This project is innovative by corresponding to 5 critical
challenges in vocational education:
1) ADAPTING VET CUSTOMIZED eLEARNING TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF ALL
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
In this project eKampus (MERCURIA’s eLearning platform) will be customized to learning of VET. In addition to theoretical learning the learning material and tasks include learning by doing (e.g. video meetings, making of videos, group work, reflection of visits to companies).
There is big difference how eLearning is used in partner schools. That is why we put a lot of effort for teachers to learn how to work in eKampus and for students how to study in eKampus. We have to find our unique ways of using digitalization in VET education (=eLearning) and share this know-how to each other.
2) CREATE PEDAGOGICAL MODEL WHICH SERVES ALSO INTERNATIONALITY NEEDS OF
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
All students have different backgrounds, experiences, know-how and dreams. By focusing first to those, we are able to customize students individual learning paths during the project. This will genuinely serve also students with special needs.
Individual learning path may concern what part of their VET curriculum student learn (e.g. being entrepreneur+accountancy/marketing/ sales/visual design/customer service etc.) and how they learn it (focus on workshops + eKampus/company/school). We will use service design tools as we consider this as improving service for students. All this is genuinely innovative as in most VET schools students follow same general learning path for all.
3) FINDING DIFFERENT WAYS OF ORGANIZING LEARNING IN COMPANIES
In this project students are able to learn in cooperating companies during workshops (partly in company and in school). In companies students are able to do job shadowing and work. Between workshops some students (according to their customized learning plan) have opportunity to do work
placement in cooperating company. Company entrepreneurs will also coach students’ startups.
4) LEARNING SUSTAINABILITY BY BEING ENTREPRENEUR
Students will learn sustainability by creating startups which follow the practices of sustainability (economic, social, environmental). Also the company coaches have strong experience in sustainability.
5) RUNNING SCHOOLS IN SUSTAINABLE WAY WITH OPEN COOPERATION
As VET has faced budget cuts by the government in many countries, we have to do the development with less money than before. We have to be able to run our schools in sustainable way – economically, socially and environmentally. This can be done with cooperation by sharing our knowhow.
We will start this by Check and Act 1 questionnaire and SELFIE tool to see where we are in the beginning of the project in the practices of using learning environments and customizing students learning paths. Then we really roll up our sleeves and start working according to Project activies -plan.
