DEAL WITH DIGITAL WORK-BASED LEARNING ON ERASMUS DAYS
Digitization has entered overwhelmingly into all training systems, implying new ways of designing workbased learning experiences. This trend presents a number of benefits and drawbacks for educators and institutions who want to continue to offer their students the rigorous education they need to thrive. Education sector, working closely with companies on dual character training, are questioning pedagogical methodologies, technological tools to help reinvent the WBL approach in virtual learning environments. Which is a best practice in Digital work-based learning? Which are the possible applications scenarios? Which are the key elements and competences to design VET blended courses? The International Consortium lead by SFC and made up of 8 partners from 5 European Countries tried to answer these questions during the ERASMUS DAYS online event on 13th October through a specific focus on the Deal with digital work-based learning project.
During the ERASMUS DAYS event the Consortium had a good opportunity to share experience and spread the word about the project. After welcoming speech and introduction Ivana Russiello and Francesca Galanti gave the floor to Pablo Baztán Quemada (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya). The presenter shared key elements and best practices in digital WBL. Laura Eigbrecht (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg) presented co-designed project competence framework. Social partners and other interested parties from all the countries, participating in the project, followed the session and contributed to the discussion on digital transformation and implementation of innovative teaching strategies.
You can get acquainted with all relevant information on the implementation of Deal with digital work-based learning project activities on the specialized project website: https://digitalwbl.com/
Video about the project: https://digitalwbl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WBL_video_introduttivo.webm
DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL – FOCUS GROUPS
To be able to provide training opportunities for the design of Digital Work-based Learning (WBL) experiences the project consortium decided on collecting best practice examples of digital WBL experiences. But before the research and collection of best practice examples can start a methodology and structure must be developed.
For this purpose, each partner in the project consortium created a focus group consisting of a variety of different stakeholders:
- VET Students
- VET Teacher
- VET Centre Directors
- Administration or government personnel with responsibility in VET
- Entrepreneurs with experience of having VET students
In total 7 focus groups with around 40 participants from 5 different countries were created. The aim of these focus groups was to collect participants opinion about this central question: How is a VET good practice in DIGITAL WORK-BASED LEARNING like? We seek to establish criteria that allow us to design, implement and evaluate a good practice.
Based on the literature and on the contributions we have received from participants from different countries, we have defined 7 thematic blocks.
- Competencies in digital WBL good practice for VET
- Content and resources
- Teaching-learning methodologies
- Interaction-networked community
- Assessment
- General characteristics
- Roles of Students, Teachers, Coordinators, Entrepreneurs and Administration
The diverse focus groups, consisting of teachers, students, administrators and entrepreneurs allowed us to have explanatory discussions about all of the mentioned topics. The project partners reported interesting and to the topic dedicated discussions and the consortium very much likes to continue stakeholders engagement in this topic.
Over the next weeks the results of the focus groups will be further analysed and guidelines for the development of best practice examples of digital WBL will be developed.
DEAL WITH DIGITAL WORK – NEWS
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News 1 |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIÓ PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity | @UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Investments in the training of VET teachers and trainers to improve their knowledge and ability to use Digital Technologies are generally insufficient, as recently analysed by OCSE (2021) and ILO (2021). This inadequacy is even more relevant if we consider that the priorities of Next Generation EU insist on the need for technological infrastructures and the strengthening of education and vocational training systems, in line with the objectives of full implementation of the Digital Education Action Plan 2021/2027
Focus of the project: The consortium led by SFC and joined by strategic partners, including representatives of enterprises, universities specialised in innovative pedagogy, vocational training centres engaged in the fields of Mechatronics and Green Economy, works to promote the capacity of VET trainers from Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary, and Lithuania to use innovative pedagogical approaches. the focus of the project is on providing training opportunities for the design of Digital Work-based Learning (WBL) experiences. The direct target is the profile of the VET system trainer, coming both from companies and VET training centres. The partnership aims to enhance the capacity of VET trainers to design and differentiate work-based learning methodologies and approaches. It intends to make work-based learning more sustainable, also by expanding the opportunities for WBL best practice exchange and distance learning, Deal with Digital WBL pursues the following objectives: ● To develop a competence framework on emerging digital skills for the VET trainer needed to innovate Work-based Learning methodology, laboratory and experiential online learning ● To encourage VET trainers to acquire specific competences to design, deliver, evaluate and validate skills learned through Digital Work-based Learning experiences ● To develop a training course to enrich the digital skills of VET trainers, available at a distance on the “Deal with Digital Work-based Learning” platform, to integrate the use of Digital Technologies in Work-based Learning experiences ● Create stimulating and inclusive opportunities for VET trainers to further their professional development ● Enrich and make more attractive to learners the training opportunities based on Digital Work-based Learning ● To innovate and make more attractive the cooperation between training stakeholder and enterprises, making WBL experiences more accessible through digital tools |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News SFC |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIO PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity | @UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| PANKO Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPOSZ IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Insights from the European Vocational Skills Week
