Dig4VET proposal links with all objectives of ET2020 and with Objective 5 of Riga Conclusions: “introduce systematic approaches and opportunities for initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in both school and work-based settings.” We believe that one the key elements in continuous professional development of education staff should be digital competences which enable teachers to use different digital tools in education process. Digital tools have the power to make education process more attractive, interactive, flexible, inclusive, more participatory and more personalized. Digital Education Action Plan (EC, 2018) notes that “digital technology has huge, largely untapped potential for improving education”. One of the policy pointers of ET2020 working group on VET (Cedefop, 2019) urges to “support teachers and trainers for innovation and digitalization”. The objectives of Dig4VET project are: - To improve skills and competences of VET teachers, trainers, mentors for use of digital tools in education process, for both: classroom and distance learning - To raise awareness of variety of digital tools and technologies that can be used in VET school and WBL settings. Dig4VET proposes empowering VET teachers, trainers and mentors/WBL tutors with the support of a training program for VET teachers, trainers and mentors which can be implemented by VET institutions (local level), by national CPD systems and internationally as Erasmus+ courses. Dig4VET objectives will be achieved through the following project steps and activities: - preparation; needs analysis and review - development of the training program and materials; - piloting/testing the training program at international level (2 joint staff training events); piloting the training program at national level (master classes); - developing OER to support the training program and demonstrate use of digital tools in VET and WBL process; - multipliers’ events at national and international levels; - dissemination activities. Direct target groups of our project and of the proposed training program are: - VET teachers, trainers, mentors/WBL tutors - VET teacher trainers, trainers of WBL tutors Indirect target groups (can introduce the training program in VET schools and CPD systems): - VET managers, WBL coordinators, VET and WBL stakeholders; - VET policy and decision makers, authorities responsible for VET CPD. These target groups are represented by project partners and will be involved as participants. Dig4VET participants will include approximately 230 directly involved persons: - 66 VET teachers, trainers, mentors, teacher trainers involved in piloting the program international and local trainings - At least 164 persons involved in multipliers’ events; Up to 10 000 persons will be reached through dissemination activities and needs analysis as respondents. Dig4VET project will develop the following outputs: 1) Needs analysis and review report “Digital Competences of VET Teachers, Trainers, Mentors” which will include a review of existing practices of using digital tools in VET, results of SELFIE reviews in partner countries, review on VET distance/digital learning during virus outbreak in spring 2020, overview of digital tools available for use in Vet and WBL teaching and learning; 2) Training program “Attractive, Interactive and Inclusive VET: Digital Tools for Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Validation” aimed at both VET school and WBL settings, taking into account the European Framework on Digital Competences of Educators and covering the education process stages: preparation - teaching/learning – assessment – validation. 3) Open education resources (OER) including video lessons for use of some digital tools and examples provided by training participants for use of digital tools in VET and WBL contexts in specific VET fields/subjects. Dig4VET project outputs will be shared through the website www.qualityplacements.eu and through EU platforms for project results. We expect that Dig4VET impact will be in 2 main areas: - improved skills and competences, as well as motivation, of VET teachers, trainers and mentors for using different digital tools for teaching and learning, assessment and validation in VET and WBL; - better awareness of digital tools applicable for education and specifically for VET and WBL, as well as awareness of EU frameworks and tools, such as DigCompEdu, SELFIE.
The objectives of Dig4VET project were: - To improve skills and competences of VET teachers, trainers, mentors for use of digital tools in education process, for both: classroom and distance learning - To raise awareness of variety of digital tools and technologies that can be used in VET school and WBL settings. Dig4VET proposed empowering VET teachers, trainers and mentors/WBL tutors with the support of a training program for VET teachers, trainers and mentors which can be implemented by VET institutions (local level), by national CPD systems and internationally as Erasmus+ courses.
Vocational education and training policy is among top priorities in all EU countries as the quality of our life in future to the great extent depends on the skills and competences of the workforce. Changes brought about by technologies and digitalisation demands us to learn new things every day. Situations where the majority of students digitally outperform their teachers is reality in most education systems. To improve digital competences of VET teachers and trainers and make their teaching more attractive by making use of various digital tools the project consortium initiated the Dig4VET project. The project was developed in the context of the EU Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training ( 2009), mainly Objective 2: Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training, which is about teachers’ continuous professional development (CPD). The project idea was also inspired by the Digital Education Action Plan 2018-2020 (European Education Area, 2022), which notes that ”use of technology in education lags behind”. The Plan has defined a priority “making better use of digital technology for teaching and learning”, stating that “digital technology has huge, largely untapped potential... ”.