In recent years, education has evolved significantly, with traditional classrooms transitioning to online lessons and virtual classes. This shift has required teachers to rethink their methods to make remote learning effective. New technologies, digital tools, and interactive learning platforms have proven successful in maintaining engaging and dynamic classrooms both online and in person. Our latest course, "Making the Most of New Technologies, Apps, and Social Media in the Classroom," focused on these important areas. Held in Bologna from 23/06/2024 to 06/07/2024 , we were pleased to host 10 teachers from Zespół Szkół Chemicznych i Ogólnokształcących w Tarnowskich Górach in Poland. We thank Jolanta Sienko, Sonia Kamińska, Monika Franusik, Dorota Fonfara, Edyta Szyndlar, Patrycja Polyzos, Katarzyna Lizak, Joanna Ziemska, Anna Niżewska, and Jolanta Bodusz for their active participation. Teachers learned to use simple tools for editing pictures and videos, essential for creating multimedia content, introducing new subjects, or reviewing old ones. These tools also encourage students to be creative by making their own work. The course introduced platforms for collecting and sharing materials like videos, images, texts, and PDFs, making it easier for teachers to provide a richer learning experience, especially in sciences and foreign language subjects. Teachers practiced with interactive tools and platforms such as Bamboozle, which creates fun quizzes and games, and Quizlet, which offers flashcards, quizzes, and interactive study games. They also explored LearningApps for customizable interactive activities, Canva for creating engaging presentations and infographics, Figjam for collaborative brainstorming, and EdPuzzle for creating interactive video lessons. The course included creating interactive presentations to gather student feedback through polls, word clouds, and questions, as well as making video lessons and online quizzes to check student progress and engagement.
Two days were dedicated to exploring Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on Chat GPT. Teachers learned how AI can provide personalized learning experiences, create content, and support student questions. Chat GPT can assist in creating lesson plans, answering student inquiries, and offering additional explanations on difficult topics, enhancing the overall learning experience. At the end of the course, each teacher completed a final project, creating a mini-lesson on their subject using all the platforms they had learned about. This project allowed them to put their new skills into practice and see firsthand how these tools can enhance their teaching. By the end of the course, teachers had a solid understanding of interactive learning technologies and new tools ready to be used in their classrooms. This approach is expected to boost students' creativity, engagement, attention, and motivation, making learning fun and dynamic. With their new skills, these teachers are ready to create a more interactive and exciting learning environment, both online and offline. By embracing these new methods, teachers from Poland are now prepared to lead the way in modern education, ensuring their students receive the best possible learning experience in an increasingly digital world. We hope to see them again! Discover more about this course here. |
Welcome to the ELA Blog. Here you will find articles and photos of our courses and have a look at the topics addressed during the week in Bologna, Palermo and Tenerife. You will also have the chance to take a peek at our projects and check out what we have been up to.
Archives
October 2024
Categories |