Learning Layers at ECER’14 – Part 3: The German-Dutch workshop on Interactive Research
In my previous posts on the contributions of the Learning Layers (LL) project to the ECER’14 conference in Porto, Portugal, I have reported on the Opening Colloquium of the VETNET network and on the LL symposium “Construction 2.0”. This third post will give insights into the joint German-Dutch research workshop on the theme “Interactive Innovation Research in VET and Working Life: Lessons from Dutch and European Projects”.
The background of this workshop was a similar session in the ECER’13 in Istanbul in which three Dutch research groups presented parallel interactive research projects and experiences with boundary-crossing practices in educational innovation projects. This triggered the initiative to prepare a similar session between a merged Dutch research group and the LL research team of ITB. We agreed to present an update on one of the earlier Dutch project and a new project. From the German side we presented the LL development projects “Learning Toolbox” and “Captus – the Learning Exhibition”.
In the workshop session we started with a joint Power Point, presented by Aimée Hoeve (HAN University of Applied Sciences). She gave insights into the key concept “Interactive research” by Per-Erik Ellström (VETNET keynote speaker at ECER’08) and into the framework of Akkerman and Baker for analysing boundary-crossing practicies in innovation practices. Based on these conceptual impulses the Dutch colleagues had developed a poster format to present complex interactive projects with focus on the following points:
- Brief description of the innovation context;
- Characterisation of the interrelations between the activity systems ‘Research’ and ‘Practice’;
- Characterisation of boundary-crossing practices in the project work;
- Reflection on lessons learned.
After the brief introduction Aimée and Loek Nieuwenhuis (also from HAN) presented the two Dutch project cases:
1. The Hybrid Learning Environment project that was carried out in two sectors Catering and Construction, see
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B02cXf0hbQH0Tm9HUE1JN0l5T0k
2. The Better Learning in Practice (BLIP) project that is being carried out in several vocational schools, see
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B02cXf0hbQH0UHVYWHdIeVdOMXM
In a second round of discussions I and Joanna Burchert presented the two LL project cases from Germany:
3. The LL development project Learning Toolbox carried out in the training centre Bau-ABC, see
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B02cXf0hbQH0TWdxbG0xWnVWTHM
4. The LL development project Captus carried out in with the Network for Ecological Construction work, see
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B02cXf0hbQH0Q0sxQ3B1VGQ2RFE
In this context it is not appropriate to try to go into more detailed discussion. (We have jointly written an article that will be published in a short while.) However, we are pleased to report that this workshop format – even in the lecture theatre -shaped room – served the purpose of bringing the audience into active interaction with us. Also, via this mode of communication we got a better understanding of each others’ projects and agreed to continue this kind of cross-project dialogue and knowledge sharing. As the next milestone we agreed to organise a joint contact workshop with more detailed information on each others’ projects. We also agreed to invite a newer Norwegian project to this cooperation.
More blogs to come …
