4.2 Technologies

The choice and use of technologies within the TransEET project is guided by principles of sustainability, accessibility, and engagement. A key factor for the sustainable exploitation of digital artifacts is the authorability of the tools and environments used—that is, the extent to which users, particularly educators and students, can modify, adapt, and create with the technologies rather than merely consume them. This principle supports the transformation of users into prosumers (producers + consumers), fostering deeper engagement and long-term use.

Ownership of digital tools and resources—achieved through open licensing, transparent design, and ease of adaptation—significantly increases the likelihood that stakeholders will continue using and evolving these resources beyond the lifespan of the project. Technologies that are adaptable to teachers’ real-world needs and flexible enough to be integrated into diverse educational contexts are more likely to be taken up and further developed by educational communities.

The TransEET project emphasizes the importance of democratic access to digital technologies. This includes preferring open-source or open-access tools that do not rely on proprietary systems or paywalls, ensuring that all stakeholders can access, use, and adapt the tools regardless of their institutional or geographic context.

In line with this, the project distinguishes between “white-box” and “black-box” technologies. White-box technologies are transparent in their functioning, allowing users to understand, modify, and even reconstruct the underlying processes. In contrast, black-box tools conceal their inner workings, limiting user agency. The TransEET approach privileges white-box tools, enhancing educational value and fostering critical engagement with technology.

Sustainable exploitation is also supported by reducing dependence on specific technology providers or “makers”, promoting tools that can be hosted, developed, or forked by the community. This reduces risks associated with platform obsolescence or commercial discontinuation.Finally, the project promotes community-building through open sharing. By making technologies, code, and resources openly available—via platforms like Zenodo, Google Drive, GitHub, or GeoGebra—the project enables other educators and researchers to contribute to the development of these tools, adapt them to new contexts, and continue their evolution. This participatory, open-ended approach ensures that the project’s technological contributions live on, supporting ongoing innovation and engagement well beyond the project’s formal conclusion.