BOT-Learning as a modern teaching method of GEN Z Erasmus Project

Project Title

BOT-Learning as a modern teaching method of GEN Z

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 higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

The digital era is entering every area of our lives, including education at each level. Young people are more eager to search for knowledge on the Internet rather than listen to lectures, read paper textbooks or even standard e-learning materials. That is why remote education methods, such as e-learning or blended-learning are gaining popularity The educational content is presented in standard e-learning materials ranging from ordinary presentations to video recordings of educators giving lectures, lessons and training. The more interactive they are, the more engaging it is for learners. Generation Z, which is now in the process of education in secondary schools and colleges, eagerly “talks” via messengers, chats, using this form of communication also to acquire knowledge and develop skills. They prefer short texts, pics, games, stories and step-by-step instructions presented in an entertaining way. At MELES-BOT, we will use this very strong trend taking into consideration that the Internet contains many unverified sources. The purpose of the project is to develop and test, using specific learning content (entrepreneurship course), an innovative educational BOT-learning method based on the use of tools such as chatbot (virtual educator) and chat (text conversation with a real educator). It means that we adapt channels widely used by GEN-Z and fill them with verified and useful content.
The main output of the project is the chatbot and chat tool for entrepreneurship education. The chatbot definitely belongs to digital technologies and is not a common tool used nowadays in academic education, which makes it an innovative solution. The implementation of MELES-BOT outputs fit directly into the main features of the transformations of education systems to the so-called Education 4.0, which essentially uses technology-based tools and resources to drive education in non-traditional ways. Education 4.0 should serve the Industry 4.0 revolution, which is changing the world around us and requires staff with proper competencies. MELES-BOT objective is to deliver basic skills and key competencies to the students, who will form Industry 4.0 staff. Designing, developing and using MELES-BOT in education process will give speed and scale-up the digital transformation. The digital competencies obtained by teachers would help them equip young people with digital skills. MELES-BOT is also addressing differences concerning education access by underrepresented groups. Thanks to distant access, all, who from different reasons, cannot attend direct classes, will have an equal education opportunity. Distant access plays also an important role in crisis situations (e.g. pandemic) when direct classes are suspended.
Entrepreneurship course is only the example of the BOT-learning methodology but it is a very eloquent example because such courses are attended by more and more students these days. Our goal is not only to present this particular course but to convince the academic community to use BOT-learning methodology to conduct other courses in the future e.g. Programming or other IT courses.
Our target groups are students and academic teachers. The project is likely to produce outcomes that may be relevant also to other fields of education, training and youth. It is planned that over 600 students and around 100 teachers will be involved in the project during the execution phase. Over 50 people from target groups will take part in mobilities directly connected with the project.

There are the following phases connected strictly with project activities:
1. Collecting users’ preferences,
2. Developing Minimum Viable Product,
3. Preparing the prototype,
4. Testing the prototype during summer school,
5. Pilot testing at universities,
6. Dissemination and sustainability activities.

To reach the objectives and deliver the results, the consortium will use PCM (Project Cycle Management) methodology. PCM is recommended by the European Commission in the planning and implementation of EU-funded projects. This methodology includes the application preparation process and has been used in this case.
E-learning platform with an implemented chatbot will be tested at least at 5 Partners’ universities throughout Europe i.e. the Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Northern Europe), Maritime University of Szczecin (Eastern Europe), Veliko Tarnovo University (Southern Europe), University of Leipzig (Central Europe) and University of Aveiro (Western Europe). Each phase of the project ends with collecting feedback, discussion and implementation of the results in updated versions. After successful piloting, a chatbot can be implemented as an educational methodology at universities. It enables the development of digital skills and key competencies in the target groups, which is in line with horizontal priorities of the European Union.
All Partners are convinced, that such tools are the future of the educational process.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 288186 Eur

Project Coordinator

Science4People spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością & Country: PL

Project Partners

• VELIKO TURNOVO UNIVERSITY ST ST CYRIL AND METHODIUS
• AKADEMIA MORSKA W SZCZECINIE AM
• UNIVERSITAET LEIPZIG
• UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO
• TAMPEREEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY