Creating new learning

What is the Creating New Learning (CNL) initiative?

CNL is a multi-annual, multi-thematic initiative that aims to encourage the development, implementation and dissemination of innovative teaching and learning practices in the ETF's partner countries, in order to develop more effective education and training systems.

What are the main areas of innovation supported by the ETF?

We support innovation in teaching and learning across a number of thematic domains, namely:

• educators and educators’ qualifications
• learning environments
• personalised and differentiated learning
• curricula and key competence
• digital and online learning.

What are the key CNL activities?

• Research on innovation in teaching and learning: We collect insights on the essential conditions for fostering innovation in teaching and learning. Moreover, in focusing on vocational education and training (VET) and skills development in the ETF’s partner countries within a lifelong learning perspective, we identify and analyse innovative trends, draw together lessons and new knowledge about the innovations that are needed, and how they can be nurtured and strengthened in different country contexts.
• Innovative practices: We support innovative partnerships among VET and adult learning providers and collaboration among education and training professionals. We support the co-creation of innovations, the exchange of know-how relating to innovation, the design and sharing of innovative practices, approaches and tools collected from across the ETF’s partner regions, the EU and beyond. We link up with partner practitioner networks, projects and platforms, and invite practitioners to share their success in innovation with peers.
• New Learning Community: We support a multi-stakeholder and multilingual community of education professionals from our partner countries interested in learning innovation, to help them stay engaged and connected, contributing to peer learning and co-creation of innovation in teaching and learning across borders. Our partners are a constant resource, providing news and practices through ETF Open Space, our knowledge-sharing platform and other means of collaboration and communication. 

What do we focus on more specifically?

In 2021–23 our support is focused on how innovations could be triggered through:

• design and implementation of flexible and personalised learning pathways to support lifelong learning; 
• creation of authentic and engaging learning environments;
• digital formative assessment and feedback.

We also explore innovations through supporting transversal themes, such as digital and online learning, the role of formative assessment and feedback in contemporary teaching and learning, the development of key competences and 21^st century skills, identifying new roles and profiles of educators, as well as trends in initial training and the continuing professional development of teachers.

Who can benefit from the CNL initiative?

Professionals working in education and training, both in formal and non-formal learning: teachers, adult trainers, school managers and all those actively engaged in the design and organisation of learning. We work to connect grassroots initiatives with policymakers and other system-level actors to create a policy-practice nexus. 

How can I get involved?

You can contribute to the CNL initiative by joining its online community on ETF Open Space. Through the community you will be able to share your innovative practices, be inspired by other practitioners’ ways of teaching, and collaborate with peers who are facing the same challenges in terms of teaching innovation. Also, through the community, you can propose activities (both in your local context and internationally) that the community could undertake, and share findings, research results and impactful initiatives.