Project
Goal of the project
Skill development
In this project, innovative, interactive and multidisciplinary methods were sought in order to strengthen the key competences/transversal skills in the actual competences of learners. The goal of the project was to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills of ICT teachers and pupils in VET sector by offering learning/teaching/training material to respond to the demand of AI talent in the European labour market.
Lesson materials developed in this project was the first encounter with AI processes for targeted ICT teachers and students. Introducing machine learning into the curriculum was completely new to partner schools and the VET sector in general, as well as the applications and the hardware used for the learning process.
Our Objectives
The objectives of the project were to:
- Develop lesson materials for an innovative study unit Introduction to Artificial Intelligence — a comprehensive course for students who have basic programming skills, in order to equip them with knowledge of machine learning processes.
- Integrate the study unit into each partner country's formal education system, thus enabling the sustainability of the project's results and ensuring the incorporation of AI qualifications into national and European VET systems.
- Provide competence development for ICT teachers, as key actors in the acquisition and transference of new digital skills.
- Disseminate the project's intellectual output across VET and other educational sectors.
Activities of the project
Development of lesson materials
In collaboration with partner schools, comprehensive lesson materials on different AI technologies were developed for 60 contact hours. Lesson materials cover Autonomous Driving with Computer Vision, Machine Learning agents in Game Design, and Robotic Arm and Computer Vision.
Teacher training
Teacher skill development was the cornerstone of the success and sustainability of the project. More than 10 teachers gained necessary competences required for teaching Introduction to Artificial Intelligence at their school.
Product validation
Piloting was implemented in four partner schools in Malta, Lithuania and Finland. 100 target group students developed their AI programming skills. Teachers evaluated the material as very useful (mean 4.4/5) and students as useful (mean 4.2/5).
Research
A survey was carried out to evaluate pupils' skills before and after testing the lesson materials. Research indicated positive dynamics in gaining competences related to the course material.
International hackathon for students
A short-term Scrum hackathon was held in Kaunas (Lithuania) in May 2022 after the piloting stage, evaluating learners' AI-related knowledge and introducing Scrum project management principles.
Dissemination
Four multiplier events in each partner country gathered more than 70 learners, educators, policy makers and IT sector representatives to spread the message about AI opportunities for VET students.