Course Description

The Future Classroom Lab (FCL) is an initiative of the European Schoolnet (EUN) that aims to create a physical space where teachers, researchers, and policy makers can collaborate and explore new teaching and learning methods and technologies. The FCL is designed to provide teachers with an opportunity to experiment with new pedagogical approaches, technologies and tools in a realistic classroom environment. It is a unique opportunity for teachers to learn about and experience the latest technologies and pedagogical methods, and to gain insights into how these can be integrated into their teaching practice.

The FCL also serves as a research and development platform for teachers, providing them with a space to test and evaluate new pedagogical approaches and technologies, and to share their experiences with others. Through the FCL, teachers can gain a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to support student learning and how to create a more engaging and interactive learning environment. Additionally, the FCL provides teachers with a platform to collaborate with other teachers, researchers, and experts in the field, to learn from one another and to share best practices. Overall, the FCL is an innovative and valuable resource for teachers, providing them with the opportunity to explore and experiment with new teaching methods and technologies, and to gain the knowledge and skills they need to integrate these into their classrooms.

This training course is designed to provide teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively integrate new teaching methods and technologies in their classrooms, with the FCL as a unique and valuable resource. The course will be delivered through a variety of interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and group discussions, where participants will have the opportunity to learn by doing, reflect on their own learning and share their experiences with their peers.

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of the course will have the knowledge and skills to do the following:

• Understand the concept and goals of the Future Classroom Lab (FCL) and how it can be used to support student learning and engagement
• Explore different pedagogical approaches, technologies and tools that can be used in the FCL and how to integrate these into the classroom
• Develop the skills to align instruction with curriculum and standards in the FCL and how to assess student learning in this context
• Learn how to collaborate and share best practices with other teachers and experts in the field
• Understand how to evaluate the effectiveness of the FCL and make adjustments as needed
• Develop the ability to integrate 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and digital literacy in the FCL and how to assess students on these skills
• Develop the ability to design STEM-based activities and projects for students and integrate STEM education in the FCL
• Learn how to use maker-education tools and resources for hands-on learning, design thinking and prototyping in the FCL

Course Details

 
TARGET GROUP

Professionals in the education sector (e.g., teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and administrators at elementary, middle, higher education, vocational institutions, kindergartens and pre-primary schools) and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology of the training course on the Future Classroom Lab (FCL) would be based on an active and participatory approach. The course would be designed to provide participants with a balance of theoretical concepts and hands-on activities that will help them to understand and apply the FCL approach in their own classrooms. The course would be delivered through a variety of interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and group discussions. These activities will provide participants with the opportunity to learn by doing, reflect on their own learning and share their experiences with their peers. The course will be facilitated by experienced trainers who have expertise in teaching, technology, and education research. The trainers will provide guidance and support to participants throughout the course to ensure that they can apply the concepts and skills they have learned to their own classrooms. The course will also include opportunities for participants to collaborate and share best practices with other teachers. This will provide participants with a support network and the opportunity to continue their professional development. Overall, the methodology of the course is designed to be engaging, interactive, and practical, with a focus on providing participants with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively integrate new teaching methods and technologies in their classrooms with the FCL as a unique and valuable resource.

Course Objectives

• Enable participants to understand the concept of the Future Classroom Lab.
• Explore how educational technologies and innovative teaching methods are integrated in the Future Classroom Lab.
• Help participants understand how the Future Classroom Lab fosters student-centered learning.
• Develop participants’ skills in planning and implementing interactive and collaborative learning activities in the Future Classroom Lab.
• Provide participants with knowledge on classroom design and arrangement that effectively incorporates educational technologies.
• Enable participants to use data analysis and assessment tools to track student progress and evaluation in the Future Classroom Lab.
• Enhance participants’ ability to implement and customize the Future Classroom Lab in their own educational settings.
• Develop teachers’ skills in using the Future Classroom Lab to enhance students’ digital literacy.
• Encourage participants to share innovative teaching methods from the Future Classroom Lab with their colleagues.
• Enable teachers to adapt learning experiences in the Future Classroom Lab based on students’ interests and needs.
• Promote continuous updating of teachers’ knowledge and skills related to the Future Classroom Lab to transform the classroom experience.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1 – ARRIVAL DAY

• Welcome and introduction to the training course
• Ice-breaking activities
• Overview of the FCL initiative, its goals, and its benefits for teachers
• Introduction to the FCL’s physical space and the technologies and tools available for participants to use

Day 2 – PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES AND TECHNOLOGIES

• Overview of different pedagogical approaches and technologies that can be used in the FCL
• Blended learning
• Project-based learning
• Inquiry-based learning
• Hands-on activities to experiment with these approaches and technologies

Day 3 – CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT AND ASSESSMENT

• Strategies and techniques for aligning instruction with curriculum and standards in the FCL
• Strategies and techniques for assessing student learning in this context
• Create innovative learning content
• Designing or adapting learning spaces at school

Day 4 – COLLABORATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•  Opportunities for collaboration and sharing best practices with other teachers
•  Opportunities for professional development and networking
•  Media literacy
•  Online safety and responsibility
•  Disinformation, online hate speech and radicalization
•  Entrepreneurial mindset for value creation

Day 5 – EVALUATION AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT WITH TOOLS

• Strategies and techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of the FCL
• Making adjustments as needed
• Collaboration
• Digital storytelling
• Video and audio
• Interactive exercises
• Gamification

Day 6 – FUTURE CLASSROOM LAB’S ROLE IN 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

• Integrating 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and digital literacy in the FCL
• Assessing students on these skills
• Designing STEM-based activities and projects for students
• Using maker-education tools and resources for hands-on learning, design thinking and prototyping

 Day 7 – DEPARTURE DAY

• Evaluation of the course
• Certificate ceremony
• Cultural activities

*The schedule describes likely activities but may differ significantly based on the requests of the participants, and the trainer delivering the specific session. Course modifications are subject to the trainer’s discretion. If you would like to discuss a specific topic, please indicate it at least 4 weeks in advance.

Our courses usually include two cultural activities. Further information is available on the webpage of each course.