From November to December 2023, the Gardens of Experience team organized a series of six workshops for representatives of educational institutions, local government units, and non-governmental organizations involved in active youth education. The training sessions were conducted as part of the project “Future Competencies as the Key to Poland’s Technological Development,” funded by the Ministry of Education and Science.
The project “Future Competencies as the Key to Poland’s Technological Development” aimed to support teachers, representatives of local government education departments, and non-governmental organizations in developing key competencies among children and young people. Eighty percent of the workshop time was devoted to practical activities. Participants learned about the latest educational methods, techniques, and digital tools that help build engagement and motivation among schoolchildren, as well as support the development of creativity and soft skills. During the training sessions, engaging lesson-delivery methods were presented, including the use of VR goggles, interactive whiteboards, and educational applications.
“Participating in the training—especially the sessions using VR goggles—was a valuable experience and an inspiration. It was the first time that, during a training session, I could step into the role of a student and test various teaching techniques and approaches firsthand. The workshop topics were highly diverse, and the methods for conducting lessons, integration activities, and icebreakers can be implemented almost immediately,” summarizes Joanna Lewandowicz, project participant and teacher at the District School Complex No. 2 in Trzebnica.
The training was conducted in three rounds. Each participant took part in two workshops titled “Gamification in Education” and “Active Learning.” A total of 31 participants from the Lower Silesia region took part in the project.
