Teaching Actively in Europe: Lithuanian Education and Innovative Methods

Field of study	Pedagogy, General Didactics
Duration	2 weeks
Dates	June 22nd – July 3rd
Number of credits	6 ECTS
Contact person	Name: Tetiana Ponomarenko Email: Tetiana.Ponomarenko@vdu.lt
Course-organising units	Education Academy, Department of Modern Didactics
Lecturers	Dr. Vaida Jurgilė, dr. Tetiana Ponomarenko, dr. Kateryna Horlenko, dr. María José De Urraza, lekt. Heather Gaddis, dr. Marius Daugėla
Number of students	Minimum: 10 Maximum: 30
Target group	BA students of pedagogical sciences, teaching specialities, practicing teachers, educators and anyone who is interested in good teaching.
Entry requirements	Strong interest in teaching didactics and English language proficiency at B2 level
Short description	Teaching Actively in Europe: Lithuanian Education and Innovative Methods is an intensive two-week summer school designed for international students who are eager to explore contemporary European education through the Lithuanian case. The course introduces participants to the structure and values of European and Lithuanian education systems while focusing on innovative, student-centred and research-based teaching approaches. Students will engage in active workshops, collaborative projects, school visits, case analyses, and intercultural discussions. The programme highlights modern didactics, inclusive education, digital tools in teaching, competence-based curriculum design, universal design for learning and creative learning strategies that empower learners.
Course uniqueness	Through experiential learning and reflection, participants will not only understand how education systems operate in Europe, but also practice designing engaging lessons using active methodologies. The course promotes intercultural dialogue and provides a unique opportunity to experience Lithuanian academic culture while networking with peers from different countries. Every day, the participants will meet new interesting lecturers who are specialising in diverse topics. The current course is a unique opportunity to explore the Lithuanian education system as part of the broader European educational space. It provides a strong focus on active learning methodologies rather than passive theory. Hands-on workshops where students design and test innovative teaching strategies. Real-life insights through meetings with educators and visits to educational institutions.
Aim	The aim of the course is to introduce students to the Lithuanian and broader European education systems and to develop their understanding and practical skills in applying innovative, student-centred and active teaching methods in diverse educational contexts.
Learning outcomes	Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: Explain the main features of Lithuanian and European education systems. Analyse key trends and reforms in European education. Apply active and student-centred teaching methods in lesson planning. Design competence-based and inclusive learning activities. Critically evaluate innovative teaching practices. Collaborate in multicultural teams to develop educational solutions. Reflect on intercultural dimensions of teaching and learning.
Programme structure	Lithuanian education system overview Language, identity, and education in Lithuania Best practices from Lithuanian schools Universal design for learning in classroom Active learning strategies and student engagement using technologies and AI Personalisation in Teaching and Learning Applying Personalisation Strategies in the Classroom (Dr. María José De Urraza) Teaching in Action: Experiencing Communicative Methods for Collaborative Learning From Methods to Meaning: Designing Communicative Practices through Modern Didactics (Dr. Marius Daugela) Self-regulated learning, co-regulation, and socially shared regulation in the classroom Developing a learning strategy teaching toolkit (Dr. Kateryna Horlenko) Plurilingualism & Mediation in the CEFR Incorporating plurilingual pedagogy into classroom practice (lekt.Heather Gaddis). Inclusive education and diversity in the classroom. Final project demonstration (microteaching)
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