The project "Digital Tools for Better Schools" aimed to contribute to the digital transformation and readiness of schools and teachers in the partner countries. The project also focused on building the digital and media literacy of teachers. Our effort to support the effective shift towards digital education was achieved through meeting the following objectives: O1: To develop quality and free digital educational content (e-learning) that enhanced the competence development of teachers, enabling them to provide high-quality, inclusive digital education through digital games and other digital tools. O2: To develop an understanding of how best to incorporate digital tools, including digital games, into subject-specific teaching. O3: To build the digital and media literacy of teachers and provide them with the knowledge and tools that they could employ in their work, thus increasing the resilience of students to disinformation, fake news, and propaganda.
We applied for this project because the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for digital education, a key component in Europe's digital transformation. The European Commission's 2020 public consultation revealed that nearly 60% of respondents had never used distance or online learning before the crisis. Moreover, 95% agreed that the pandemic marked a permanent shift in the use of technology for education and training. The consultation also indicated a significant demand for online learning resources to be more relevant, interactive, and user-friendly. This scenario has created a crucial moment for advancing digital education. It underscores the necessity of leveraging digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning and to develop digital skills for everyone. Additionally, the surge in online disinformation and misinformation during the pandemic (as well as later on during Russian invasion of Ukraine) has highlighted the importance of fostering digital and media literacy, which is now vital for navigating an algorithm-driven world. By participating in this project, our aim was to address these needs and contribute to developing digital skills of all.