Archive for the ‘workinglearning’ Category

Learning Layers goes to Brunnenbauertage – Part 2: Our messages and our conversations

May 10th, 2014 by Pekka Kamarainen

In my previous post I described in detail, how the Learning Layers (LL) project contributed to the 65 Brunnenbauertage (German construction sector event) that was hosted by Bau-ABC in Rostrup. With my second post I try to give insights into the conversations we had with our counterparts and to report ofnour learning gains.

Firstly, it is worthwhile to emphasise that we were out there at a time when our designs and applications are in the prototype phase. We tried to give insights to the usefulness of digital media, Web 2.0 tools and mobile technologies. Yet, we had to avoid raising too high expectations. We chose to focus on the observations that we had made in our fieldwork and to on the potential of the Learning Toolbox to resolve critical issues or practical problems. We gathered several exemplary situations in borehole drilling, communication between the warehouse (Lager) and the construction site, in maintenance and repair as well as in health and safety measures. In addition, we emphasised the potentials of AchSo! as a tool to draw attention to critical situations and points to be considered.

Secondly, in our talks on the LL stall we got very often positive feedback from our counterparts. The usefulness of AchSo! and the expected functionality of the Learning Toolbox attracted interest. Also, the exemplary work situations that we presented (as ones in which the tools would help) were considered appropriate.  Moreover, our counterparts added similar situations to the picture. We talked with entrepreneurs, apprentices, trainers of Bau ABC, university lecturers and exhibitors with different backgrounds. . One entrepreneur was very convinced that the digital media, Web 2.0 tools and designs like the Learning Toolbox will be a great help for training and learning. He put an emphasis on the new generations of apprentices and their familiarisation with new media. The next entrepreneur was far more hesitant in this respect.

Thirdly, in our stakeholder interviews that we carried out during the event we were able to map some potential counterparts for closer collaboration with the LL tools. In these conversations we could see the interest in linking the digital support for learning and knowledge sharing to the renewal of products and their maintenance documents. Here we could also see a common interest area between the enterprises and training providers. We and our counterparts agreed that we need to continue these talks once we have identified common starting points.

Fourthly, we got very clear expressions of interest from universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) that are developing so-called Dual studies. These study programmes are based on apprentice contracts and they link initial vocational qualification (skilled worker)  to domain-specific higher education (engineering, geosciences, etc.). In these discussions we could identify several common points of interest starting from the emphasis on workplace learning, on the role of web-based support and on the role of training for trainers (in training centres and enterprises).

With this post I do not try to give a comprehensive interpretation on the results of our activities. In this short time (and with my limited awareness of what all happened) it would not have been possible. Yet, I hope that I have been able to outline some of the learning gains that we made during our mission to the Brunnenbauertage. We will surely take them into consideration when we develop our further activities in the LL project.

More posts to come …

 

Learning Layers goes to Brunnenbauertage – Part 1: The event and our contributions

May 10th, 2014 by Pekka Kamarainen

This week (from Wednesday morning to Friday afternoon) the Learning Layers project was actively present at the German construction sector event “Brunnenbauertage” hosted by Bau-ABC on their premises in Rostrup. With two blog postings I try to give a picture of the events and our contributions (Part 1) and of the conversations we had there with different participants from the construction sector.

As a professional event of well-builders and borehole builders (Brunnenbauer) the conference part of the Brunnenbauertage event has a longer history (this one was already the 65th). As an enrichment, Bau-ABC has started to organise a professional exhibition every third year. Whilst the start was modest (only five exhibition stalls in the beginning), also the this part has gained importance and now there were over 100 exhibitors with stands and demonstration areas. Altogether, the event was attended by over 650 participants. On the spot, the following activities were running parallel to each other:

  • The conference sessions (and workshops on specific topics on construction techniques) were running in separate conference rooms;
  • The exhibition stalls were accommodated in an a huge exhibition tent that also provided the space for  foyer presentations;
  • In several workshop halls and in the surrounding outdoor areas there were dedicated demonstration areas with scheduled demonstrations of drilling techniques and machinery.

We had planned in advance some presentations and then worked out a plan for several activities to be carried out in the exhibition area. Altogether, we were present in the following ways:

  1. In the conference area Melanie Campbell organised a workshop that was addressed to the training of Horizontal Drilling specialists and brought insights into the role of the Baubildung.net platform. (The workshop  was attended also by Werner Müller, Graham Attwell and Dirk Stieglitz.
  2. In the exhibition area the Learning Layers stall served as an info-point and contact point for all activities. We had posters on AchSo!, Baubildung.net, Learning Toolbox and the Reflect App. In addition we had a comprehensive slideshow and devices to demonstrate AchSo! and the Learning Toolbox. (The stall was managed by Martina Lübbing with support from Pekka Kämäräinen, Werner Müller, Owen Gray and Istvan Koren.)
  3. During the first two days some of us were actively visiting other exhibition stalls and engaging the exhibitors to conversation on the role of digital media, Web 2.0 and mobile technologies in learning and knowledge sharing. (These activities were carried out by Ludger Deitmer, Werner Müller and Gilbert Peffer.)
  4. During the last two days some of us were following the demonstrations and taking videos with the help of helmet camera, tablet and smartphones. (These activities were carried out by Martina Lübbing, Owen Gray and Istvan Koren. Also, some apprentices of Bau-ABC supported us in these activities.)
  5. On the second day we had a foyer-presentation on the Learning Layers in front of the exhibition area (that reached the entire audience in the exhibition tent). This presentation outlined the key points of the project (on the potential of digital media, Web 2.0 and mobile technologies to support workplace learning) and gave specific insights into Learning Toolbox and into the AchSo! application. (The presentation was given by Ludger Deitmer, Gilbert Peffer and Istvan Koren. With her interim input Kerstin Engraf explained, how Bau-ABC has been involved in the project and what benefits they see coming up for the construction sector and for training activities.)
  6. On the third day we had some concluding talks with major exhibitors (that are strongly present in training) and with universities of applied science (who are developing e-learning and practice-based learning in the programmes for “dual studies”).  (These talks were carried out by Werner Müller, Martina Lübbing, Pekka Kämäräinen and Istvan Koren).

Altogether, the three days were characterised by manifold activities, lots of contacts and several ideas that were exchanged between us and our counterparts in these conversations. We need to get back to our learning gains very soon.

More posts to come …

 

 

 

 

 

Back to normal business – back to the blog

May 10th, 2014 by Pekka Kamarainen

After the previous posts April turned out to be a rather quiet month on this blog. Partly this was due to the Easter holidays. To a greater extent this was due to all kinds of backstage work in the Learning Layers project and with some spin-off initiatives. Finally, the preparations for a major stakeholder event – the 65th Brunnenbauertage in Bau-ABC Rostrup kept us busy. Now this event is over and it is time to get back to normal business – and to writing on the Learning Layers project on this blog.

More posts to come …

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