This paper presents the results of an online continuous training course developed within the scope of the European project AECED (Aesthetic and Embodied Learning for Democracy-as-becoming), focused on teachers and educators of pre-school, early years and vocational education in Portugal. Based on the principles of Aesthetic and Embodied Learning for Democracy (AELD) and anchored in the Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, the training promoted spaces for co-research, critical reflection and pedagogical co-creation in a digital environment. The training proposal articulated somatic and aesthetic approaches with the foundations of democratic pedagogy, aiming to reconfigure teaching practices and expand the possibilities of an education centered on sensitivity, expression and dialogue.

The research was based on the qualitative analysis of multiple data sources — discussion forums, reflective diaries, interviews and pedagogical projects with audiovisual and narrative documentation in all phases of the course, lasting eight weeks. The analysis revealed significant changes in the participants’ conceptions of democracy in education, revealing a shift from a normative and curricular vision to a relational, sensitive perspective situated in everyday practices. Teachers began to recognize the body and sensoriality as legitimate dimensions of mediation of knowledge and democratic coexistence, assuming their role as facilitators of participatory and inclusive contexts.

Despite the technical and institutional challenges associated with eLearning — such as limitations on sharing multimedia materials, ethical restrictions on the use of images, and difficulties in emotional connection in asynchronous environments — participants mobilized creative strategies that allowed them to overcome these obstacles. The activities developed included visual narratives, movement workshops, the creation of thematic performances, and sensitive listening dynamics, fostering critical thinking, empathy, inclusion, and mutual respect. These experiences revealed that, even in digital environments, it is possible to create aesthetic and embodied learning spaces capable of promoting democratic values ​​and renewing pedagogical engagement.

Another central aspect that emerged was the appreciation of collaborative dynamics, which were expressed in forums and shared activities as ways of building online learning communities. Through mutual support, sharing of vulnerabilities and active listening, participants created networks of co-reflection and pedagogical experimentation. The application of the Community of Inquiry model allowed us to analyze how cognitive, social and pedagogical presence was constructed throughout the course, favoring an ethical, critical and relational learning experience.

The results suggest that the articulation between AELD and PAR in digital environments represents a promising path for the professional development of teachers and for the reinvention of more sensitive, participatory and democratic educational practices. The work also continued with recommendations to expand the integration of aesthetic and embodied approaches in teacher training, including: greater curricular flexibility, institutional support for pedagogical experimentation, appreciation of sensitive and bodily expression as a formative dimension, and public policies that encourage education centered on listening, inclusion and democratic transformation.

Keywords: Continuous Training, e-learning, Democratic Education, Aesthetic and Embodied Learning, Participatory Action Research, Pedagogical Innovation.