Challenge E-Tech Project was brought to life in the midst of a specific situation which showed that online learning is indeed a very important component of academic education. COVID-19 pandemics forced the educational sector on all levels to redirect the majority of its activities to the web. It also showed that there is a need for a special approach to teaching theoretical and practical STEM subjects online, just as there is a need for appropriate resources. Even though some lecturers managed to conduct their classes, they had to put in a lot of effort to make sure that the teaching program was completed to the extent expected by them and their students. In order to make sure that the teaching and learning objectives are met regardless of the circumstances, academics (and also teachers on other levels of education) must be equipped with the right set of skills to prepare captivating, involving and interesting e-learning classes. They need to be given tools to be used for preparing modern, high-tech resources that will be helpful in their web-based lectures, so that students can be exposed to practical knowledge that is inseparable from theoretical knowledge in their field. Academics need to be supported by a body of experts to whom they will be able to reach if and when they need specialized help. Finally, they need to have tangible material they will be able to use in order to expand their skills in the period when e-learning seems to be moving up in the hierarchy of teaching methods due to COVID-19 pandemics. Solution and project objectives The following products will be developed under the project: An e-learning course “Online teaching practice and e-learning courses” for academics; A guidebook entitled "An Interactive Guide to Online Academic Teaching" (an open source publication in two versions: ready to print and digital, multimedia version); Open bank of educational resources and tools for virtual laboratory classes; An example, professional a e-learning course for students; A team of experts shall be created within the Cluster of Good Practices in E-learning. The best e-learning experts and practitioners will participate in the development of the materials The Partners and Associated Partners involved in the project are: ✶Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland and its departments: Center of Modern Education and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering - knowledge and experience regarding designing modern teaching resources and STEM e-courses (GUT); ✶Society of Academic e-Learning Poland - knowledge and experience regarding academic e-learning; ✶FH Joanneum, Austria - knowledge and experience regarding online teaching of practical vocational skills; ✶Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy - experience in conducting open, online courses on a national level. Project is according to priorities: “Innovative practices in the digital era.” and “Promoting and rewarding excellence in teaching and skills development.” Effect Products that will be created throughout the duration of the project have been designed with the above issues in mind and, as such, they are very likely to improve the existing state of e-learning at universities and other educational institutions, access to high-quality resources useful in preparing practical and theoretical classes and the level of lecturers’ and students’ satisfaction, those participating in online education. The most important long term project outcomes are: improved ability to prepare e-learning courses on technical subjects by academics, popularization of e-learning methods and techniques among academics, increased confidence of academics involved in the project and increased quality of the courses on technical subjects. Methodology Project will be managed according to PRINCE and PMI principles and guidelines. Designing and development process will be based on good practices of user centered design, design thinking, ux and profesional marketing research.
By implementing the project, E-TECH team wanted to achive the goals associated with the growing importance of e-learning courses in academic education. First of all, we wanted to provide academic teachers (but also teachers on other levels) with a set of tools they could use to improve their skills in creating online courses intended for students of technical universities. In relation to this, we wanted to improve the ability to prepare e-learning courses on technical subjects by academics. Also we wanted to popularize e-learning methods and techniques among academics, we wanted to increase their confidence in usung e-learning tools and methods as well as raise the quality of the courses in technical subjects, not only in theoretical but also in practical subjects so that there are no discrepancies between the same subjects taught online and in reality.
The project originated in the midst of COVID-19 pandemics when it turned out that online learning is a very important component of academic education. Additionally, it transpired that there is a need for a special approach to teaching theoretical and practical STEM subjects online. It was also clear that there is a lack of appropriate resources to be used by academic teachers across Europe. Academic teachers had to put in a lot of effort to make sure that the teaching program was completed to the extent expected by teachers and students alike. It became clear that academics (and teachers on all the other levels of education) must be equipped with the right set of skills to prepare captivating, involving and interesting e-learning courses. Teachers needed appropriate tools, as well as know-how, tips and tricks and general support. We addressed all these needs through carefully selected set of products such as an e-learning courses for academic teachers, a guide book for teachers who want to improve their skills in creating e-courses, open bank of resources and tools and an example of a professional e-learning course for students.