_main_sm_col12_hpad-30_x4.webp)
From Temporary Classrooms to a Digital Fairtrade School
How Realschule Patternhof connected an entire school with interactive Clevertouch displays
Challenge
When the Ahr Valley floods severely impacted Realschule Patternhof, everyday school life suddenly faced entirely new challenges. For a time, lessons took place in temporary container classrooms, and the school no longer had access to larger event spaces or an assembly hall.
Solution
Despite these circumstances, the school remained committed to continuing its journey toward becoming a Fairtrade School.
The first school-wide Fairtrade event was improvised using projectors, laptops and video conferencing—delivered under difficult conditions, but with great dedication.
Outcome
Today, just a few months after moving into its new school building, the school demonstrates how modern teaching, digital collaboration and social responsibility can come together.
_main_sm_col12_hpad0_x4.webp)
A Fairtrade Project Day for the Entire School
As part of the nationwide Fairtrade Action Day, Realschule Patternhof organised an interactive project day for the whole school. The event was broadcast simultaneously from a central moderation room to 26 classrooms. Through interactive activities, digital learning content and escape room challenges, students worked together to explore the topic of Fairtrade.
The project was initiated by Elmar Christoffels, head of the school's Fairtrade working group and the driving force behind the concept.
“It was important to us that not just individual classes took part, but that the entire school became part of the project together.”
— Elmar Christoffels, Head of the Fairtrade Working Group
Digital Collaboration with Clevertouch
The project day was delivered using a combination of new and existing Clevertouch systems.
The new Clevertouch Impact Lux 2 displays, with EDLA certification, enabled Google Meet to run directly on the display without the need for additional devices. At the same time, older Clevertouch Impact Plus models continued to be used successfully via connected PCs.
Particularly remarkable was the fact that the school had only been using the new displays since February, yet just a few months later had already delivered an interactive learning event involving the entire school.
_main_sm_col10_hpad0_x4.webp)
Students as Digital Scouts
The school's Fairtrade and Digital Scouts played an important role throughout the project.
The students supported each class with technical questions, helped teachers and classmates use the interactive displays, and assisted staff throughout the event.
"The Scouts made a huge difference in helping teachers feel more confident with the technology."
— Teacher at Realschule Patternhof
The project was equally memorable for the students themselves.
"Since we've had the interactive displays, we use them for almost everything. It's much more enjoyable and keeps us more motivated."
— Student, Fairtrade Working Group
_main_sm_col10_hpad0_x4.webp)
Interactive Learning Instead of Traditional Teaching
Active participation was at the heart of the project day.
The classes worked together on:
knowledge and matching activities,
videos and digital learning resources,
and an interactive escape room based on global
Fairtrade topics
The students particularly enjoyed the gamified approach.
"The escape room was everyone's favourite because it was always a puzzle to solve."
— Student, Fairtrade Working Group
The interactive displays were used not simply as presentation screens, but as active tools for collaboration and participation.
"It definitely felt different from a normal lesson. It was fun and really motivating."
— Student, Fairtrade Working Group
_main_sm_col10_hpad0_x4.webp)
From an Improvised Projector Setup to a Digital Learning Environment
Even during their time in the temporary container classrooms, the school had already begun delivering digital Fairtrade projects. At that time, however, doing so required considerably more organisation.
Even during their time in the temporary container classrooms, the school had already begun delivering digital Fairtrade projects. At that time, however, doing so required considerably more organisation.
"We used to have to connect laptops and projectors in every classroom. Now the meetings run directly through the displays."
— Teacher at Realschule Patternhof
Interactive activities such as escape rooms and collaborative tasks would also have been much more difficult to deliver in the past. The new digital learning spaces now enable far more flexible and modern approaches to teaching.
"It was something special to see the whole school working together at the same time."
— Teacher at Realschule Patternhof
Fairtrade as Part of Everyday School Life
For Realschule Patternhof, Fairtrade is much more than a single project.
Fair trade is integrated across a range of subjects, including English, Geography, Business Studies, Home Economics and History. The school also regularly organises Fairtrade product sales and actively raises awareness of global supply chains and fair trading conditions.
_main_sm_col10_hpad0_x4.webp)
In recognition of its commitment, the school received a €2,000 cheque from TARGOBANK during the project day.
Technology Enabling a Sense of Community
Realschule Patternhof's project demonstrates how digital technology can support far more than traditional classroom teaching.The Clevertouch displays became not only a technical tool, but also the element that connected an entire school community through a shared project.
Or, as one student summed up the day: "Fantastic."
_main_sm_col12_hpad0_x4.webp)
We would also like to thank our partner Keller Büromaschinen for their support in equipping the school's new learning spaces.
You may find these interesting
Related case study
Related case study
Related case study