The premier event serving the Vocational Education and Training (VET) community was back for its 6th edition, bringing Europe’s VET policymakers, industry leaders, teachers, organisations, and students together in an online five-day conversation. The European Vocational Skills Week,was an unforgettable event with insightful takeaways from reflective webinars and engaging panel discussions with VET stakeholders. The Week’s events primarily explored the theme of VET and the Green Transition, but also touched upon a host of other topics, such as upskilling and reskilling people to help them benefit from Europe’s digital transformation. The week was a relevant opportunity to celebrate all the very best practices in Vocational Education and Training (VET), with events by local, regional, national organisations, and other VET partners. This year, the Week was focused on the theme of VET and the Green Transition in line with the European Commission’s commitment to taking all the necessary steps to become carbon neutral by 2050, known as the European Green Deal including equipping people with the appropriate skills for the transition. But how did the Week inspire our project? The Week was an important moment of reflection on our project and provided us with useful food for thought that will enrich our work in the coming years. A key element that we are therefore going to consider arose from the first day’s work and in particular from the webinar on Green, Greener, VET (Challenges), organised by VET4EU2, a platform of European associations of VET providers: EVTA, EfVET, EUproVET, EVBB. Vocational education and training policy experts, students, providers, and other stakeholders looked at the challenges and proposed solutions for the greening of VET. We concluded that VET can be a fantastic “catalyst for the green transition”. Our Consortium will consider these useful insights that have emerged in order to integrate specific focuses on green transition within its activity parameters. The transition to green – and more digital – economies and societies will create new skill needs across sectors and occupations. Europe will have to invest in upskilling and reskilling its workforce. In this context, vocational education and training (VET) will play an eminent role The strongest job growth is expected in sectors with a high greening potential, such as water supply, waste management and construction. But employment will be on the rise across almost all sectors as employers turn to more sustainable business models. Changes in skill needs must be reflected in education and training provision at all qualification levels. VET and apprenticeship will be crucial to providing skill sets that evolve flexibly and dynamically. Regions and cities will act as green transition hubs. There will be a huge need for digital skills in greening economies. This confirms that in practice the digital and green transitions are truly ‘twins’ in every respect. In this context, vocational education and training (VET) will play an eminent role. Apprenticeship, being closely tied to the labour market, can swiftly adapt, alleviating short-term bottlenecks and ensuring long-term worker employability. |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News HP 1 |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIO PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity | @UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| PANKO Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPOSZ IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Deal with digital WBL – Focus Groups
To be able to provide training opportunities for the design of Digital Work-based Learning (WBL) experiences the project consortium decided on collecting best practice examples of digital WBL experiences. But before the research and collection of best practice examples can start a methodology and structure must be developed. For this purpose, each partner in the project consortium created a focus group consisting of a variety of different stakeholders: – VET Students – VET Teacher – VET Centre Directors – Administration or government personnel with responsibility in VET – Entrepreneurs with experience of having VET students In total 7 focus groups with around 40 participants from 5 different countries were created. The aim of these focus groups was to collect participants opinion about this central question: How is a VET good practice in DIGITAL WORK-BASED LEARNING like? We seek to establish criteria that allow us to design, implement and evaluate a good practice. Based on the literature and on the contributions we have received from participants from different countries, we have defined 7 thematic blocks. 1) Competencies in digital WBL good practice for VET 2) Content and resources 3) Teaching-learning methodologies 4) Interaction-networked community 5) Assessment 6) General characteristics 7) Roles of Students, Teachers, Coordinators, Entrepreneurs and Administration The diverse focus groups, consisting of teachers, students, administrators and entrepreneurs allowed us to have explanatory discussions about all of the mentioned topics. The project partners reported interesting and to the topic dedicated discussions and the consortium very much likes to continue stakeholders engagement in this topic. Over the next weeks the results of the focus groups will be further analysed and guidelines for the development of best practice examples of digital WBL will be developed. |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News 4 |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2021-2023 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | |
