From a Wooden Hut to Digital Pioneering
The event was opened by Tom Rittmann with a small but powerful anecdote: the story of the Zunzgen wooden hut. In a spontaneous overnight operation, it was relocated to a new site – without endless planning, without hesitation, and without overanalyzing every detail. When there’s a vision, the people of Zunzgen roll up their sleeves and get to work.
This very mindset is immediately tangible in everyday school life: taking action, trying things out, and developing together. In Zunzgen, digitalisation isn't merely managed – it's actively shaped. And that works because no one has to do it alone: the school relies on strong, dependable partners. With DQ Solutions, Zunzgen has an experienced education partner by its side. Thanks to services developed specifically for the education sector – like DQ Smart School, DQ PickUp & Repair, or DQ ReLease – IT simply works reliably, allowing teachers to focus on what truly matters: teaching.
This is how Zunzgen is creating an environment where learning is being reimagined – and brought to life every single day.
Learning That Inspires – A Tour Through the Classrooms
After the welcome, teachers opened their classroom doors and invited visitors to experience modern teaching up close: iPads instead of textbooks, creativity instead of lecturing, initiative instead of worksheets. One thing was immediately clear: this is a school that comes to life – visibly, audibly, and tangibly.
“We wanted to show what learning can look like today – creative, individualised, and connected,” explains Pascal Koller proudly.
In one classroom, students were programming robots – focused and full of curiosity. Just next door, two girls proudly presented an app they had designed themselves. In the workshop, a 3D printer was humming – a small army of custom-designed chess pieces taking shape. And at another station, students showcased their self-produced audiobooks, complete with original sound effects and a hefty dose of imagination. Or how about a school-owned podcast – where students themselves were responsible not only for the content, but also for the structure, music, and editing?
And right in the middle of it all? Artificial intelligence. Not as an abstract theory, but as a tool used by the students to structure, reflect on, and integrate information into their learning. Critically, creatively, and competently.
A Moment to Pause – and Recognise: What was on display here wasn’t just tech-enhanced teaching – it was a whole new understanding of learning. One that takes children seriously. Learning becomes something alive, meaningful – something students are invited to shape themselves.
Space for Connection and Exchange
During the break, there was also plenty of room for conversation among participants. In small groups, over coffee and fresh air, lively discussions unfolded – about practical challenges, suitable training formats, digital infrastructure, and the evolving role of teachers.
Key questions were in the air – the kind many are grappling with:
How do we successfully begin the digital transformation?
How can we bring the whole teaching staff along?
What steps are realistic – and what does it take to stay the course?
Steps and Visibility – Insights from Practice
These questions were precisely what Pascal Koller addressed in his post-break keynote. In a compelling and authentic way, he shared how the Zunzgen school embarked on its journey – step by step toward the future. Not with a masterplan, but through a process. A path with setbacks, discoveries, and many small victories.
Particularly insightful were his reflections on the factors for success. One thing became clear: visibility plays a crucial role – both within the school community, including colleagues, parents, and the local municipality, and beyond.
“Only those who make their successes visible and celebrate them stay motivated and feel encouraged to keep going,” said Koller. Successes aren’t just nice to have – they’re vital. They provide fuel for the next step, courage for those still hesitating, and a clear signal: We’re on the right track.
Learning with a Wink – and a “Bingo!”
The unenviable task of closing the event fell to Nico Rittmann – and he rose to the occasion with flair. Instead of PowerPoint slides and another lecture, he brought a hands-on teaching example from the eduPackage that got everyone moving again.
There were questions, discussions, photos – and plenty of laughter. And then suddenly: “Bingo!!” – we have a winner! The atmosphere was light-hearted, the learning effect tangible, and the idea instantly transferable. It’s exactly these kinds of simple, creative, and ready-to-use methods that define the eduPackage.
As a core element of DQ Solutions’ sustainable professional development programme, the eduPackage offers not only inspiration but also real relief for everyday teaching.
For those who didn’t know it before – after this memorable finale, they’ll be eager to take a closer look.
And you? What’s it like at your school?
Do you already know the eduPackage?
If not – it’s worth it. Promise.
Inspiration that lasts
By the end of the afternoon, the sky was still grey – but many minds had grown brighter. The Lighthouse Visit showed what school can look like today: individualised, creative, digital – and deeply human.
“I’m not just taking ideas home – but a new sense of confidence,” one principal said as they were leaving. And that might just be the most beautiful outcome of this afternoon in Zunzgen.
