The INNOVET project will respond to these needs of target groups by developing a high-performing digital education ecosystem that will let VET providers deliver innovative online learning experiences with the use of gamification. Objective: increase engagement and motivation in e-learning through Game-Based Learning The application of game elements and game design thinking to learning has been proved to boost VET learners motivation and engagement as well as to overcome fears and barriers related to change and to learn something new. INNOVET first stage focuses on best practices for digital education. This will provide an overview of existent applications and will give sufficient insights to decide upon the quality indicators for engagement and motivation through User Interface and User Experience. Further on, the experts will design the digital education ecosystem around the needs of the VET learners, in order to let the product be easy-to-use supported by visual guidance and instructions. Objective: increase the digital competences of VET teachers to adapt to digital transition The platform will provide online game-based learning programs templates to deliver learning experiences. Thus, VET trainers will be able to create their own gamified programs, reward progress and achievements as well as implement gamified assessments, by choosing the template they prefer and providing the digital education ecosystem with the information and learning material on own topic. The templates and the design of the interface will be easy-to-use and every section supported by video-tutorials, demonstrations and online training modules. These are designed and developed during the project to increase digital competencies and strengthen the digital professional development of VET teachers, which will support their adaptation to digital education on the path to digital transformation. Objective: develop organizational capabilities of VET organizations to incorporate green and digital technology into subject-specific training through access to innovative high-performing digital education ecosystem The high-performing digital education ecosystem will be available for the VET organizations from various domain, the templates for Game based learning being free, easy-to-use and adaptable. By choosing the template they prefer and providing the platform with the information and learning material, VET providers will extend organizational capabilities. The collections of use cases, as well as information and guidance about organizing online learning will be designed and developed during the project in order to provide VET organizations with a digital education ecosystem able to limit the hysteresis of the COVID-19 crisis and to incorporate green and digital technology into subject-specific training. To face the new challenges, the main need of partnership is transdisciplinary expertize. The collection of best practices, co-design activities in C1, innovation, supportive tools and tutorials, transferring through MEs, webinar for VET teachers and piloting with VET learners will improve individual skills and organizational capabilities to face that actual challenges. The matrix of complementary competencies and capabilities recommend the partnership as being the perfect shape to develop a high-performing digital education ecosystem
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the delivery of Education and Training all over the world: almost 1.6 billion learners from pre-primary to tertiary education, including VET, were affected by school closures (UNESCO, “COVID Impact on Education”, 2020), while education and training providers have been forced to adapt to digital tools to maintain services to learners. Learners engagement has been seriously challenged and worldwide a risk of a potential hysteresis of the COVID-19 crisis in education is acknowledged (“Educational challenges and opportunities of the COVID pandemic”, Worldbank, 2020), defined as a long-term learning loss due to school closures. This lead to erosion of students’ basic academic skills due to lack of practice, difficulty in re-engaging with education activities, demotivation as they fall further behind as well as curbing of educational aspirations due to the uncertainty of the learning environment. OECD highlighted the need to focus on keeping students engaged in learning, a mission that requires education and training providers not only to adopt system and technology innovations but also to rethink their training strategies in digital environments. It is a challenge, as well as an opportunity to innovate existing VET programs to meet the new requirements of a hyper-connected era. In this view, "INNOVET" addresses the following needs: • VET learners from partner and associated partners need attractive learning experiences to stay engaged and motivated; • VET teachers from partners and associated partners need increased digital competences for adapting to digital education on the path to digital transformation; • VET organizations from partner countries need a digital education ecosystem to limit the hysteresis of the COVID-19 crisis and to incorporate green and digital technology into subject-specific training. INNOVET aim to develop an innovative high-performing digital education ecosystem with supportive tools for VET providers to adapt to online learning and to use digital technologies for learning in a creative and collaborative way, through SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1. enhance digital transformation in 40 VET organizations from partner countries by improving the knowledge and understanding of game-play mechanics and dynamics applied to education and training practices, in 6 months 2. increase the digital competences of 80 VET teachers from partners countries to adapt to digital transition, in 8 months; 3. increase engagement and motivation in e-learning through Game-Based Learning of 200 VET learner from partner organizations, in 11 months. 4. develop organizational capabilities of 40 VET organizations to incorporate green and digital technology into subject-specific training through access to innovative high-performing digital education ecosystem, throughout the project. On the short term, the transnational dimension of the project and the cross-sectoral partnership will increase the quality and effectiveness of its results, through the integration in of knowledge and practices, and by letting the participating organizations integrate new perspectives on problems, solutions and methods. VET teachers will acquire new practices and digital competencies to create attractive game-based learning experiences, as well as increase learners motivation. To create real and sustainable value, VET providers need to prepare learners to an increasingly integrated and globalized economy. Long term expected effects are referring to improved relevance and attractiveness of VET organizations and strengthening a well-functioning cooperation network.