Progymnasium, in Lithuania; with Olga from Rezekne Academy of Technologies, in Latvia; with Anna, Nika and Apostolos, from ASSIROS HIGH SCHOOL, in Greece; with Christine and Anna from Gymnasium Lohne, in Germany; with Gérald, from Lycée Général Jean-Antoine Chaptal, in France; with Adrian, from Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Edukacji "Węgielek", in Poland; with Ana and Ruth from IES San Andrés (Villabalter, León), in Spain; with Raquel, from IPAM Porto, in Portugal; and finally with the participation of Lena, from Bernadottegymnasiet, in Germany.

​Throughout this course, the participants acquired skills in using a variety of technological tools and incorporating them into their teaching strategies.
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To begin with, they discovered and tried out the ICT tools as an activity between them and the trainer through various applications and platforms. They could notice the effectiveness and the importance of interactivity and freedom of sharing new elements which could become beneficial to future lessons. These playful and modern tools have plenty of aims, such as collaboration, participation, sharing ideas, being more creative and alert. Immersing themselves in the digital world is an opportunity for all to practice online activities such as quizzes, polls, presentations, educational games and chatting with an AI educational platform.
Afterwards, after exploring each new tool, the trainer briefly explained in a theoretical way how tools can be created, shared online and then used by the participants later, for their own purposes.
Finally, as their session’s last step, the participants were able to create their own apps or platforms independently by following the tutorial through simple steps so as to better assimilate the settings; and they didn’t hesitate to ask for more precisions or for advice. While each of them had different needs, they shared a common goal – using ITC tools to ease training and learning. By chance, they could save the tutorials given throughout the whole week and also their productions. In addition, participants also learnt how to create a website following a few easy steps. Thanks to this course this group was able to experiment with an easy drag and drop tool that could help them create a website for their schools. 

​At the conclusion of the course, the participants can legitimately appreciate their progress by having discovered and acquired new ability regarding interactive learning, more specifically. To sum up, implementing this new learning approach in the classroom will genuinely enhance the students’ creativity, engagement, attention and motivation, transforming learning into a fun and dynamic experience!