Training Materials for Staff Development Activities on the ENCORE Approach

This Training Materials document is designed to support teachers, trainers, and education professionals who wish to explore the world of Open Educational Resources (OERs) and leverage the ENCORE system to enhance their courses and support student skill development. ENCORE offers a range of tools and strategies to help educators design impactful learning experiences and align their teaching with global challenges. The ENCORE Approach uses artificial intelligence to simplify the search and integration of high-quality OERs, supporting the design of learning paths that develop competencies relevant in today’s rapidly changing world. By aligning resources with the Digital, Green, and Entrepreneurial (DGE) frameworks from the European Commission, ENCORE helps educators build courses that promote digital literacy, sustainability, and innovation—key skills needed for digital transformation, addressing climate change, and fostering post-pandemic recovery. With three key technological components—a DGE-aligned search engine, an OER aggregation database, and pedagogical tools based on frameworks like Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy—ENCORE not only aids in resource discovery but also encourages reflective teaching practices and supports thoughtful learning design. These tools foster professional growth and create dynamic learning environments where students can engage with real-world challenges. This training resource will guide you through the foundational concepts of OERs and Open Education, provide an overview of the DGE competence frameworks, and outline practical strategies for integrating ENCORE into teaching and training. The materials are designed for higher education lecturers, VET educators, and company trainers, offering a structured blend of synchronous and asynchronous activities. You’ll learn how to design learning scenarios, set meaningful objectives, and plan assessment activities that align with your desired learning outcomes. This document is offered as a descriptive guide supplemented by access to all materials available in Open Access on Zenodo. As will be seen, for each of the three perspectives of adoption by institutions and educators explored in depth in the supplementary ENCORE Pedagogical Guidelines- Final Version (Raffaghelli & Crudele, 2025) document, a specific Zenodo record has been created. Each will offer a) a brief description of each approach; b) a Moodle backup file, easily imported into their Moodle environment; and c) an overview of materials, activities, and tools. This allows flexibility in adoption, enabling trainers to integrate the ENCORE approach directly into their instructional workflows and professional development programs. On the other hand, it orients the reader to discover more about the design and use of these same materials. Above all, ENCORE is not just a tool but a collaborative ecosystem. Its real strength lies in the way educators use it, experience it, and shape it through ongoing feedback and innovation. By incorporating ENCORE into their practice, educators become part of a growing community dedicated to transforming and enhancing education in an ever-changing world.