The development of technology gives you a new perspective on the flow of information processes in machines and training the future mechatronics skills that are necessary in such work. At the outset, the partners identified in detail the real needs of market participants in training and mechatronic market, made a diagnosis of the problem of vocational training in this field, which allowed to construct a precise objectives to be achieved and activities along with the desired results. Then selected three partners whose business perfectly fits the idea of the project, ie. a vocational school and company from Poland, Italian educational center and research center in Spain. The aim of the partnership is to design, develop features, software and create a ready-to-deploy and integrate into the curriculum - the interactive educational module for technician of mechatronics during 24 months period. With its help, we will introduce new methods and tools for vocational training, which in practice will enable teachers and students to actively cooperate, in practice more effective and practical than conventional methods, as well as more expressive and efficient than the traditional use of technology in teaching. Direct participants will be: 1. Polish vocational school educating mechatronics technicians, 43 of its students and 5 of its teachers, as well as interested in cooperation vocational training institutions with similar or related policy; 2. Polish company and its 5 employees from working group for vocational training, as well as the companies concerned in practical side of the project, using similar solutions in business practice and production processes; 3. Spanish research center, and interested in the development of R & D in this area other institutions; 4. Italian scientific center and other entities interested in cooperation with vocational and higher education in the areas of mechanics, mechatronics, or engineering. The project is expected to: 1. Design a model for teaching mechatronics (the constant on-line access); 2. Develop of model assumptions used for research in the field of mechatronics education; 3. Design of the model utility for companies; 4. Software and model a set of assumptions for vocational education with the use model; 5. Preparation of interactive module and technical documentation; 6. Innovative implementation of interactive program in mechatronics educational using module. The method adopted in the implementation of the project and the cooperation undertaken in the framework of the strategic partnership in this area and because of its nature, includes: - Work tasks - place task of development and preparation of an interactive educational module for training in mechatronics profession; - Conceptual work - the concept of assumptions and functionality of such a module, supported by the training; - Design work - mechanical design, electronic control and software, supported by the training; - Developing solutions - verification of assumptions and functionality; - Design and testing phase - the preparation and testing prototype and test transmission; - Implementation phase - application in practice of vocational training. The first phase will show how to use the module in the learning process based on interactions, mainly the autonomy of decision-making and ability to assess the student's ability. In the second phase will be to clarify the task at hand and to establish the concept of functionality and usability of the device. Then the project will be developed in the form useful for application in practice, assuming structures present in the actual site of the future work of students. The model set of assumptions and describing the structure of the software will be complete only when the information will be included in the expected and possible behavior of all the elements of the module and their relationships in the process of teaching. A summary of the design is to construct a common model which plays a key role in achieving the goal of the project. The concept of the training program will be based on the created interactive educational module, where the strategy of acquiring knowledge and skills of mechatronic promotes active forms of learning through practical problem-solving, rather than the classic memory mastering facts. With these solutions can be eg. to improve the work of the schools, to improve the quality of education, to raise the motivation to learn and work, and how to support human capital which goes to companies that use similar solutions in business practice and production processes. The potential benefits of such a project in a long-term future is co-operation and exchange of experience, knowledge and good practices. It is also exploring practical solutions in education, development of professional skills and contacts and develop or transfer innovation.
Technical and technological development in modern industry imposes the need to review education of mechatronics and the skills required in their professional work. The objective of the partnership was to look at the process of vocational education in the mechatronics industry from the perspective of industrial change and the employers’ expectations of their employees. We have adopted the task to modify the education program in the profession of mechatronics by adding context that had not been previously included in the curriculum. Our objective was to select the curriculum content and teaching tools that would make learning a profession more interesting and enjoyable. Through our efforts we have aimed to develop new methods and tools in the field of vocational education, which will enable teachers of the profession and students to actively cooperate with each other. Participants of the project: 1. Polish educational institutions providing vocational training, among others in the profession of mechatronics technician. 2. Polish company engaged in supporting vocational education and training activities. 3. The Spanish research and technology centre, whose field of activity is conducting research and supporting the development of industry, and in particular the implementation of technological innovations. 4. Italian training and mentoring centre combining vocational training with higher education, its aim is to develop entrepreneurship, competitiveness and innovation of enterprises. Within the framework of the project we realized 6 intellectual outputs: 1. Designing a model for teaching mechatronics (with on-line access); 2. Developing assumptions about the use of the scientific model in teaching mechatronics; 3. Designing the usefulness of the models in enterprises; 4. Software and set of assumptions of using the model in vocational training; 5. Preparing interactive module and technical documentation; 6. Innovative program of using interactive educational module in mechatronics. The methods adopted for the project and during the cooperation: - task-based work – taking on the task of developing and preparing an interactive learning module for mechatronics engineering; - conceptual work - adoption of conceptual assumptions and functionalities of the educational module, which is supported by training; - designing work - selection of mechanical solutions, electronic controls and necessary software, which is supported by training; - development of solutions - verification of accepted assumptions and planned functionality; - design and testing phase - preparation and conduct of prototype tests; - phase of implementation - application of the adopted solutions in the practice of vocational training. The first phase showed how to use the module in interaction-based learning processes, primarily in terms of decision-making autonomy and the ability to assess student performance. In phase two, the task, the concept of functionality and possibilities of using the method were all defined. The project was then developed in a practical form, taking into account the constructs of the future work of the students. A set of assumptions and a description of the software structure takes into account information about the expected and possible behaviour of all elements of the module and their relationships in the learning process. Designing the model plays the most important role in achieving the project goal. The concept of the training program is based on an interactive educational module that includes the educational content of the educational platform and a toolbox containing the elements needed to assemble the physical model and its programming. The strategy of acquiring knowledge and skills in this solution promotes active learning through practical problem solving rather than the classical memorising of knowledge. Thanks to these solutions it will be possible to improve the implementation of the didactic process at school, improve the quality of education, stimulate students' motivation to learn. The adopted solutions also created opportunities for students to self-study based on the prepared educational model. This activity will obviously help the human capital that goes to companies that use mechatronic systems in their production processes. The anticipated long-term benefits of our project is the opportunity to further collaborate and exchange experiences, knowledge and good practices by further maintaining the EDUTRONIX web platform. It is also an opportunity to learn practical solutions in education, raise professional qualifications, establish contacts and develop or transfer innovations.