This is where the Erasmus+ project FOCUS (FOstering Competence for Use of Smartphones) comes in. The University of Bayreuth is one of the project partners. The project aims to develop practical solutions for reflective and educationally meaningful smartphone use in schools. The sketchometry research team based in Bayreuth plays an important role in this context.
sketchometry is a digital learning environment for mathematics developed at the University of Bayreuth. It enables students to intuitively create geometric constructions using gestures on mobile devices. In doing so, sketchometry demonstrates how smartphones or tablets can be meaningfully integrated into learning processes and used as genuine learning tools. This approach is being further developed within the FOCUS project.
At the core of the FOCUS project is the development of the RESUME system (Recommendation system for Effective smartphone Use, Monitoring and Evaluation). While the KMK defines strategic guidelines, RESUME provides concrete support for schools in their day-to-day practice. The system enables schools to systematically analyse their smartphone use, further develop it based on data and track progress. Self-evaluations generate tailored recommendations that consider both pedagogical and organisational aspects. Responsible digital education is thus not only promoted as a goal, but also made practically implementable and measurable.
RESUME is complemented by two additional components. The HEWRECA approach (Health, Well-being, REsilienCe, and Attention package) provides a framework for balanced media use, focusing on students’ attention, health, and resilience. Meanwhile, SPARK (Smartphone Pedagogy And Resources Kit) develops concrete didactic concepts for classroom use. The Bayreuth sketchometry team contributes its particular expertise in the effective use of mobile devices for mathematics education.
The FOCUS project runs from September 2025 to August 2028 and is carried out by a European consortium comprising partners from Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Romania, Croatia and Türkiye. Initial results from school-based implementation are expected from 2026 onwards. These will then be further developed, scientifically evaluated, and prepared for broader implementation in subsequent phases. The international collaboration also reflects the varying digital starting points of the participating education systems.
The KMK statement sets out important goals for digital education. The FOCUS project demonstrates how these goals can be achieved through a combination of scientific research, technological development and practical application in schools. The University of Bayreuth and the sketchometry team contribute in particular to the development of sustainable didactic concepts that not only regulate the use of digital devices, but also make them pedagogically productive.
This makes it clear that responsible digital
education requires more than guidelines; it necessitates concrete tools, tested
concepts, and close integration of research and practice.
Forschung und Praxis.
