The SMART Method to Teach Chess

ECU101 – The SMART Method to Teach Chess is a two-day training course consisting of interactive presentations, guided group discussions, and structured practical activities. The course focuses on the application of a Chess in Education approach, enabling participants to use chess as a pedagogical tool that connects decision-making on the chessboard with reasoning and choices in everyday life.

The course is designed for teachers and tutors who wish to deliver chess in a purposeful, engaging, and educationally meaningful way, supporting children’s cognitive development and reflective thinking through structured chess instruction.

Course Objective

Using chess as an educational tool requires a well-defined set of professional competencies. Educators must combine subject-specific knowledge with effective communication, pedagogical awareness, and the ability to sustain learners’ engagement and motivation over time. Chess instruction in educational settings, therefore, extends beyond the game itself and demands a reflective, learner-centred teaching approach.

Chess educators carry a significant responsibility in the classroom. The quality of their teaching plays a central role in fostering learners’ cognitive, social, and emotional development through chess. In addition to understanding educational chess principles, educators must be equipped with appropriate pedagogical strategies and classroom management skills to create structured, inclusive, and effective learning environments.

This training course is designed to support educators in developing their instructional competence in educational chess. It focuses on lesson planning and structure, effective feedback practices, and strategies for maintaining learner motivation. The course also introduces a range of evidence-informed teaching methods to support the design and delivery of high-quality lessons, with the aim of improving learning outcomes and educational impact.

Course content

Method of Learning

Educators engage with the SMART Method through a combination of interactive presentations, facilitated group discussions, and structured practical exercises. These activities are designed to reinforce key concepts through targeted questioning, reflection, and immediate formative feedback, supporting active learning and professional practice development.

Learning Outcome

On successful completion of the course, educators will:

• understand a range of pedagogical approaches for teaching chess for educational purposes;
• apply the knowledge and methods acquired to design and deliver effective, learner-centred chess lessons;
• create educational chess strategies into their teaching practice to support the development of children’s 21st-century skills.

Resources:

Participants receive access to the Training Course eBook, including downloadable materials that cover the theoretical foundations and practical applications presented during the course.

»»»
FREE ChessKid Gold memberships for all ECU101 graduates and their students for 6 months

ECU School Chess Teacher Title

The course qualifies for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and the Certificate is recognised across Europe through its accreditation by the European Chess Union (ECU). The ECU School Chess Teacher Certificate confirms that the title holder has demonstrated the knowledge, pedagogical understanding, and practical skills required to teach chess for educational purposes in classroom settings.

The Certificate is awarded to participants who complete the course and pass a 30-question multiple-choice online assessment at the end of the training. A minimum pass mark of 65% is required for successful certification.

A total of 84 ECU101 training courses have been delivered so far (January 2026), and more than 1.279 participants have successfully graduated and acquired the ECU School Chess Teacher title, certificated by the European Chess Union.

Until COVID came, 36 training courses were held in person in 12 different countries. Since 2020, the courses have gone online, but there is an increasing need for in-person training courses again.

The course is delivered by ChessPlus, a contracted partner to ECU.

Are you an individual, or part of a chess federation, organization, or school, looking to support more tutors and educators in using chess as an effective educational tool? Get in touch!

Please contact info.edu@europechess.org for more information.

Visit this link for Registration