PROJECT TITLE Connecting VET Teachers to Agriculture 4.0 AIM OF THE PROJECT Guide agricultural VET teachers in the renewing of their teaching methods by providing them a freely available online course “Teachers for Farming 4.0” based on a networked learning pedagogical model. The project will integrate the networked learning methodology of a successful Leonardo project (Tenegen: http://www.tenegen.eu/) with the pedagogical innovations of learner-centred methods such as the Creative Classroom (CC) and the Flipped Classroom (FC) model. The learning environment and teaching model applied by this LdV project is aligned with the pedagogical innovations of the ET 2020 framework, focusing for the development of 21st century skills, creativity, and the digital entrepreneurship of students. OBJECTIVES 1. A focused needs-analysis, and comparative study to identify the training needs by involving VET teachers and representatives of the beneficiaries - the agricultural companies. 2. Developing a standard competency framework for agricultural workers and agricultural ICT practitioners aligned with EU standards such as the EQF and the e-Competence Framework. 3. A Curriculum Design based on the CAPDM methodology 4. The development of learning content for THREE MODULES: M1 Reinventing agricultural education M2 European Strategies and initiatives of e-Agriculture M3 Digital systems within Agriculture 4.0 5. The development of an online collaboration platform and the implementation of the components for “Teachers for Farming 4.0” 6. Piloting the “Teacher for Farming 4.0” course (HU, MK) 7. Refining the syllabus and the course components according to feedback from the participants Target group: agricultural VET teachers Beneficiaries: students, farmers, advisors Participating countries: HU, MK, CZ, UK Target Countries: Hungary and Macedonia IMPACT increase the knowledge of teachers in online and collaborative learning, innovative learning methods to meet the requirements XXI century skills, ICT in education, up to date, modern knowledge of agriculture 4.0. The practical application of the teachers new knowledge and skills gained during the project in the education may affect students in agricultural education. This age group is attracted to ICT-based learning and the use of modern tools. If they become familiar with the possibilities and benefits of using ICT tools in agriculture will motivate more young people to study this area and choose a career in the field of agriculture.
BACKGROUND The rapid evolution of technology brings a new challenge to the education system, and problems for the future, as agriculture not only requires agrarian engineers and IT professionals, but also the intersection of the two. Today, employers require workers-to-be to have the key competences that are necessary for employment, economic changes are happening very quickly, so students need to be prepared to be able to adjust to new areas, roles and even new jobs at any time. In response to this, lifelong learning is an essential for tomorrow’s workforce. Agriteach 4.0 project is intended to help with exactly this. AIMS Within the Agriteach 4.0 project, a free online curriculum was developed in cooperation with Czech, English, Macedonian and Hungarian partners in 3 modules: Teaching agricultural informatics in agricultural vocational training for VET teachers and agricultural advisers and was tested in a pilot course. OUTPUTS O1 e-Competence Map of Agricultural workers for Agriculture 4.0 O1 aimed to build a general state-of-art overview about the ICT uptake of agricultural companies in the target countries, the present level of Agriculture 4.0 relative to the EU trend, and about the offer and demand in the agricultural workforce with special focus on the digital competences of the workers. A survey was conducted among farmers. The main goal was to ascertain the level of knowledge about ICT tools and precision farming methods among the farmers and its level of utilization. In Hungary 64 and in Macedonia 11 representatives of agricultural enterprises took part in the survey. O2 Training needs of Teachers preparing students for Agriculture 4.0 O2 provided detailed information about the supply side, i.e. how vocational education must meet the needs of demands for existing and future Agriculture 4.0 skills. In the survey 114 Hungarian and 44 Macedonian vocational teachers participated. The survey result shows that the vast majority of teachers have already heard of, but do not use, agricultural ICT tools and agriculture 4.0 and confirmed that the current curriculum does not include advanced knowledge of e-agriculture and related technologies, though that would be very important. O3 Syllabus and learning content for AgriTeach 4.0 Based on the results of the survey a syllabus and learning content was elaborated. The authoring and review of all content was established a strong collaboration of the partnership. The contents was authored and reviewed in English, and translated into the national languages (HU, MK) • Module 1: Teaching in the 21th century • Module 2: European Strategies and Initiatives for E-Agriculture • Module 3: Digital Systems within Agriculture 4.0 O4 AgriTeach 4.0 Learning Management System The project implemented an e-learning system, based on the open source Moodle, where the curriculum is available in 3 languages (HU, MK, EN). This incorporates the functionalities of learning and content management. The completion of the modules is progressing at the pace of the pilot training, and the learning process is facilitated by tutors. The course contains the following elements: • course introduction • the aims of the modules • learning guide • curriculum • practice exercises • module assessment • forum • final assessment WEB: http://moodle.agriteach.hu/ O5 AgriTeach 4.0 further training program for VET teachers Pilot training was launched with the participation of agricultural VET teachers in the two target countries. The training started with an information day, which introduces the planned training modules, scheduling and the online learning interface. The goal was to create an effective learning community. 51 Hungarian and 16 Macedonian teachers successfully completed the training. O6 Planning for valorization and sustainability The aim of this IO is to ensure sustainability of the project in every partner country. i) Project produced a digital textbook based on the content developed during the project in three languages - EN, HU and MK. ii) The partnership elaborated a copyright agreement. iii) Every partner summarized experiences and benefits gained during the project and planed for the sustainability beyond the project lifetime. IMPACT In Hungary, 63 participants took part in pilot training out of 22 VET schools and 20 teachers form 7 VET schools in Macedonia. The completed learning content is available on the Moodle interface and in the form of an electronic book. A survey was carried out for potential transferring of the project results which shows that the curriculum can be used in the VET, higher and adult education of the participating countries after the project duration. Galamb József Agricultural Vocational Secondary School starting from the school year 2020/2021, launches the specialization related to precision farming from the new OKJ, which is based on the curriculum prepared in the framework of the Agriteach 4.0 project.