Project Description

AIM OF THE PROJECT

Guide agricultural VET teachers in the renewing of their teaching methods by providing them a freely available online course “Teachers for Farming 4.0” based on a networked learning pedagogical model. The project will integrate the networked learning methodology of a successful Leonardo project (Tenegen: http://www.tenegen.eu/) with the pedagogical innovations of learner-centred methods such as the Creative Classroom (CC) and the Flipped Classroom (FC) model. The learning environment and teaching model applied by this LdV project is aligned with the pedagogical innovations of the ET 2020 framework, focusing for the development of 21st century skills, creativity, and the digital entrepreneurship of students.

OBJECTIVES

1. A focused needs-analysis, and comparative study to identify the training needs by involving VET teachers and representatives of the beneficiaries - the agricultural companies.

2. Developing a standard Competency Framework for agricultural workers and agricultural ICT practitioners, aligned with EU standards such as the EQF and the e-Competence Framework.

3. A Curriculum Design based on the UK partner’s methodology.

4. Developing learning content for THREE MODULES:

M1 Reinventing agricultural education

M2 European Strategies and initiatives for e-Agriculture

M3 Digital systems within Agriculture 4.0

5. Development of an online collaboration platform and the implementation of the components for “Teachers for Farming 4.0”

6. Piloting the “Teacher for Farming 4.0” course (HU, MK)

7. Refining the syllabi and the course components according to feedback from the participants

8. Planning for valorization and sustainability

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Agriculture has changed fundamentally over the last 15 years, and is increasingly becoming a knowledge-intensive sector within the 21st century global economy. New initiatives, such as ICT4Ag (the most widely adopted acronym for the use of ICT in the agricultural sector) and Farming 4.0, highlight the fact that cutting-edge technology, mobiles and smart devices, sensors and knowledge networks are now more and more widely employed in productivity improvement of agricultural enterprises.

Today, information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, related technologies and available services have become an indispensable tool in agriculture. As a result, these changing needs of the labour market demand a correspondingly skilled workforce – a demand that agricultural education must respond to quickly.

It is also worth considering that learner-centred methods in the education, and the use of digital skills and tools in the AG sector, can motivate and attract young people into agriculture.

EXPECTED IMPACT

The project will increase and improve the knowledge of teachers in online and collaborative learning, and in innovative learning methods that meet the requirements XXI century skills, ICT in education, and knowledge of agriculture 4.0.

The practical application of the new knowledge and skills gained during the project will filter through to the education of future students in agricultural education. This age group is much more receptive to ICT-based learning and the use of modern tools. If teachers can become familiar with the possibilities and benefits of using ICT tools in agriculture, they will be able to motivate and attract more young people to study in this area

TARGET GROUP

Agricultural VET teachers

BENEFICIARIES

Students, farmers, advisors

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

HU, MK, CZ, UK

TARGET COUNTRIES

Hungary, Macedonia

PROJECT TITLE

Connecting VET Teachers to Agriculture 4.0

PROJECT ACRONYM

Agriteach 4.0