JUST SMART / Shtreber Education Portal
Overview
SmartUp led the localization of Shtreber, an established Serbian gamified digital learning platform, for North Macedonia's educational context — adapting the platform's design and curriculum-based content while training educators to integrate digital and gamified learning into their teaching practice. Drawing on its experience building and running its own e-learning platform, SmartUp adapted Shtreber's quizzes, educational games, and reward-based engagement model to fit Macedonian curricula and classroom needs.
SmartUp recruited 20 educators for the pilot implementation, delivering training on digital learning tools, gamification principles, and creating engaging digital content, alongside webinars and outreach campaigns to build an early-adopter community. The project was delivered between February and April 2023 as part of Serbia's Official Development Assistance (ODA) Challenge, financed by UNDP Serbia, with SmartUp as the North Macedonia implementation partner alongside lead implementer JustSmart d.o.o. Serbia.
The challenge
Adapting an existing digital learning platform to align with the Macedonian educational context, curriculum, and user needs while preserving its interactive and gamified learning approach.
Strengthening educators' digital competencies to effectively integrate online learning tools and gamification into everyday teaching practices.
Supporting teachers in creating and using high-quality digital educational content that promotes active student participation and engagement.
Building an initial community of educators capable of piloting the platform and contributing to its future development and implementation.
Activities and methods
The project aimed to establish the foundations for introducing the Shtreber platform within North Macedonia by combining technical localization with educator capacity building.
Key achievements included:
- Successfully customizing the Shtreber Education Portal for the Macedonian educational environment, including adaptation of the platform's design and digital learning functionalities.
- Recruiting 20 educators to participate in the pilot implementation and become early adopters of the platform.
- Delivering training and capacity-building activities that introduced educators to digital learning tools, gamification principles, and the creation of engaging digital educational content.
- Organizing targeted communication and mailing campaigns to recruit participants and facilitate educator engagement through introductory webinars.
- Supporting teachers in developing the knowledge and confidence needed to integrate interactive digital resources into classroom practice.
Impact and learning
The project contributed to expanding the use of gamified digital learning within North Macedonia by introducing educators to innovative approaches that increase student motivation, participation, and engagement. Through the localization of an established educational platform and targeted teacher training, SmartUp helped create the conditions for the adoption of modern digital learning practices aligned with the national education context.
Beyond the technical adaptation of the platform, the initiative strengthened educators' digital competencies and demonstrated how interactive technologies can support more engaging, learner-centered teaching. The project also established an initial network of trained educators prepared to pilot and further promote the use of gamified educational resources, creating a foundation for future expansion of the platform and broader digital transformation within education.
Planning similar work?
SmartUp can support research, co-creation, facilitation, digital tools, implementation, or learning documentation for related programmes.