Effective Education system of digital tools for VET in technical sectors

<< Background >>Recently, there has been a growing focus on innovation in VET to address the evolving labor market needs. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools in education, highlighting the need for up-to-date teaching materials and integration of the latest technological knowledge into curricula. The Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training (2021–2030) guides EU education policies, emphasizing stronger connections between education and industry, increased employability, and supporting digital and green transitions. Local governments have also taken action. In Czechia, Strategy 2030+ focuses on education modernization. Slovenia’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027) emphasizes developing students’ digital skills, and Slovakia’s Digital Transformation of Education and Schools project promotes innovation in education. The EduBox project aimed to contribute to VET innovations by improving skills and educational tools, integrating industry know-how. The project consortium consisted of MSIC Ostrava, SPŠOA Bruntál, SPŠ Myjava and Šolski center Nova Gorica created 15 innovative educational tools, so called EduBoxes, freely available for VET teachers to download at www.erasmus-edubox.eu.<< Objectives >>The EduBox project offers a solution by creating innovative tools for VET teachers. The goal of the project was to bridge the gap between current industry know-how and education, incorporating up-to-date skills and procedures from the job market to improve the employability of VET graduates. The objective was to improve students' and teachers' digital skills and competencies, enabling a smooth transfer of know-how from current production to education. The developed tools, known as EduBoxes, are ready-made teaching materials that include the latest information from companies, presentations, exercises, visualizations, and didactic instructions. These innovative tools are high-quality resources for vocational subject teachers, helping them deliver relevant and engaging education to their students while enhancing the employability of graduates. The realization of EduBox project also enabled to pilot cooperation between industrial and educational partners from Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia while creating the new tools.<< Implementation >>The goal of the EduBox project was to test and implement the concept of excellent vocational education and training. The focus on excellence (beyond general improvement of the quality of technical schools) was reflected particularly in the following activities:•Systematic implementation and use of modern pedagogical methods focused on project-based and experiential learning to develop skills (competence-based learning). This also includes implementation of soft-skills (during the project, there have been developed these skills: Communication, Cooperation (teamwork), Flexibility, Exploring and orientation in information and Problem solving) as a crucial part of education and readiness for job market.•Close collaboration with companies in the field.•Testing modern methods of developing technical and digital competencies crucial for the future.The core of the project consists in creation of 15 innovative educational tools for vocational training and education – the tools are called EduBoxes. Each EduBox consists of theoretical (topic content) and practical part (exercices for students), didactics for VET teachers, visualizations, 3D models, stl data for 3D printer of components or educational videos. The important part of practical part of EduBox was implementation of exercises which are developing soft competences at students. All EduBoxes are available in Czech, Slovakian and Slovenian language, as well as in English. Each EduBox is accompanied by a tutorial which shows what is inside the EduBox and how teachers can work with the tool. The topics were defined together with consortium and the content was prepared by VET teachers from Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia together with the local company representatives and their know-how (7 EduBoxes were prepared with company know-how). Some EduBoxes (7 of them) are also covering green aspect and are contributing to enhance the discussion in classes about circular economy. The covered topics by EduBoxes are following:-Tatra axle-3D template for drawing schematic signs -MMA welding-Composite materials-Arduino Programming & mini robotic arm-Electro-pneumatic control system of opening the entrance door on FluidSim & Festo didactic trainer-Advanced composite products-CNC knives-Printed circuit boards-Cross-sectional characteristics-Photovoltaics-CNC processing-Heat transfer-Logistics-Heat pumpFor each EduBox topic, the tutorial was prepared. In total 15 tutorials serve as a starting point to work with EduBox. It includes the content of Edubox (what teacher can expect to have as materials in the tool) and also shows how to move within the EduBox app. During the project, there have been organized in total four Learning, training & teaching activities and Transnational project meetings in all partner countries (organized for project team). Also, seven multiplier events were organized. These dissemination events were aimed for schools, companies, local authorities and wide public interested in innovations in education. Project partners have prepared four EduBox webinars (in Czech, Slovakian, Slovenian and English language) including the presentation of the project and project results. There have been created the website where all project results and activities are depicted – www.erasmus-edubox.eu.The dissemination of the project was and is done through the project and partners websites, social media contributions, articles in newsletters and newspapers, as well as during dissemination events (some of them were organized uniquely for the project purpose, some dissemination was done in the scope of bigger fairs in order to reach as many auditoria possible). The project leaflets were created, the small propagation items were also produced.<< Results >>Most of the project results are available online (and were verified offline), so the project results are not tangible/physical. Below we list the project outputs and results:These are project results that are externally available:-15 EduBoxes - innovative educational tools for VET - each in 4 languages mutations (Czech, English, Slovak, Slovenian)-15 tutorials (1 for each EduBox) guiding teachers on how to use the EduBox and what it includes-4 webinars (in English, Czech, Slovakian and Slovenian language) explaining what the EduBox project is about, what are the project results and how to reach them-Created project website www.erasmus-edubox.eu in English language, four domains registered (.cz, .sk, .si, .eu) – all redirected to the English one-Ca 195 articles and posts about the EduBox project realization – available on partners websites and social medica-Basic information about the project at each partner website: oMSIC Ostrava https://ms-ic.cz/projekt/erasmus-edubox/ oSPSOA Bruntál https://www.spsoa.cz/participativni-projekt/effective-education-system-of-digital-tools-for-vet-in-technical-sectors/ oŠCNG https://mic.scng.si/projekt-edubox/ and https://spls.scng.si/projekti/edubox/oSPŠ Myjava http://spsmyj.edupage2.org/text/?eqa=dGV4dD10ZXh0L3RleHQzMyZzdWJwYWdlPTEmc2tnZHllYXI9MjAyNA%3D%3D -Information about Transnational project meetings, Learning, training & teaching activities as well as the national multiplier events and final multiplier event - conference (basic information and photos available on project website)-3 newsletter articles-2 newspaper articles-Leaflets (available on partner’s headquarters, and on demand)Internally available documents are:-Project management documentation (agenda, minutes, monitoring of project activities, monitoring of dissemination, project Gantt chart, communication plan, project budget, monitoring reports)-Events details (agenda, minutes, feedback questionnaires, certificates of attendance, certificates of green travel, attendance sheets)