How to innovate and reinvent teaching methods

Engaging students is becoming more and more challenging but teaching using innovative methods can be a significant resource to motivate them and to enhance their learning in a more stimulating way. Thanks to different kind of studies and research, today we can integrate non-formal education, project-based learning, outdoor education, and ICT with traditional teaching methods and make the school environment more engaging.
The new edition of the course “Innovative teaching methods for teachers, school and adult education staff​” took place in Palermo from 24/04/2022 to 30/04/2022. The participants came all from the same country, Belgium, but from different schools and they had thus the opportunity to network and learn from each other shared experiences.

At first, after looking at the differences between formal, informal and non-formal education, visual strategies and teambuilding games showed the power of Non-Formal Education and its characteristics. In fact, starting from the activities, we explored the Kolb’s experiential learning cycle and we learned how it allows to pass from reflection to conceptualization and application, giving the student an active role in the learning process.
Later on during the course, we explored also innovative teaching methods with ICT: practicing different kind of tools we find out new ways to engage students, assess and display a lesson. Participants also shared their points of view and their own experiences with some ICT tools. This part of the course helped them to understand how to integrate ICT into the classroom. 

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​Thanks to an ICT tool, the teachers had the opportunity to participate in a special type of treasure hunt, discover Palermo and deepen the power of Outdoor Education in a very funny way. Some of the advantages of Outdoor Education that emerged during the debriefing are, on the one hand, the increase in motivation and creativity; on the other, the improvement of the psychophysical well-being thanks to the contact with the nature and the consequent reduction of the stress.

Finally, we looked at Project Based Learning, that allows students to delve into content in a more direct and meaningful way, starting from a topic question and trying to investigate real world issues.  Analysing the principles of PBL, the participants of the course had the opportunity to discover how teamwork, collaboration, and creativity can help students to discover the way to deal with real problems, learning strategically and searching the answers from the start. 

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Apart from the training activities, the group also had the opportunity to do two walking tours through Palermo city centre, discover its charming beauty and contradictions, and taste typical Sicilian cuisine. They also participated in a cultural visit to Monreale and its cathedral.
​At the end of the week, team spirit was so high that it was difficult to say goodbye. However, the group looked forward to starting applying all the ideas that emerged during the course. 

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ELA is looking forward to welcoming you again!
 
Discover more about this course in: https://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/innovative-teaching-methods.html