By implementing this project we wanted to be trained in new teaching and assessment methods, communication skills and cooperation in the school classroom. In our school most teachers applied traditional teaching methods which failed to motivate and involve all students, with the result that the latter do not respond satisfactorily to their school obligations. Wanting to arm ourselves with skills necessary for the 21st century teacher, we decided to design this project. We learnt about flexible, accessible and attractive teaching methods for all students, and new assessment methods, which reward skills/talents in addition to knowledge. We also learnt how to promote communication and cooperation in the classroom by training in techniques such as teamwork, active listening, the positive listening method, and the use of the positive feedback method which facilitate democratic dialogue, respect for pluralism, and inclusion.
The curriculum of the Esperino High School is common to that of the day schools, without taking into account the great heterogeneity of the student population, so that it can be differentiated according to cognitive levels, the ages of the pupils, the time available for study, personal learning objectives, different expectations, etc. Taking into account the specificities of the school and the constant need of teachers for training, a group of teachers wrote a European mobility plan, taking into account the needs and opinions of colleagues for training and professional development. After discussing with all the members of the teachers' association, the main needs of the organization emerged as a) training in new methods of teaching and assessment of pupils and b) training in the so-called 21st century skills, with emphasis on communication and cooperation in the classroom, which are to be taught in the school in the future. At the same time, at the suggestion of the teacher and School Life Counsellor, Mrs. Anastasia Patera, the association agreed that it would be beneficial for her and for the school to carry out on-site work shadowing in the field of counselling in order to enhance her knowledge.