The Integration Through Blended Learning (ITBL) project arises from the necessity of improving and complementing the learning platforms used by the participating institutions in order to create a user-friendly common model that reduces the desertion rate by students (students abandon their studies since they need to spend time and energy not only on studying the subject but also dealing with problems derived from the own platform) and solve the problems found by educators when utilizing them. Besides, the teachers involved in the blended learning modality need to increase the number and variety of tools included in the platform in order to offer their students more resources to make their progression more effective and at the same time develop their digital competence. All the institutions involved work with underprivileged collectives. 5 participating institutions: -The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas Fuengirola, located in Fuengirola, Spain, is a State Language School which offers courses in English, French and German on A1 through B2 levels. English is offered on three modalities: on -site (levels A1-C1), blended (A1-B2) and on-line (A1-B1) Most of our students are unemployed or workers in need of acquiring a foreign language in order to keep their jobs or access a promotion. -The IIB, Institute for interdisciplinary education, located in Linz, Austria, is a small non-profit association with a view to support equal opportunities for unemployed and employed persons of all ages, migrants and especially for women on the labor market and learning opportunities. It presents both members and staff a platform to create innovative studying techniques and workshops just as consulting, coaching and research. -CEIPES, located in Palermo, Italy, has as main objectives to promote the Education and Development of young people and adults through activities in education, training, culture, nonviolence, interculturality, solidarity, human rights, active citizenship, international cooperation, and promote services thus contributing to human and civil growth at individual, community and world levels. -IDEC is a training consulting company located in Piraeus, Greece. Its activities consist of training, management consulting, quality assurance, evaluation and development of ICT solutions for both private and public sector. IDEC organises in-service training courses for teachers and trainers, organises study visits and informal learning activities for students in initial education and training and provides training courses and workplacements for students in vocational training and people in labour market. -IES Arroyo de la Miel is a public center that has 80 teachers and approximately 1200 students. It is located in Benalmádena, one of the main tourist towns of the Costa del Sol. They come, not only from various parts of the Spanish geography, but from other countries, over 40 nationalities. Under these conditions the coexistence and relationships develop with total normality, always on the basis of respect and understanding of the different customs and traditions. Main activities: design of documents for specific data collection; educational platforms presentation; detection and analysis of problems in blended learning courses associated to educational platforms regarding design of platforms and associated tools through analysis of shared data; analysis of desertion and measures taken to accompany subsequent proposal of changes and tools; selection of design changes and complementary digital tools; design of training for educators related to selected digital tools; analysis of development of training activities and results; proposal of improvements; proposal of implementation for students and selection of courses where changes and tools will be tested; analysis of results of implementation and proposal of improvements; ellaboration of a common model and required adaptations; design of dissemination and proposals for Education Authorities. Methodology: emphasis will be placed on the use of digital tools for the purposes of communication, data collection and analysis, training and dissemination of results. A combination of quickness, efficiency, practicality, exactitude and transparency will be exerted when designing a specific methodology for each task during the project. Results: improvement on the design of the different learning platforms; addition of new digital tools complementary to the learning platforms; acquisition of new digital competencies of educators through training; acquisition of new digital competences of students through training and use of new digital tools; making the use of the learning patforms easier for students and educators; developing a common model of learning platform; reduction of desertion rates among students; presenting a proposal to education authorities. Impact at local, regional, national and European levels.
The project arose from the detection by the Spanish partners of difficulties experienced by teachers and students of the blended learning modality who use a Moodle platform adapted by the Junta de Andalucia, and the high rate of desertion among these students. The main objectives of the project were to detect these difficulties in the use of the platform, propose solutions and complementary digital tools, as well as initiatives to reduce the desertion rate. Finally, to present to the Andalusian educational authorities the project conclusions as improvement proposals for blended learning and the adoption of a better common model. The partners: • two public institutions dependent on the Consejería de Educacion of Junta de Andalucía, The Secondary School Arroyo de la Miel, and the Language School of Fuengirola, promoters of the project. • Institute for interdisciplinary education, a small non-profit association from Linz, with a view to support equal opportunities for unemployed persons, migrants and women on the labor market and learning opportunities; with experience in counseling and design of training courses. • Centro Internazionale per la Promozione dell Educazione e lo Sviluppo, non-profit organization from Palermo, Sicily (Italy) devoted to promote the integration of different sectors of society in risk of exclusion through training; with ample experience in Erasmus+. • Aintek Symvouloi Epicheiriseon Efarmoges Ypsilis Technologias Ekpaidefsi Anonymi Etaireia, training consulting company from Piraeus, (Greece) focused on course design using different resources, including educational platforms; with ample experience in Erasmus+. Although the project arises from and focuses on the needs of two particular members, the final aim was the collective enrichment by sharing good practice and solving difficulties experienced by all partners, adopting common models and procedures. Activities: dissemination of project start, common knowledge of the project terms, intern agreement signing, Mobility tool+ access, setting up a basic structure for communication and information exchange through a Google account (Drive, Calendar). Design of plan for joint action, task assignment among partners until first transnational meeting, agreement on meeting calendar. Creation of common database for dissemination initiatives, logo, blog, website and Facebook account. Presentation to show blended learning platform features. Design of two surveys to be conducted through Google Forms to know the opinion of the platform users, teachers and students; translation into English of the surveys, four in total, to facilitate suggestions and changes by all partners. With the collected data, a Spanish-English report was prepared for the partners´consideration and discussion. With the collected data, a Spanish-English report was prepared for the partners´consideration and discussion. Taking into account the conclusions of the report, partners made different proposals. The final outcome was transferred into a document which included improvement proposals and which was sent to the Dirección general de educación Permanente, responsible of blended learning education in Andalusia. It was also sent to the institutions that participated in the survey about the platform as well as to the language School Teachers´ Association for their members´ knowledge. Selection of free digital tools to complement the ones already present in the platform to facilitate the teachers and students´ labour, promoting a bigger participation in the platform through gamification. Selection and presentation, by every partner institution, of their features and common election of those deemed more appropriate. Selection of personnel, from among the institutions´staff, to be trained in the utilization of these tools and the later implementation and dissemination in their institutions, as well to acquire knowledge about the students´opinion on the digital tools and provide their own, all through a common form designed by the coordinators of the institutions. Designing a Google Forms survey about student desertions, writing a report with survey results and proposal of prevention initiatives on final document. The final result came out as planned and the foreseen impact greater due to the involvement of other institutions (schools that contributed data to the platform survey and received feedbacl regarding the results and conclusions of the project). Common measures were adopted for improvement of blended learning at every institution.