GeoCamp Iceland Hosts Acadimia Workshop at Háaleitisskóli

On Monday, 29 September 2025, GeoCamp Iceland, in collaboration with Háaleitisskóli at Ásbrú in Reykjanesbær, hosted a hands-on teacher training workshop introducing two creative and inclusive teaching methods: Creative STEAM and Digital Storytelling. The event was part of the ongoing Erasmus+ project ACAδIMIA, a three-year European initiative focused on strengthening creative and student-centred pedagogy across the continent.

The workshop drew strong participation from across the peninsula, with 27 teachers from seven schools attending, representing both preschools and primary schools. Sessions were led by an excellent team of local educators: Sara Ross Bjarnadóttir (Gerðaskóli), Freydís Kneif Kolbeinsdóttir (Háaleitisskóli), Ragnheiður Alma Snæbjörnsdóttir (Akurskóli), and Sigrún Svafa Ólafsdóttir, GeoCamp Iceland’s project manager for educational outreach and representative of Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark.

A European Academy for Creative and Inclusive Teaching

ACAδIMIA brings together teachers from eight partner countries, including several educators from the Reykjanes region and staff from GeoCamp Iceland. The School of Education at the University of Iceland also plays an active role, alongside teachers from the capital area and Akranes.

The project functions as a kind of European teachers’ academy, exploring and sharing 11 creative teaching methods developed in different parts of Europe but brought together under one framework. These methods draw inspiration from Montessori, drama education, dialogic teaching, gamification, creative coding and other innovative approaches. They are designed to be flexible, inclusive and suitable for diverse groups of learners — from early childhood through upper primary and beyond.

Building Skills, Confidence and Community

The Reykjanes workshop gave teachers practical tools they can apply directly in the classroom. Creative STEAM encourages hands-on, interdisciplinary learning rooted in curiosity and problem-solving, while Digital Storytelling invites students to experiment with narrative, identity and technology.

ACAδIMIA has developed a shared curriculum for all partner countries. Over the coming months, workshops across Europe — including on the Reykjanes Peninsula — will deepen teachers’ skills and help build a community of practice around creative and inclusive pedagogy.

GeoCamp Iceland is proud to support this effort and to invite more teachers from the region to participate. As classrooms become increasingly complex, these methods offer practical, inspiring ways to reach students and strengthen learning across subjects.

More workshops will be offered in the coming months, covering all 11 methods featured within the ACAδIMIA project.