XR4CRAFTS - Extended Reality (XR) for craftsmanship training

"<< Background >>The increasing use of digital media, especially in craftsmaship, is accelerating the integration of the latest technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). One new development is VR haptic applications, which allow people to ""feel"" in VR and thus further promote the transfer of specialist and practical knowledge into professional practice. Corresponding experience with these so-called XR (Extended Reality) technologies in vocational training is rare. This means that company trainers and teachers at vocational schools cannot implement content in newly organized professions such as painter and varnisher for the area of ""digitalized working world"". This reduces the professional competence of learners and reduces the willingness of craft companies to provide training. In order to reverse this development, vocational training staff in particular need (media) pedagogical skills in order to integrate modern educational technologies into practical vocational training in a learning-based manner. Needs assessments before and during the project implementation showed a high level of interest (almost 100%) in XR among 137 trainers in the four professions: bricklayer, painter and varnisher, parquet fitter and carpenter.<< Objectives >>XR4CRAFTS focused on: I. the promotion of professional, personal and digital skills among trainers and vocational schoolteachers in the skilled trades, II. the learning-based integration of AR, VR and VR haptics into teaching and learning scenarios in practical training in the four focus professions, III. the structured qualification of 10 VET trainers in dealing with XR and the associated support of the digital transformation in the participating institutions, and IV. on online and offline-based public relations work in vocational training, educational research and (educational) policy in the partner countries Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Cyprus as well as at EU level. XR4CRAFTS screened suitable XR haptic technologies and developed tailor-made AR, VR and VR haptic applications. The approach from practitioners for practitioners promoted the exchange of knowledge and experience in the project and created transferable teaching and learning scenarios, especially in the first and low-threshold application of VR haptics in practical vocational training. This supported the transfer of innovation between research and vocational training. This aspect in particular makes XR4CRAFTS special.<< Implementation >>XR4CRAFTs developed, tested, evaluated and transferred corresponding teaching and learning scenarios enriched with XR based on comprehensive involvement and structured questioning (interviews, online survey) of experts from the four focus professions. This promoted the transfer of technical and especially media pedagogical knowledge to vocational training staff from Belgium, Germany, France and Spain through the conception, piloting (especially trainer mobility) and evaluation of the teaching and learning scenarios enriched with XR. The experiences gained formed the basis for the didactic guidelines and the best practice guide. Procedural activities include in particular the implementation of four on-site project meetings for professional and personal exchange, trainer mobility, monthly online meetings, continuous quality assurance management and corresponding transversal measures in the context of target group-related public relations work in order to inform and address educational staff and scientists in the focus countries and across the EU.<< Results >>XR4CRAFTS developed, tested and evaluated 12 teaching and learning scenarios in the craft sector enriched with AR, VR and VR haptics (XR). VR haptics was used for the first time in vocational training in Germany. The focus of the project was on practical vocational training in bricklaying, painting, parquet fitting and carpentry. Didactic guidelines for the learning-based use of XR in vocational training were developed, 11 trainers were qualified, and the results were bundled in a best practice guide, and the institutions involved were given targeted support in the process of digital transformation through low-threshold and practical teaching and learning materials. Through target group-related public relations measures, more than 537,000 people were reached online and more than 980 people on site by visiting trade fairs and scientific conferences at national and EU level. XR4CRAFTS thus created a bridge from today to tomorrow and from science to vocational training."