My main objective was for us to get to know new digital tools and how they can be used in the classroom to motivate students and to support their learning. Other goals were to help develop innovative teaching ideas, creativity and cooperation in the classroom. I wanted teachers to become more self-confident when using digital tools. They should also learn to focus on students' individual talents and interests. While participating in the project I wanted to strengthen their ability to cooperate with colleagues and to spread enthusiasm for Erasmus+ projects in the staff room. I hoped that they might find future partners for projects with European schools during their training courses. Further goals were to brush up our English speaking skills and to strengthen social skills by exchanging ideas with other participants and by working in a team.
I applied for this project before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. My school focusses on modern and ancient languages. After an audit by the ministry of education, the report stated that the way we teach is still very traditional. It criticized a lack of cooperative teaching methods, of variety in the classroom as well as a lack of digital skills for teachers and students. At the same time our student population is changing: Many students come from very diverse backgrounds and we need to adapt our way of teaching in order to reach them and to prepare them for life in the 21st century. Digital skills are becoming more and more important and teachers need more competencies and experience in order to integrate them into their teaching repertoire. Digital tools can also help cater for individual student needs and to support their learning. Furthermore I hoped to raise support for Erasmus+ projects in the future, to assemble a team willing to implement projects like eTwinning or student mobilities and to create a network with other European schools.