NEEDS ANALYSIS PR4 focused on the development of the Back Pack for the setting up of the EU MAKERSPACES as per the recommendation of the 2021-27 Digital Education Action Plan where the developed SMARTaiNNOVATORS were offered, either in the school, or in associate partners (e.g., training centres) thus utilizing the non-school time to provide targeted skills for AI technology, game development, and STEAM skills based on synergies with the labour market.
This was an attempt to provide the EU community with a comprehensive and holistic PACK which incorporated all products and results, offered on and offline, in a systemic way to ensure sustainability and exploitation. During this stage, all products were tested and reviewed, whereas students with their teachers prepared for the blended SMARTaiNNOVATORS COMPETITION and an EXHIBITION launched at the local level with upscaling potential at the EU VET WEEK (NOV 2024) and as part of the BLENDED LEARNING MOBILITY. PR4 included:
– Preparing the back pack with regulations and guidelines
– Setting up the MAKERSPACES, pilot-testing and evaluation
– National Campaign and Competition
– SMART INNOVATORS HACKATHON/EXHIBITION TARGET GROUPS The target groups were the end beneficiaries of the SMARTaiNNOVATORS project who were involved and participated in the last activities, such as the MAKERSPACES during which they acquired targeted digital, coding, AI and STEAM skills, as well as transversal skills, problem-solving, creativity initiative, team work, interactive learning etc., in order to develop an IT solution to a given social problem, while participating in a Regional Competition and Exhibition organized as part of the EU CODE WEEK (Oct 2023).
They were also given the opportunity to participate at the European Competition during EU VET WEEK (Nov 2023) with students from the other participating countries. INNOVATION The innovative aspect lay in the methodology of the whole project where the consortium envisioned providing the EU community with a COMPREHENSIVE and READY TO IMPLEMENT BACK PACK accompanied with an EDUCATIONAL TOOL KIT which had high exploitation and sustainability potential, as there was a great need among schools for introducing AI technology.
The PACK was used by VET schools in order:
– to promote the modernization and AI-driven digital transformation of VET schools
– to exploit the use, benefits, impact and risks of AI technology
– to empower vulnerable students with new skills to meet the needs of the labour market
– to strengthen VET trainers’ profiles and as a result upgrading the quality of the VET learning provided and minimizing the gap between E&T and the world of work
– to promote the EU recommendations for acquiring a basic understanding of new and emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence
– to empower students as DIGITAL INNOVATORS for SOCIAL CHANGE and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT The impact on the target groups and all participants was expected to be massive as it not only empowered their profiles, but it also upgraded their organization to maintain efficiency and effective learning procedures that responded to the demands of the digitalized economy, the green transition, and the social challenges.
The MAKERSPACES initiated a new type of active, engaging, motivating and inspiring learning methodology based on quality standards, monitoring rubrics, guidelines etc., as well as on the building up of synergies with the labour market. The traditional classroom-based teaching was replaced by teamwork, problem-solving, and hands-on activities that could trigger the interest of the students. TRANSFERABILITY The products could be utilized, transferred, and exploited further by not only the participating organizations, as part of their practices (e.g., P5 could offer it on an annual basis as a training course or KA1), but also other organizations interested in offering similar programmes.