| Partner | FUNDACIÓ PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity
@UOC_research |
@UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| Panevezio kolegija (LT) | |||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | |||
| IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Waiting for our Guidelines for designing blended VET training courses
As part of the D-WBL project, we are preparing a guide to help all those interested in choosing or generating good practices in Digital VET: Guidelines for designing blended VET training courses
The guide is based on information obtained in collaboration with the project partners, using different sources and research methodologies: ● Analysis of the existing literature. It is not easy to find specific literature on this topic, giving an idea of the youth of the subject and of the much work that still remains to be done, which is an extra boost for the participants in this project. ● Compilation of good practices. The partners compiled over 15 Digital VET practices among the actors involved in their country, as well as the definition of the criteria to consider a practice as a good practice. ● Conducting a Focus Group to analyse the results obtained and go further. The information obtained in the two previous points was used to prepare the content of a total of 7 focus groups with around 40 participants from 5 different countries. They are a valuable source of knowledge thanks to the variety of stakeholders involved and their availability to share their experience (VET Students, VET Teachers, VET Centre Directors, Administration or government personnel with responsibility in VET and Entrepreneurs with experience of having VET students). Thanks to the heterogeneity of views, we will be able to elaborate a guide taking into account a multitude of elements. The analysis of all this information allows us to know which are the elements that make best practices in D-WBL. The integration of these key elements in a visual and practical guide will fulfil a double objective: A) Being in itself a useful reference and work document for anyone interested in training in D-WBL, and B) Help to answer key questions for the next phases of the project, such as: What is “good” digital WBL good practice? What are stakeholders and conditions for successful WBL implementation? Who and what do we need to take into account? What is the role of digital WBL in dual training settings? |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News 5 |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIÓ PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity
@UOC_research |
@UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Our portal and project presentation video is ready!
The digitalwbl.com portal is now available for those interested in the project and provides the most important information and updates. The project presentation video is available on the main page of the website and at the following link: https://digitalwbl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WBL_video_introduttivo.webm The “project” section provides detailed information on the background of the project, the partners involved and the objectives set. The page presents the results achieved and planned in a clear, timeline-like presentation: https://digitalwbl.com/results/ Information on upcoming and completed events can be found under “events”: https://digitalwbl.com/events/ To subscribe to our newsletter, please go to the contact us section: https://digitalwbl.com/contact/ |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News 6_PANKO |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIO PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity | @UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| PANKO Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPOSZ IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WORK-BASED LEARNING ON ERASMUS DAYS
Digitization has entered overwhelmingly into all training systems, implying new ways of designing workbased learning experiences. This trend presents a number of benefits and drawbacks for educators and institutions who want to continue to offer their students the rigorous education they need to thrive. Education sector, working closely with companies on dual character training, are questioning pedagogical methodologies, technological tools to help reinvent the WBL approach in virtual learning environments. Which is a best practice in Digital work-based learning? Which are the possible applications scenarios? Which are the key elements and competences to design VET blended courses? The International Consortium lead by SFC and made up of 8 partners from 5 European Countries tried to answer these questions during the ERASMUS DAYS online event on 13th October through a specific focus on the Deal with digital work-based learning project. During the ERASMUS DAYS event the Consortium had a good opportunity to share experience and spread the word about the project. After welcoming speech and introduction Ivana Russiello and Francesca Galanti gave the floor to Pablo Baztán Quemada (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya). The presenter shared key elements and best practices in digital WBL. Laura Eigbrecht (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg) presented co-designed project competence framework. Social partners and other interested parties from all the countries, participating in the project, followed the session and contributed to the discussion on digital transformation and implementation of innovative teaching strategies. You can get acquainted with all relevant information on the implementation of Deal with digital work-based learning project activities on the specialized project website: https://digitalwbl.com/ Video about the project: https://digitalwbl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/WBL_video_introduttivo.webm |
| DEAL WITH DIGITAL WBL | News DHBW |
