What connects a school in Germany with one in Sweden? Sometimes it’s a chance encounter at a training event. That was the starting point for our Erasmus+ job shadowing at Broholmskolan in Lidköping.
We made first contact at an Erasmus+ training course on the topic of artificial intelligence in Split, Croatia. What began there as a professional exchange led to a week-long placement, during which the three of us (Anna Koch, Nina Klapper and Andreas Conrad) were able to experience everyday school life in Sweden from the inside.
A key focus of our observations was the use of digital media, particularly in foreign language teaching. At Broholmskolan, confident and natural engagement with digital tools is a firmly established part of daily classroom life — not as an end in itself, but as a purposeful means of supporting communicative and creative learning. It is worth noting that in Sweden, the use of digital media has been scaled back in recent years, with the emphasis shifting towards more targeted and deliberate application.
One of the most striking experiences of our placement was the school’s outdoor learning program. A portion of lessons deliberately takes place outside, not as an occasional change of scenery, but as a structured pedagogical and cooperative concept that spans multiple subjects.
This may sound straightforward, yet it carries a profound educational dimension: children learn in different ways. Those who grasp numbers in a forest, who experience language through movement, who don’t just hear connections but smell and feel them, often consolidate what they have learned far more deeply.
Perhaps the most subtle observation concerns the social dimension, among the students themselves, but also between learners and teachers. At Broholmskolan, this sense of community is actively fostered through thoughtful design of the learning environment.
- Small learning groups: Manageable group sizes encourage genuine communication and individual attention.
- Open learning formats: Self-directed work and flexible use of space strengthen personal responsibility.
- Cozy retreat spaces: A school café, reading and play corners, and quiet nooks offer room to recharge and concentrate.
- Active learning: Movement is built in not only outdoors, but also within the classroom and out in the school grounds.
We return with concrete ideas for our own teaching, new network partners for future Erasmus+ projects, and a deep conviction: good schools emerge wherever people are willing to learn from and alongside one another.
This visit took place within the framework of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff of Broholmskolan for their warm welcome and their open, inspiring collaboration.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.