Digital Media for VET in SMEs: Online learning of digital media competences for SMEs to empower workplace learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Digital Media for VET in SMEs: Online learning of digital media competences for SMEs to empower workplace learning

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 : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship)

Project Summary

Context:
Digital media is a new, engaging and effective learning opportunity for low qualified employees in small SMEs. In many countries, the formal education level of employees is still comparatively weak. Migration in Europe has led to an inflow of additional learners and employees who often have low levels of competence in written ‘educational’ language, in spite of good practical skills.

Digital media can help to overcome the language barriers to learning by using more audio, video and visual material to support learning, and through working with practical materials in VET training institutions. Many VET trainers and SMEs, however, lack even basic digital competences which they would need to produce digital learning material or to use the media young learners actually use (smartphone applications, social networks, etc) for learning purposes.

When organising their own in-company learning, SMEs must use digital media including pictures, visual instructions, well-designed short instructional texts, and video and audio formats, in order to reach out to low qualified employees for whom reading long and complex texts may not be the preferable method of learning.

Often owners and managers of SMEs have not been educated in the effective use of digital media. Nevertheless, they act as the main source of training for their employees. Up to now owners, managers and trainers in small SMEs have frequently not caught up in developing their digital media skills. Small SMEs, particularly in more peripheral areas, lack the resources and time to attend training requiring a physical presence over long periods.

As a consequence, they lack the competences to fully exploit the potential of a competent use of digital media for training their staff.

Solution:
Development of modular video online learning programmes, developed for the field of VET learning, shaped by guiding principles and concepts which were used, implemented and evaluated with very good results in Germany by ISOB and associated partner ‘SoWiBeFo e.V.’ (‘CoDiClust’ and ‘Media Pedagogy for Teachers’).

Objectives:
Enhance learning opportunities for low qualified employees through work-based learning, by developing skills for the competent use of digital learning media in VET trainers in and trainers in small SMEs.

This will be achieved through:
– the support of trained Digital Media coaches
– training of VET trainers and small SME trainers
– the provision of training material
– the provision of online learning

Number and profile of participants:
– 35 coaches trained
– 70 VET trainers and small SME trainers trained
– 350 facilitators in SMEs supported in developing training that uses digital media
– 3,500 end recipients (low skilled employees trained with the materials)
– 200 online users supported

Description of activities:
Development of 4 Intellectual Outputs:
– Matrix of Competences for Digital Learning Coaching based on the State of the Art and Best
Practices of Digital Workplace Learning and use of Digital Media in SMEs
– Development of a Handbook of Media Competencies for Coaches of small SMEs
– Handbook and Video guidelines for SME and VET trainers and facilitators responsible for training low-skilled employees and employees with weaker language competency
– Development of Online Learning Platform and User Community
– Delivery of learning activities in SMEs using digital media

14 Multiplier Events (300 participants)

Wide dissemination activities (relevant networks of all partners). Promotional video

Methodology:
The VET trainers and SMEs will profit from a sustainable support network based on 35 trained coaches for digital media use in work-based learning, state of the art training materials and an online learning portal. Face-to-face training of a core group of users as well as online support will kick-start a wider community of users of digital media in work-based learning.

Results and impact:
The project will result in the availability of state of the art digital media for work-based learning. These will be used on a wide scale as a consequence, which will benefit particularly learners with fewer qualifications and weaker language competences. Digital media and work-based learning will be used more frequently. There is a high level of transferability to additional sectors and groups of learners.

Long term benefits:
Introducing digital media as a means to support work-based learning will change the learning culture in VET and SMEs. The system will be more adaptable to changing technologies as more employees can qualify faster and more effectively through digitally supported work-based learning at the work place, whilst working, in contrast to classroom training. This will enhance the learning opportunities for a wide range of employees and enhance their employability. SMEs will enjoy a more productive workforce. Using Digital Media this way will contribute to the key competences for lifelong learning, ICT and digital literacy.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 356879 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE & Country: UK

Project Partners

• ISOB INSTITUT FUR SOZIALWISSENSCHAFTLICHE BERATUNG GMBH
• Mednarodna fakulteta za družbene in poslovne študije
• CENTRO DE FORMACAO PROFISSIONAL PARA O COMERCIO E AFINS
• GAZI UNIVERSITESI
• HAFELEKAR UNTERNEHMENSBERATUNG SCHOBER GMBH
• Fundatia pentru Promovarea Intreprinderilor Mici si Mijlocii Brasov