July was a particularly important month for the European FOCUS project, as key activities were completed, bringing the project one step closer to its final completion. From the latest Transnational Partners’ Meeting in Patras to the successful pilot implementation of educational games and the creation of a new podcast on inclusive education, the project continues to transform its results into practical tools for educators.

Final Transnational Partners’ Meeting in Patras

On June 30 and July 1, the project partners met in Patras for the final Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM). During the meeting, a review of all Work Packages was conducted, confirming that the project’s educational tools, digital resources, and training modules have now been completed. At the same time, the final steps leading up to the project’s completion were agreed upon, with the pilot implementation and the collection of feedback from end users as the top priority.

Successful Pilot Program with Students

One of the month’s most significant milestones was the completion of the first phase of the pilot program, which was carried out in collaboration with the Olympion School.

The students had the opportunity to try out the digital educational games and activities developed as part of the project, which utilize the Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) methodology to support foreign language learning among children with learning difficulties.

The pilot implementation yielded particularly encouraging results. The students actively participated in the activities, demonstrated a high level of interest and cooperation, and the ability to repeat the games without fear of failure boosted their self-confidence and engagement. At the same time, the instructional adaptations incorporated into the games—such as visual support, repetition of instructions, and additional guidance where needed—significantly contributed to the participation of students with diverse learning needs. The feedback also highlighted specific suggestions for improvement, which will be used to finalize the material before the project’s completion.

New Podcast on Inclusive Education

As part of the project’s outreach activities, the new podcast “Every Child Can Learn: Building Truly Inclusive Classrooms” is now available on YouTube.

In this episode, Irini Iakovidou, Head of the Projects Department at COMCY, speaks with Georgia Cleridou, Head of the English Language Department at G C School of Careers, about inclusive education, learning difficulties, and the crucial role of teachers in creating a learning environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

In closing, FOCUS continues to take practical steps to bring its tools closer to teachers and students. The next step is a pilot program with teachers and the incorporation of their feedback to make final improvements to the material.