Erasmus+ KA202: Didactic innovation labs – digitalisation experts in VET (DIOS)

Duration: 01.11.2020-31.03.2023

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Project number: 2020-1-DE02-KA202-007621

Partners:

 

Project summary

Why do we need this?

Vocational education and training is unthinkable without the use of digital teaching and training tools. The acquisition of comprehensive digital media competences is a basic skill. Media competences refer not only to the way we learn in the classroom, but also more often how we learn in the workplace.

The increased use of digital media accelerates the integration of technologies such as AR, VR, 360° videos, IoT and 3D printing.2 Relevant pedagogical experiences with these technologies, especially in VET settings, are rather seldom or non-existent. The gap of relevant practical teaching and learning materials prevents a wider use in VET. These impacts the activities of VET teaching personal in training institution, who are not able to train their learners according to industry existing and future demands. The deterioration of professional competences of learners, such as students and apprentices, can lower the training tendency of companies and decrease the demand of offers in VET schools.

Support requires also the professional training personal (“company trainers ”), who is „ trapped “ between company processes. They have no to less time for training apprentices and lacking the capability to integrate suitable and/or the latest technology in their courses/trainings. The need of a structured way to gain relevant competences for integrating digital media in their company specific business processes and develop specific trainings for it.

Further needs result from the recent modernisation of occupational profiles in Germany, in the fields of chemistry (chemical operator, chemical lab technician), IT and mechatronics, which integrates AR, VR, 360° videos, IoT and 3D printing, as so called elective or additional qualification in the training curricula. Trainer in these fields have currently less or no experience with the didactic correct use in training. A tailor-made training offer and practical working materials/experiences will help to implement the modernized training plans in a more seamless/efficient manner. This will support the activities of the social partners (in Germany) to review the impact, of the changes made in the national training curricula, in the fields of chemistry, IT and electronics/mechatronics.

If (VET) teachers and company trainers are not qualified in a structured way, they are lost on the digitalisation roadmap of their company and their industry. Therefore a „modus operandi“ has to be created to train school and company teaching/training staff individually, tailor-made and in engaging and motivating way.

What is needed to be done?

The creation of Didactic Innovation Labs (“DIOS”) provides the technical, pedagogical and social environment to test technology, share and transfer knowledge. It aims to initiate digital mindsets among VET teachers and company trainers. The transnational project consortium „DIOS: Didactic innovation labs – digitalisation expert in VET will develop, test, evaluate and transfer selected technology enriched training settings by using AR, VR, 360° videos, IoT and 3D-printing alone or in an interconnected way. The technological and pedagogical environment for it are didactic innovation labs, which creates the relevant learning space for learners (physically, timely, qualification). It will support activities for exploring to work with new technologies, create teaching and learning content in a Media-Lab environment as well as to strengthen especially the intraorganizational learning culture.

The goal is to connect so called digitalisation islands3 in organisation (companies and training institutions) with each other. DIOS supports the qualification for digitalisation experts in VET, who need the relevant “mixture” of professional, pedagogical and media skills. These flanks the horizontal and vertical qualification (EQF-5 and higher) of industry professionals and creates a second career pathway, equal to an academic qualification.

It is expected that trainers and therefore also learners will be higher motivated in the classroom or during practical training sessions in using these technologies. This could lead to a higher efficiency of working tasks carried out and to a stronger degree of collaboration among learners (“new communication spaces”), as a shift from a rather teacher-centric to a more learner-centric environment is supported.

The integration of digital media will help to develop VET qualifications (professional, social, personal and digital skills) according to company and industry needs, towards a VET 4.0 within an industry 4.0.

 

Results

Teachers/VET trainers:

  • IO 1: Qualification concept Digitalisation expert in VET
  • IO 2: Development, testing, evaluation and transfer of teaching and learning materials, which are enriched by technologies like AR, VR, 360° video, IoT/Sensors, 3D printing
  • IO3: Foundation of didactic Innovation labs for structured training of teachers/trainers with the “DIOS Technologies” & best practice guide/working book with working sheets for teaching personnel

Further results are:

  • Ensure involvement of deciders during a strategy and qualificative mobility – discuss about involvement of decision-maker or deciders in setting up didactic innovation labs
  • Carrying out and teacher / trainer mobility – test selected teaching and learning scenarios from all partners in one partner’s lab (possible as most of technology is portable)
  • Implementation of dissemination measures, in dissemination seminars/events