Digital tools in teaching – a week in Lisbon on an Erasmus+ course

Blog post by Jenni, Finnish teacher at Helsingin aikuisopiston peruskoulu

At the end of July, I travelled to sunny Lisbon – not on holiday, but to an Erasmus+ course about digital tools in teaching. The course took place from 28 July to 1 August 2025, and it was a really rewarding experience, both professionally and personally.

The writer standing at the front of a classroom and presenting slides on a screen. The slide says Helsingin aikuisopisto. — Jenni presenting Helsingin aikuisopisto to the course participants.

There were 17 teachers on the course from six countries: Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland and me from Finland. Most of the participants taught children and young people, so my background as a Finnish teacher in basic education for adults brought a nice, different perspective to the group. The course leader was a French language teacher, Clément Huet. His practical approach kept the lessons focused and inspiring.

The writer standing on a sea wall near the water, with the sea opening up behind her. — Jenni cooling off near the centre of Lisbon

Artificial intelligence makes teachers think all over Europe

During the week, we learnt about many different digital tools. Apps for group work were part of the programme. It was great to try them as a learner and think at the same time about how they would work with the adults in my own class. We also looked at many planning tools for teachers, apps that support participatory teaching methods and AI tools, which led to a lot of discussion and questions. Artificial intelligence seemed to be the topic that caused the most excitement and the most uncertainty for everyone, no matter which country they came from or what age group they taught.

A landscape with blue sky, the sea on the right and rocky headlands on the left. — Views from Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe

Colourful Lisbon by the sea

After the course days, it was time for Lisbon itself. The city is amazing: colourful, built on many levels and full of history. We walked along narrow, beautiful streets, found lovely restaurants and local pastries, and tried the old tram. We also enjoyed the sea views and visited several museums. Lisbon is a city you want to come back to. We also visited Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of mainland Europe, about 40 kilometres from Lisbon. And of course, we swam in the Atlantic Ocean in Cascais, near Lisbon.

A landscape with the sea and blue sky in the background and buildings with red roofs on a hillside in the foreground. — Colourful views of Lisbon from a hill towards the sea

All in all, it was an excellent week, both professionally and culturally. I warmly recommend similar training weeks to any teacher who wants to develop professionally and get a new perspective from the European teaching community. My suitcase came home full of new ideas – and a few treats from Lisbon.