Festival of Active Teaching Methods – High & Low Tech: Challenging Our Assumptions in Education?
- Education
- Innovation
Published on May 7, 2026
–
Updated on May 7, 2026
Dates
on the April 4, 2026
What if the rise of AI tools in higher education were an opportunity to fundamentally rethink the way we teach and assess?
At first glance, one idea seems obvious: teaching in an era of mass higher education requires relying, at least in part, on technological tools. “High tech” seems like a natural solution (digital platforms, online multiple-choice quizzes, etc.). And yet... the exponential use of AI tools by students has called many practices into question.
Far from pitting innovation against simplicity, the Festival of Active Pedagogies – High & Low Tech , taking place on June 4 and 5 at Université Côte d’Azur, invites us to reexamine our assumptions about pedagogy. Because there are active approaches that have proven their worth: based on simple, sustainable, and accessible tools (collaborative murals, co-development workshops, games, Lego® Serious Play®…), so-called “low-tech” teaching methods are all ways to foster collective intelligence, creativity, and lasting learning—even in large groups! In a context marked by the rise of AI, they make it possible to tackle complex technological topics… without necessarily resorting to technology itself. Paradoxical? Perhaps. Effective? Often.
The Festival is thus an opportunity to exchange ideas with experts in education —Jacques Tardif, Isabelle Nizet, François Taddei, Franck Amadieu, and Julian Alvarez—as well as to experiment with and share a variety of teaching practices, whether “high tech,” “low tech,” or hybrid. Because beyond simply reflecting on tools, this is truly an invitation to reflect on our role as teachers and the way we support learning in a constantly changing world!
What if, ultimately, the challenge isn’t just about integrating AI into our practices… but also about reaffirming what makes our teaching methods so rich? Join us, come experiment, exchange ideas, and… shake up your teaching practices!
Far from pitting innovation against simplicity, the Festival of Active Pedagogies – High & Low Tech , taking place on June 4 and 5 at Université Côte d’Azur, invites us to reexamine our assumptions about pedagogy. Because there are active approaches that have proven their worth: based on simple, sustainable, and accessible tools (collaborative murals, co-development workshops, games, Lego® Serious Play®…), so-called “low-tech” teaching methods are all ways to foster collective intelligence, creativity, and lasting learning—even in large groups! In a context marked by the rise of AI, they make it possible to tackle complex technological topics… without necessarily resorting to technology itself. Paradoxical? Perhaps. Effective? Often.
The Festival is thus an opportunity to exchange ideas with experts in education —Jacques Tardif, Isabelle Nizet, François Taddei, Franck Amadieu, and Julian Alvarez—as well as to experiment with and share a variety of teaching practices, whether “high tech,” “low tech,” or hybrid. Because beyond simply reflecting on tools, this is truly an invitation to reflect on our role as teachers and the way we support learning in a constantly changing world!
What if, ultimately, the challenge isn’t just about integrating AI into our practices… but also about reaffirming what makes our teaching methods so rich? Join us, come experiment, exchange ideas, and… shake up your teaching practices!
