The CARMA Toolkit for teachers is a step-by-step guide for implementing collaborative learning to increase student motivation and participation in schools. This resource will be available in all the partners languages containing detailed descriptions of the non-formal education techniques and how they can be used daily, effectively, in the classrooms.

The Toolkit is a step-by-step guide for teachers to implementing collaborative learning practices with the students and transform classroom practices using non-formal learning (NFL) techniques. It targets lower secondary and secondary school teachers working with students in the age range of 11 to 16 years old in general. We say in general, because as we will explain in the following chapters, school students up to the age of 18 years old have also participated in the CARMA project and their experiences and outcomes have influenced the development of this Toolkit.

Its primary focus is to support understanding in collaborative learning approaches and offer a step-by-step guide on how to implement collaborative learning activities to increase student’s motivation, participation and raise achievement levels. The Toolkit addresses the specific needs of secondary education teachers wanting practical ideas on how to introduce collaborative learning in the classroom, in particular when teaching in a complex environment to learners identified as disadvantaged, low achieving and at risk of early school leaving.

This Toolkit also intends to support teachers in initial teacher training from a wide range of subject areas. In addition, school headmasters, school leaders and teaching staff in school education can benefit from using this Toolkit as a resource for introducing and promoting alternative NFL approaches and collaborative learning in the classroom to address educational challenges, enrich the learning environment and make a positive impact on the wider school community.

The Toolkit is available in two versions: a more complete version that gives readers the full picture of the CARMA work that inspired the design of the Toolkit and presents the different NFL techniques; a shorter version that goes straight to the point and focuses on the NFL techniques itself. The Toolkit is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German, Flemish and Turkish.

If you wish to get more information on CARMA project, please visit the website or contact Pedro Costa at [email protected]. The project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission (Erasmus+ Key Action 3: Support for policy reform, Prospective Initiatives Forward-Looking Cooperation Project, addressing the Priority 3 “Promoting innovative, collaborative teaching and learning”).