Digital methods in work based learning in vocational adult education

During this project three vocational adult education organisations from Finland, Lithuania and England built a network and exchanged experiences how digital tools and methods are used in work based learning (WBL) periods of adult students. In all partner organisations work based learning has an significant role in adult education and guidance, monitoring and documentation require lot of resources. All partners were interested in how digital tools and methods could be used to improve the quality of the studies and efficiency. The project coordinator the Federation of Education in Central Ostrobothnia / Central Ostrobothnia Vocational College (Kpedu) is vocational college that delivers education in seven educational sectors. Other participants are Myerscough College, a land based and sports college in the North West of England and Joniskis Agricultural College in North of Lithuania that delivers education to adults in bookkeeping and floristry. During this project partners learned how other colleges are using digital methods and tools in guidance, monitoring and documentation of WBL periods of adult students. They also discussed and identified good practices that could be transferred to their own organisations and had ideas how to develop their own work. Participants also improved their language and international skills. The long-term aim of the partner organisations is to develop a learner-centered, efficient and high-quality way to use digital tools and methods to guide, monitor and document adult students' WBL periods. This model would cover all study programmes and it would also contain pedagogical guidelines on how to arrange work based learning periods. In total 64 persons participated the transnational meetings and of these 16 persons received project grant. Participants receiving project grant were teachers, managers or project managers whose work is directly related to work-based learning. National meetings at the end of the project had 67 participants. In addition to these participants, project results were disseminated to partner organisations' staff by email. Project arranged three transnational meetings (TNM) in England, Lithuania and Finland. During the visits, the host organisation presented the group their education delivery models and how digital tools and methods are utilised in adults' WBL periods. Together partners discussed and identified good practices that they could utilise themselves and discussed development ideas. Videos from each TNM can be found in YouTube:- Myerscough College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRKcVfVMxDI&feature=youtu.be- Joniskis Agricultural College: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHxt4vFQeFE&feature=youtu.be- Kpedu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_MRb-ngcA&feature=youtu.beAs a result of the project partners recognised several good practices that they would like to adapt in their own work. In Myerscouch College, partners were especially interested in their extensive and versatile use of interactive learning videos, close and very well managed cooperation with employers and use of Apps to promote teaching and learning in the workplace and capturing assessment. During the TNM in Lithuania partners highlighted especially the use of high technology in work based learning places and the low drop off rates of students. In Kkpedu, partners recognised following good practices: use of simulators in several study sectors, robotic technology and use QR codes linked to video technology. The main objective of the project was to give participants a change to learn about different education systems in other countries and to get new ideas on how to utilise digital tools in their own work. We interviewed the participants during the transnational meetings and here are some of the answers we got:- I have learnt how to create teaching material enriching it with interactive opportunities.- In order to reach more productive teaching at working place, we need general national policy in Lithuania. Schools should be provided with up to date technologies and tools.- It was good to hear new ideas and “outside” opinions on how I could develop my own & my organisations work.- I’ve had new professional contacts that I can utilise when looking for international work based learning places and planning new projects.- This project has been a good change to practice my English skills & learn about international project work.- It has been nice to see how proud people are about their own work and how college and work place both respect each others’ work and cooperation.- The idea of using Badges and Gamification with learners and employers is a great one. Embedded digital skills training programme for staff and learners.More project results can be found in project's final report available at: https://ec.europa.eu/epale/fi/system/files/attachments/digiwbl_results_final_report.pdf