| Program | Erasmus KA2 | ||
| Agency | INAPP Agenzia Erasmus + – Italia | @inapp_org | @inapp2020 |
| Duration | 2022-2025 | ||
| Lead partner | SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT) | @sfc_it | @sistemi-formativi-Confindustria |
| Partner | FUNDACIO PER A LA UNIVERSITAT OBERTA DE CATALUNYA (ES) | @UOCuniversity | @UOC |
| Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (D) | @duale-hochschule-baden-württemberg | ||
| PANKO Panevezio kolegija (LT) | @paneveziokolegija | ||
| HANSE-PARLAMENT EV (D) | @Hanse-Parlament | ||
| IPOSZ IPARTESTULETEK ORSZAGOS SZOVETSEGE (H) | |||
| CIS SCUOLA PER LA GESTIONE D’IMPRESA (IT) | @cis-scuola-per-la-gestione-d’impresa/ | ||
| Dinamo Adv Srl | @dinamo3d-ideeinmovimento/ |
| Co-Designing the Future Teaching Competence Framework: Building the Digital WBL Ambassador Community
We’ve all experienced it in the last years: digital working and learning environments are becoming more and more important with great potential for flexibility and for opening up new learning opportunities – but they also bring their own challenges and limits, and we can also fail to teach and learn in digital and hybrid environments, as well as in on-site settings. So how can we assure to make digital learning opportunities good learning opportunities that enhance the learning experience? And how can we use the potential in work-based learning for interlinking theory and practice – one of the core principles in practice-oriented (higher) education? Or, put in other words: what do we as teachers and trainers in practice-oriented higher education need to be able to do in order to provide good digital work-based learning? This is not only needed for creating great learning opportunities, but also for promoting graduates’ much-needed digital and future skills or competences (Ehlers 2020) – as the digital transformation is reshaping society, the labour market and the future of economy. Vocational education and training (VET) systems are consequently undergoing an unprecedented impact (ILO 2021) that has made it necessary to rethink teaching methodologies based on experiential learning, including: workshop-based teaching activities, work-based learning, apprenticeships and all learning experiences in conditions of direct use of skills in the work environment. This is what the recently launched DEAL with digital WBL project initiative has set out to discuss. In the first part of the initiative, we’ve developed an idea of digital work-based learning and identified good practices and quality requirements. Now, we want to find out what is needed in order to provide such a good digital WBL learning experience – and what competences VET trainers need for it. And we want to take this step together with them, and this is why we’ve created the Digital WBL Ambassador programme! Here, we want to create small institutional communities of motivated teachers and trainers who want to deepen their future teaching skills and co-develop the future teaching competence framework with us. This is very important for us, because how else will we be able to provide a digital training course for them (which is one of the project goals) which is useful for them? The training course to be developed shall be based on actual training needs. Are you interested? Contact your closest DEAL with Digital WBL contact person for more information! |
Learning Teaching and Training (LTT) in Karlsruhe A recent Learning Teaching and Training (LTT) event held in March in Karlsruhe, Germany, brought together teachers, trainers and professionals to share insights the best practices in digital work-based learning (WBL). The event, that took place within the Erasmus+ project “DIGITAL WBL,” included micro-workshops and World Café sessions focused on developing competence in digital WBL. At the micro-workshops, attendees discussed specific topics related to digital WBL, such as the use of chatbots in higher education, the potential of artificial intelligence, and the use of digital portfolio tools to promote competence development and integration of theory and practice. The World Café session helped to explore the competence needs for designing and providing good digital WBL experiences, the challenges and potentials of digital WBL, and the support needed to design and provide good digital WBL experiences, as well as the desired outcomes of an online course aimed at supporting teachers and trainers in this area. As it emerged from the LTT, the future of Digital WBL is promising, as the demand for digital skills continues to grow in the modern workplace. As more industries adopt digital technologies, there will be an increased need for workers who are proficient in using these tools. However, there are several challenges related to teachers in the context of digital WBL, such as: ● Adaptation to new technologies: teachers need to be able to adapt to new digital technologies and teaching methods. This can be particularly challenging for teachers who are used to traditional classroom-based teaching methods. ● Professional development: teachers require ongoing professional development and training to stay up to date with the latest digital WBL technologies, teaching strategies, and industry-specific skills. ● Pedagogical skills: teachers need to have strong pedagogical skills to be able to design, deliver, and assess digital WBL effectively. This includes the ability to create engaging and interactive learning experiences that meet the needs of diverse learners. ● Motivation and engagement: teachers need to be able to motivate and engage learners in a digital WBL environment, which can be challenging when learners are working remotely or at their own pace. ● Student support: teachers need to be able to provide adequate support to learners in a digital WBL environment. This may involve providing online feedback and guidance or facilitating virtual discussions and collaborative activities. Overall, the LTT event in Karlsruhe was a productive and informative gathering that provided valuable insights into the world of digital work-based learning. Attendees left with a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of this growing field, as well as practical tools and strategies to apply in their own work. |