European Atelier of Crafts 4.0. - Digital Skills and Augmented Didactics applied tothe European Atelier of Crafts Model

"<< Background >>The needs and motivations behind the CR.E.ATE 4.0. project proposal are to be found in the following factors- the digital inadequacy of VET in terms of technical support and fast connections available to VET students and the lack of adequate skills of trainers in the use of digital tools for teaching.- The effects of the pandemic crisis between distance learning, loss of learning for students and increased educational inequalities for the most vulnerable students have had less access to digital educational tools. - Digitalisation and technological change are also perceived by the business system as worrying challenges for SMEs, which show a shortage of qualified personnel (only 35% of European workers have basic digital skills - Digital Skills for all Europeans, 2019). - Across Europe, although the VET sector continued to provide opportunities and support students in their careers, it was characterised by a poor image in society by persisting perceptions of low quality and non-positive career development prospects.<< Objectives >>The CR.E.ATE project aimed at strengthening the capacities, competences and resources of VET in order to effectively address the transition to digital education and learning, enhancing and promoting the use of ICT in order to initiate a continuous improvement process of educational, pedagogical and work preparation approaches, and developing specific competences and methods for teachers/trainers oriented to a use of technological and digital resources more coherent with the new needs emerging both from young people (demand) and the labour market (supply). The project wanted to develop a virtual learning environment, open and participative, accessible and inclusive, highly motivating and emotionally attractive that would bring out the creativity and talent of young people by strengthening the collaboration/cooperation between VET providers, enterprises and stakeholders. The Create 4.0 project aimed to be innovative in integrating the digital methodologies of augmented education and digital story-telling to be developed within a state-of-the-art Digital Educational Ecosystem characterised by a student-oriented approach.<< Implementation >>The project addressed VET trainers/workers, VET students (age 15-19), including those with socio-economic and learning problems (BES-DSA), and stakeholders from the worlds of business, work, research and institutions. The heart of the project was the Pilot Test structured through a competitive and challenging Contest in which students trained in the new methodology became co-constructors of digital and multimedia products through the application of techniques such as Team building, Learning by doing, Cooperative learning and Peer-to-peer learning. The Create 4.0 project developed through phases that were implemented across the project and/ or consecutively in a cause/effect relationship and interconnected results. The administrative management and verification activities together with the communication and dissemination campaign were carried out by the coordinator Ecipa Umbria in cooperation with all the partners for the entire duration of the project. The training activities for teachers/trainers and students took place in parallel with the development of the results and the activities organised for the creation of the digital works participating in the Contest. In the last period of the project, 6 Workshop Multiplier Events were held, including one at international level by the SME Academy Partner in Brussels, for the dissemination of results and the follow-up of the project. The project was also concluded with the signing of the PROTOCOL OF UNDERSTANDING for the transferability, sustainability and formal recognition of the ""CR.E.ATE 4.0 System.<< Results >>OC.1 Strengthening the capacities, competences and resources of VET institutions in order to cope effectively with the transition to digital education and learning; OC.1.1 Enhancing and promoting the use of digital technologies in order to initiate a continuous improvement process of educational, pedagogical, work preparation approaches and in a transversal way of the ability to communicate with the new generations; OC.1 .2 Developing specific competences and methodologies for VET teachers and practitioners, particularly oriented to the use of technological and digital resources: Handbook for teaching on the use of online and digital learning tools (PR.01).OC.2 Developing and testing a learning ecosystem, open and participative, in which digitalisation is synonymous with dialogue, knowledge exchange, equal opportunities and social inclusion; OC.2.1 Promoting the VET system by improving its competitiveness, attractiveness and usability for students and indirectly for their families; OC.2.2 Strengthening collaboration and cooperation between VET providers, enterprises and representatives of the world of work, business and institutions. The Digital Education Ecosystem (PR.02) which supports the application of the ""CR.E.ATE 4.0"" Model (beauty and wellness, graphic and web design, artistic/craft work, interior design) is a virtual and dynamic e-learning environment and other formal and non-formal virtual educational applications to develop digital skills, language skills, project management, relational critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Digital Story-telling Tool Package (PR.03) is a training tool based on story-telling and remembering experience."