In my teacher training workshops in Berlin, part of Erasmus+ projects, I work with teachers and school staff from different EU countries. They spend a week in Berlin, taking part in hands-on training to improve their teaching methods. However, I have noticed a challenge: while they want to create engaging lessons for their students, they often hesitate to try new ways of learning themselves. Traditional lecture-style training does not excite them the same way they expect their own students to be excited. I often joke with participants about how challenging it can be to step into the learner’s shoes—something they expect from their students every day.
Over time, I have found that teachers learn best when they first experience new methods actively before learning the theory behind them.

This paper explores how interactive teaching techniques can improve teacher training and encourage a shift toward student-centered learning. When teachers experience cooperative learning strategies—such as Think-Pair-Share, Timed Pair Share, Agree-Disagree Line Up, Rally Robin, and Round Robin—they not only understand these techniques but also see their benefits firsthand. These methods encourage teamwork, critical thinking, and engagement, similar to the classroom environments we aim to create for students.

One common challenge in teacher training is their initial resistance to new methods. Many educators feel uncertain when introduced to unfamiliar teaching strategies. Even simple activities like an icebreaker game can initially meet resistance. However, when they actively take part in these methods, they move from passive listeners to engaged participants. This hands-on approach not only helps them understand the methods better but also makes them more open to using them in their own classrooms.

Using real examples and case studies from my workshops, this paper will show how experiential learning impacts educators. I will share how practical, interactive training has helped teachers change their teaching habits, gain confidence in student-centered approaches, and improve classroom engagement.

This presentation aims to encourage teacher trainers, school leaders, and policymakers to rethink professional development. By focusing on active learning and participation, we can better equip educators with the skills and mindset needed to create interactive and inclusive classrooms. The main message is clear: to improve teaching, we must first change how teachers learn.

Keywords: Teacher training, learn by doing, active learning, student-centered learning, hands-on, cooperative learning strategies.