Schools from nine German states and three schools abroad in Singapore, Spain and Croatia were awarded the title. The Smart School competition awards prizes to schools that implement innovative concepts for the digitalization of schools and lessons. They combine advanced IT infrastructure with digital learning content and concepts – and also qualify their teachers accordingly. “Modern education means combining tried-and-tested methods with digital technologies and new formats. Smart Schools are leading the way here with fresh ideas and pragmatism,” says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. “More individualized learning, more inclusive learning, more practical learning – these pioneering schools show where the greatest potential of digital technologies in education lies. More visibility, exchange and the transfer of such best practices are essential in order to make progress in terms of digitalization throughout the German school system.”\n<\/p>\n
This year’s competition theme “Resilience & Responsibility: Digital Media Education” addresses key challenges in the online world such as fake news, data protection and screen time. The award-winning schools have developed innovative concepts on how pupils can learn to handle digital media confidently – for example through an AI driver’s license, live analyses of data processing in social networks or project weeks to reflect on the use of digital devices. “Digital skills are crucial today so that children and young people can act independently and responsibly in the digital world,” says Wintergerst.\n<\/p>\n
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Smart School Network, a special prize of 5,000 euros will be awarded for an individual Smart School Project for the first time in addition to the awards for new schools. This goes to St. Benedikt School in D\u00fcsseldorf, which has been part of the network since 2023. More than 60 languages are spoken among the pupils at the secondary school. This linguistic diversity was previously seen as a barrier to teaching. With “Transcribby.ai”, the school has developed a simultaneous translation app in collaboration with a company that uses AI to enable lessons in several languages at the same time and break down these language barriers. The teacher speaks into a microphone while the spoken text is translated into the pupils’ native languages in real time – for reading on the tablet and listening in via headphones. Wintergerst: “The project shows how digital technologies can promote inclusion and equal opportunities, overcome barriers and open up new potential in collaboration with the digital economy.”\n<\/p>\n
Bunsen-Gymnasium Heidelberg (Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg)\n<\/p>\n
Carl-Fuhlrott-Gymnasium Wuppertal (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
German International School Zagreb (Croatia)\n<\/p>\n
German School Bilbao (Spain)\n<\/p>\n
Freiherr-vom-Stein-Schule Immenhausen (Hesse)\n<\/p>\n
German European School Singapore (Singapore)\n<\/p>\n
G\u00fcnther-W\u00f6he-Schulen f\u00fcr Wirtschaft Saarbr\u00fccken (Saarland)\n<\/p>\n
Gymnasium Allee (Hamburg)\n<\/p>\n
Johann-Peter-Ring Primary School Ottmaring (Bavaria)\n<\/p>\n
Lippe Berufskolleg L\u00fcnen (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
Oberschule “Clara Zetkin” (Saxony)\n<\/p>\n
Rauschwalde secondary school (Saxony)\n<\/p>\n
OGGS Hesselnberg (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
Peter Ustinov Comprehensive School (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
Phorms Campus Berlin S\u00fcd (Berlin)\n<\/p>\n
St\u00e4dtische Sekundarschule Geseke (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
Werner von Siemens Realschule D\u00fcsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia)\n<\/p>\n
The first Smart Schools were recognized in 2016 as part of the German government’s National IT Summit. The project has been continued by Bitkom since 2018. The Smart Schools network now comprises 152 digital pioneer schools – 148 schools nationwide, from elementary school to comprehensive schools and grammar schools to vocational schools, as well as four German schools abroad. The network meets twice a year to share best practices and discuss challenges. Further information on Smart Schools, the competition and the application process can be found at www.bitkom.org\/smart-school. <\/p>\n