More information
Description
The main objective of the project BlendVET is to establish conditions at the project partner schools for the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning in VET.
The BlendVET project comprises a series of development and training activities aiming to support the development of VET professionals’ pedagogical and digital competencies, and to provide comprehensive didactical and digital solutions for teaching and learning processes.
Main activities include:
- Elaboration and development of schools’ strategies of digital transformation, which will be achieved by defining the elements of the blended/digital learning strategy, training for VET school headmasters and development teams, self-evaluation on how technology is used in school, creation of blended learning strategies and implementation plans with a feedback during the process and elaboration of strategic model blended/digital learning development at VET schools;
- Development of pedagogical solutions and piloting, which will be achieved by defining elements of blended learning model and teachers’ pedagogical and digital competencies, development and implementation of (blended training) courses for VET teachers, development of didactical plans for blended learning units (curriculum in use), preparation of video tutorials, pilot implementation of blended learning in selected courses, blended training for teachers of additional VET schools and evaluation of the whole process developing and implementing the blended learning;
- Design and development of e-learning solutions, which will be achieved by identification of learning units and learning goals, scripts development, production of interactive learning materials and tutorials.
Summary of project results
The project primarily focused on strengthening the skills of teachers and developing didactic strategies to implement blended learning in vocational education and training (VET). This initiative is a response to the systematic need of vocational and technical schools to incorporate blended learning methods. Digital competencies are key to today’s and tomorrow’s world of work, and vocational education and training (VET) needs to keep pace with these developments. It is not enough to introduce digital competencies into the curricula, but education itself needs to be redesigned, as education is currently not keeping pace with the potential of digital developments. A didactic solution that addresses this issue is blended learning - any educational activity that combines traditional classroom activities (in person, book and pencil) with activities that use digital technology.
The project had three work sections that were interconnected. First, work with school principals and school managers was done on the preparation of school strategies and methods of introducing combined education. In the second part, focus was on the development of pedagogical and digital competences of teachers and students. The teachers prepared the lesson plans and implemented them in the classroom. The implementation of the lessons was evaluated and recommendations were prepared for further work. At the end, the school teams developed a set of video and digital learning materials.
71 people were trained in blended learning methods. 266 students were involved in blended learning. All educational staff and students involved in blended learning demonstrate improved skills and competences. Cooperating schools received ICT equipment for blended learning.
The project had a positive impact on the development of learning and teaching in the participating schools. In Slovenia, beside partner schools, 8 aditional vocational schools cooperated in the project. They acquired some equipment for the development and use of video and digital materials, and teachers received training.
A very positive result of the project was the establishment of cooperation between institutions and schools from Iceland, Norway and Slovenia and all project results were achieved. The cooperation continues even after the completion of the project.
Main beneficiares were educational staff and students in vocational schools.
Summary of bilateral results
Cooperation with project partners from Iceland and Norway was a very important element of the project. The cooperation was built on the mutual exchange of experiences and joint development. Diversity and an ever-increasing knowledge of the working environments have greatly enriched the cooperation. The project partners from Iceland and Norway contributed their expertise and broad experience both in regular meetings and in the development of intellectual results, and with their commitment greatly contributed to the success of the project.The bilateral cooperation was intense for the entire 30 months. Practically all activities carried out and results achieved were collective, either through joint work or through review and feedback. The differences in approaches to teacher education have truly enriched all; higher education institutions exchanged materials and contributed expertise and experience, participating secondary and higher schools contributed with their learning and teaching approaches.A further cooperation was agreed - through online meetings 2-3 times a year and through the exchange of further results in the introduction of combined and digital learning. The participating schools have committed to continue working on development in this area. The possibility for future cooperation is also in the search for joint projects, primarily in the field of research, both in the broader field of professional development and specifically in the field of combined education.