Project

Dual-T – Phase II: Project 5 – Collecting “meaningful experiences” from the workplace using portable ICT devices

This project aims at exploring the potential of light portable ICT devices 1. to help apprentices to capture meaningful experiences at the workplace and to store them in an electronic portfolio and 2. to provide materials to be used for learning activities at school by teachers.

Rido / Fotolia

More specifically, the project will address the following research questions:

  • What kind of portable ICT devices can best serve as tools (1) to capture experiences and (2) to store images of such experiences throughout their training?
  • How can teachers at school make use of the “evidence” captured at the workplace using portable ICT?

Experiences from the workplace are captured as photos or videos by means of smartphones or headband cameras. The possibility is given to upload captured experiences into an online learning journal where they are available for teachers to prepare learning activities and/or for apprentices to use the material when engaging in further reflection, alone or with their supervisor. The learning journal proposes prompts to stimulate reflection and the application of learning strategies.
Learning activities at school integrate the captured experiences for a multitude of functions, such as comparing experiences from different companies, illustrating well done or failed work examples, evaluating the quality of a product or a process, finding explanations for high or low quality of work done etc.

Method

Three different professions (car mechanics, cooks, bakers) were involved. First of all, the feasibility of the model was tested, using both headband cameras to collect short videos and smartphones to collect pictures. Questionnaires were submitted to assess apprentices’ perceived ease of use of the devices and perceived usefulness and satisfaction of the learning activities.

Different pedagogical scenarios, designed and developed in close collaboration with teachers, were progressively tested with apprentices in the experimental classes, alternating individual, group and class activities. When possible, a second classroom was involved as a control group, to be contrasted to the experimental class; in this case, results in declarative knowledge tests were mainly used as preliminary learning outcomes.

Awards
The research project was awarded in 2014 with the EAPRIL Best Research and Practice Project Award.
Motta, E., Cattaneo, A., & Gurtner, J. -L. (2015). High-level content co-regulation episodes in small groups: experiences in initial vocational education and training. Paper presented at the 3rd International VET Congress 2015, Zollikofen, Switzerland. Best Paper Award2015, 1st place.

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