The European Commission has emphasised the need to develop key transversal skills in all sectors of education to sustain the high-value knowledge economy. Rethinking Education calls on Member States to provide all citizens with learning opportunities to develop key transversal skills like digital literacy, entrepreneurship, critical and creative thinking, leadership, innovation, problem solving, teamwork and social impact and highlights the importance of learning by doing within VET. Problem-based learning is a learner-centred pedagogy in which learners acquire knowledge about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem found in trigger material. Interactive Infographics are a new type of learning environment that are attractive and engaging for learners and one that can be used in formal and non-formal settings. In recent years, VET providers have been experimenting with new ways of introducing the World Wide Web as a resource pedagogical tool. These experiences, based on the various pedagogical perspectives, have given rise to teaching methodologies of which Digital Breakouts and WebQuests are core examples. These methodologies have been gaining adherents due to their flexibility in framing various pedagogical strategies and adaptability to the most diverse themes, as well as the way in which they maximize the use of the digital tools and environments available today. They are approaches based on constructivist theories, focusing on the development of transversal competences. The authenticity of the activities developed is also an important factor to consider in this methodology, which intends that the learnings are meaningful for the learners. While engaged in these educational environments, learners develop a variety of connections with the content and can form positive memories of learning. Digital Breakouts and WebQuests can provide a variety of sensory experiences for learners and presenting these elements together in media-rich, highly interactive infographic learning environments represents a significant addition to the portfolio of resources available to forward-looking, progressive VET staff "Support for the development of key transversal skills…has never been more important than it is now. Reinforcing these key skills in schools, vocational education institutions and universities will have a positive impact on the entrepreneurial dynamism of our economies." (Entrepreneurship Education: a Guide for Educators", EC 2013) The objectives of this project are to: - Promote the acquisition of key transversal skills through the use of alternative pedagogical resources using a problem-based learning approach - Support acquisition of key transversal competences in VET - Support VET tutors to develop their own problem-based learning resources to include Digital Breakouts and WebQuests in an interdisciplinary way - Promote a cross-curricular approach to subjects and, consequently, a collaborative work from tutors There are three intellectual outputs foreseen and task allocation for their development is as follows: IO1 – Skill-Pics Compendium of Interactive Infographic Transversal Skills Resources IO2 – Skill-Pics In-service training programme IO3 – Skill-Pics MOOC
In the modern labour market, the challenge faced by employers is that key transversal skills are often hidden and extremely difficult to capture. All employees possess these skills to some extent, but for some, they are more developed than others and it is very important to help those who need to develop or upgrade these skills. Being able to recognise and develop their skills, can bring huge benefits to an organisation and its employees. The overall objective of the SKILL PICS project is to provide all citizens with key transversal skills like digital literacy, entrepreneurship, critical and creative thinking, leadership, innovation, problem-solving, teamwork, and social impact. The acquisition of such skills is not intended just for a specific field of work, but for their usage in a wider range of fields which will increase the value of the citizens in the labour market. The objectives of this project are to: • Promote the acquisition of key transversal skills through the use of alternative pedagogical resources using a problem-based learning approach • Support acquisition of key transversal competences in VET • Support VET tutors to develop their own problem-based learning resources to include Digital Breakouts and WebQuests in an interdisciplinary way • Promote a cross-curricular approach to subjects and, consequently, collaborative work from tutors
BFI is a strong believer in Corporate social responsibility and therefore aims to contribute to society by taking part in projects where the Institute’s knowledge and experience can be of use in addressing key social issues such as developing key skills. As is written in the project application The European Commission has emphasized the need to develop key transversal skills in all sectors of education to sustain the high-value knowledge economy. BFI along with other partners on the project recognized the opportunity to provide all citizens with learning opportunities to develop key transversal skills like digital literacy, entrepreneurship, critical and creative thinking, leadership, innovation, problem-solving, teamwork, and social impact and highlights the importance of learning by doing within VET. BFI is an organization that makes efforts to help the local community and raise the level of key transversal skills in all sectors of education to sustain the high-value knowledge economy.