Context/background of our project In Europe there is a lack of qualified personnel in the fields of electronics and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Our project combines satellite technology and monitoring of environmental data for Vocational Education and Training (VET). Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), commonly known as GPS, are an everyday tool. We make use of the fact that GNSS signal also allow for precise measurement of atmospheric data. Objectives of our project In our transnational partnership we develop an interactive learning platform as well as innovative learning materials for VET learners. The addressed professional fields are ICT, physics, electronics, electrical engineering, geo- and environmental engineering. We want to enhance digital competence by promoting a new technology and innovative learning methods and introduce those competences in modern curricula. Number and profile of participants The project partners are committed to empower VET learners in the fields of science and ICT. The participants of the project are teachers, researchers and the students of three vocational partner schools in Italy, France and Germany. The number of students involved during the project period (35 month) will be up to 400. Description of activities and target groups We plan four transnational project meetings, four learning/teaching/training activities and six multiplier events. Target groups are students, trainees, teachers and trainers in VET as well as in general education. Our dissemination strategy also aims at stakeholders and policy makers in VET as well as in general STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Methodology to be used in carrying out the project We have developed a transnational partnership addressing a wide range of educational fields such as physics, informatics, geography, electrical engineering, as well as environmental studies and sustainable development. The selected project partners will be able to contribute and exchange know-how and expertise in the fields of education, research, training and curriculum development. Results and impact envisaged We offer five intellectuals outputs: An online learning platform, three learnings units (Open Educational Resources, OER) with a starter kit object and a series of short educational films. Through the learning web platform the project results will be disseminated nationwide in each participating country – this hopefully will lead to intensive exchange and discussion within the community of teachers, instructors and companies that provide professional training as well as implementation of the contents in the national curricula. Potential longer term benefits We want to cross-link our learning platform to other open data and citizen science projects. By enlarging our network we hope that we can improve VET in Europe promote science and innovation.
The use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS, e.g. GPS, Galileo etc.) has become an everyday tool for determining our position on earth and in space. GNSS also allow measuring the atmospheric water vapor which is the most important gas for weather prediction and greenhouse effect. In the TRYAT-project we create learning materials on how to apply the satellite signal to the sensing of atmospheric water vapor and how to make use of this technique. We want to empower vocational education and training (VET) learners in the fields of physics, electronics, electrical engineering, geo- and environmental engineering and IT. Therefore, we have developed a transnational partnership in order to promote science and innovation. In our project we use three GNSS stations which have been installed on the roofs of VET centers in France, Italy, and Germany. We let VET learners analyze data from GNSS networks worldwide which are collected and processed by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), University of Naples and Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). We explain vividly and clearly how to calculate the wet component of the atmospheric delay from GNSS and meteorological measurements, and why it is important to compute the amount of the precipitable water vapor and to study its influence on weather and climate. We also motivate VET learners to use their smartphone and low-cost electronic to enhance their digital competence and improve the skills for experiments in physics and competencies in informatics and electrical engineering. They confront the high-end professional data with their own environmental measurements and become part of a citizen-science network. The selected project partners have contributed and exchanged particular know-how and expertise in the fields of education, research, training and curriculum development. A broad range of Open Educational Resources have been elaborated (Intellectual Outputs IO1 – IO5).