Collaborative Virtual Reality platform for e-learning: Teaching Communication Erasmus Project

Project Title

Collaborative Virtual Reality platform for e-learning: Teaching Communication

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

The strict social distancing measures implemented in Europe due to the pandemic affected a multitude of social activities. Traditional learning and training was one of them. CoViR project will develop through co-creation participatory processes a pioneer multiuser e-learning platform embedding virtual reality collaboration rooms that will simulate class training while offering innovative tools (inside the 3D environment) that will allow for different kind of interaction between the trainer and the trainees. All participants in the virtual classroom will be able to hear each other and see their avatars moving as they move wearing the VR headset. At the same time, they will be able to change their avatars facial expression at real time and select body movements at will(non-verbal communication). Each participant will be able to load his own materials in the presentation board of the room (slides, video, images,sound), will be able to talk to each other, will be able to answer questionnaires, to vote, to change roles with the trainers and make a presentation, applause, drink or eat something and much more activities that will be decided during the project as adequate for the proposed platform.CoviR platform will be piloted for the needs of the “Communication Skills” subject, that is considered a difficult subject to be taught online. The project will prepare the necessary training materials and tools that will facilitate trainers to offer the course through the VR collaborative platform. An e-learning platform with training materials and video tutorials on VR training will be used along with a teachers’ guide to prepare trainers. The trainers that will follow the e-learning course will receive a certification. The certified trainers will train 3 trainees per country on the communication skills course using the CoViR VR platform to test themselves and the virtual reality tools.

The objectives of the project are:
-to develop a Collaborative VR platform that will be able to host online training courses.
-to train trainers and certify them to the use of VR and the CoViR platform for online interactive training
-to develop and test with real students a communication skills course entirely delivered through collaborative VR training.
-to develop an e-learning platform for training trainers in the use of VR technologies and the CoViR platform especially
-produce a teachers’ guide for the sustainability and further use of the platform and accompany materials.

The consortium consists of 4 VET Providers, 1 certification company and 2 IT companies with experience on VR and the development of online training materials

This activities of the project will lead to the following tools and materials:
– A Collaborative VR platform that will be able to host online training courses with the ability to bring together simultaneously multiple users from different locations.
– An e-learning platform with training material on VR technologies and the use of CoViR platform for teaching “Communication Skills”.
– A certification scheme with assessment tools that will be used to certify the trainers that will follow the e-learning course.
– A teachers’ guide that will include a detailed teaching plan for teaching “Communication Skills” using CoViR platform with all the digital materials one will need to run his/her training.

The methodology that will be used follows a co-creation approach through the organization of focus groups in the 4 countries of the consortium. The advantage of the project is that 4 partners are also potential consumers of the end products enhancing the sustainability potential of the end results.

CoViR project clearly presents an International Impact. The results, a VR collaborative training platform with supporting e-learning materials and a comprehensive guide are expected to create impact in the VET sector promoting the use of modern technologies in online training.We expect that the project results will attract key players in the VET sector in European and International level. The cooperation of VET providers with IT experts and a certification body in a co-design approach will lead to innovative and efficient tools professionally assembled by the adequate training materials to support trainers to adopt them. It is expected that after the end of the project, VET partners will continue to use the platform for part of their training activities and new opportunities that will arise from the use of these state of the art tools.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 230720 Eur

Project Coordinator

SIEC BADAWCZA LUKASIEWICZ – INSTYTUT TECHNOLOGII EKSPLOATACJI & Country: PL

Project Partners

• KYPRIAKI ETAIREIA PISTOPOIISIS LIMITED
• EDITC LIMITED
• FUNDACION EQUIPO HUMANO
• M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED
• SENSEWORKS ANAPTYXI KAINOTOMIKON OLOKLIROMENON PROIONTON ASYRMATON DIKTYON AISTHITIRON ETAIREIA PERIORISMENIS EUTHYNIS
• Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE)