CONTEXT Fostering and promoting a collaborative environment in classrooms is one of the key factors that contribute to the delivery of a high-quality, inclusive learning process where individuals can thrive. The COVID-19 global outbreak has resulted to a sudden transformation of classrooms from their face-to-face usual setting to their digital form (e-classroom). This fact has created an imperative need for teachers to adapt in a new reality, where the values of inclusion, participation and collaboration remain fundamental but risk to be neglected. Within this context, the digital upskilling of the teachers/trainers/educators is going to be made within the DigiComp Framework (DigiComp2 - https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/digcomp/digital-competence-framework), covering the following areas: -Creation of digital contents -Problem solving on digital environments -Communication and collaboration OBJECTIVES The project’s main objectives are: - Building and strengthening the capacities of teachers/trainers/educators in the deployment of online resources that facilitate the collaboration and inclusion among students in the e-classroom. - Promoting a collaborative, inclusive and cultural aware environment in the e-classroom using blended educational methods (formal, non-formal, informal). - Development of innovative activities, tools and educational methods with main focus on collaboration and inclusion, responding to the needs of the e-classroom environment. - Support of transnational educational institutions (universities, institutes, VET providers) adapt in collaborative and inclusive digital learning. - Reinforce the ability of VET providers to provide high quality, inclusive digital education. PARTICIPANTS The main target group of the project is: -VET trainers/teachers/educators as well as mentors working within the sector -VET learners who are going to have a better learning experience in an e-environment. -People who are in the field of education and are interested in learning creative and innovative activities and educational tools and use them in relevant learning activities in their target groups -Other institutes, VET providers, general public METHODOLOGY-ACTIVITIES -3 Intellectual Outputs -1 Short-Term Joint Staff Training -4 Transnational Meeting (both Virtual and Physical) including the Kick-off Meeting -5 Multiplier Events, including a final conference RESULTS-IMPACT -Increased capability of VET teachers/trainers/educators to develop digital material and resources in order to facilitate the collaboration and inclusion among students in the virtual classroom -Development of a more collaborative, inclusive and cultural aware environment in the e-classroom with the use of different educational approaches - Strengthened transnational educational institutions (universities, institutes, VET providers), containing adapted methods and techniques for a collaborative environment in the e-classroom -Development of new activities, tools and techniques focusing on promoting a collaborative, inclusive and cultural aware virtual classroom environment -Increased access to the OER through the large networking potentials emerging from the inclusion of EVBB, the Umbrella Organization, in the partnership
The intention was to develop material for virtual classroom environments by way of innovative activities, tools, and educational collaborative methods for VET teachers, trainers, and mentors supported by empirical evidence. Through the development of effective digital and innovative VET e-training techniques, methodologies and pedagogies (in the form of OER), REACT aimed at providing learners with practical tools and experiences adjusted to diverse learning styles to maximize their learning opportunities in the online setting. During the project’s lifecycle teachers, trainers and mentors provided their ideas and received continuous professional development either by digital means or by face-to-face methods. With the help of an e-learning platform and the material - the toolkit, which contains a set of outreach material and best practices focusing on the collaborative, inclusive and culturally aware e-classroom environment - trainers can properly train their learners. Within the Digi Comp Framework, the project raised the attractiveness of VET teachers/trainers/educators.
Fostering and promoting a collaborative environment in classrooms is one of the key factors that contribute to the delivery of a high-quality, inclusive learning process where individuals can thrive. The COVID-19 global outbreak has resulted in a sudden transformation of classrooms from their face-to-face usual setting to their digital form (e-classroom). This fact has created an imperative need for teachers to adapt in the new reality, where the values of inclusion, internationalization, participation and collaboration remain fundamental but are in jeopardy to be neglected. Furthermore, there is an existing gap to transfer or adjust pedagogical principles from face to face to online settings.