SMART LESSON - A new approach and innovative tools for teachers to teach learning with smartphones

SMART LESSON was conceived to address two concrete challenges identified by the partner schools: on the one hand, strengthening the digital and methodological competences of teachers, who are often not fully prepared to integrate technology into everyday teaching; on the other hand, the need to better engage students through more motivating approaches, closer to their own languages. The use of smartphones in the classroom, often perceived as a threat to concentration, was reimagined as an educational resource. The project therefore aimed to transform a common tool into a driver for innovation, participation, and inclusion, by developing a replicable teaching model centred on active learning and the conscious use of digital technologies. Transnational collaboration provided fundamental added value, enabling the sharing of practices, the adaptation of the model to different contexts, and the building of a European network of innovative schools.

The main objective of the project was to develop an innovative teaching model, called Smart Lesson, which enhanced the use of the smartphone as an educational tool to promote active learning, participation, and the development of key competences. The project also aimed to strengthen the digital and methodological competences of teachers by providing practical tools, shared resources, and continuous training opportunities. Through experimentation in partner schools and collaboration between educational and technological organisations, SMART LESSON made the integration of digital tools in teaching more accessible and inclusive, while promoting European cooperation among schools. An additional objective was the creation of a Community of Practice, which ensured the dissemination and sustainability of the model beyond the project’s duration. The project also promoted a more inclusive and motivating teaching approach for students, closer to their languages and digital habits.

SMART LESSON was structured into five work packages, with activities coordinated between schools and partner organisations. In the initial phase, a Report on Best Practices was produced to identify the most effective approaches developed between 2017 and 2023 in the use of smartphones as educational tools in the partner countries. This document served as the foundation for the design of the Toolkit and the Smart Lesson Guide, which bring together practical tools and guidelines for building inclusive and engaging digital lessons. Afterwards, a training of trainers was carried out (in online mode), followed by experimentation in the partner schools. The Smart Evaluation Meter was also developed on the Moodle platform for the assessment of lessons. In parallel, dissemination activities took place, including events, webinars, articles, and the creation of the Community of Practice. Coordination among partners was ensured through regular meetings, digital collaborative tools, and constant support.

The project produced tangible and easily transferable results. Among the main outputs: - an operational Toolkit for building a Smart Lesson, - a methodological Guide for teachers, - a peer review model, - a Report on Best Practices, - a digital assessment tool (Smart Evaluation Meter) integrated into the Moodle platform. In addition, examples of Smart Lessons created in the partner schools were produced and translated into six languages. In terms of qualitative results, the project strengthened teachers’ digital and methodological competences, improved student participation, and promoted the conscious use of smartphones in the classroom. The creation of the Community of Practice with over 200 members fostered knowledge sharing and ensured the sustainability of the model. Public events and webinars further expanded the dissemination of results, generating interest from schools and educational networks beyond the partnership.