Interim findings (Sept. 24), formative evaluation
With regard to the purpose of a formative evaluation design, interim findings were drawn based on the teaching modules conducted until Sept. 2024 and the teachers’ reflections.
The 10 modules developed up to August 2024, represent collectively the diversity of the participating educational institutions, covering different levels of education, a variety of course topics, and the application of various technologies. The metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) were particularly significant in shaping the project’s direction.
The evaluation was conducted using the ROBOdidactics model (version 2.0, 2022) as a framework, alongside observations from tech workshops, network meetings, and selected teaching sessions.
Key aspects of the evaluation include considerations of the modules’ a) teaching design, b) digital production, c) digital literacy, and d) interaction with external contexts.
The evaluation also included broader reflections on how to make teaching processes transparent for further development and even transfer to other contexts.
Due to the formative nature of the evaluation, interim findings were discussed during steering group meetings with management and during network meetings and workshops with teachers.
This approach facilitated the identification of lessons learned, informed decision-making, and allowed for adjustments to be made during the project.
The following conclusions are an extract from the interim evaluation (Majgaard, SDU, Sept. 2024):
The 10 teaching modules all appear highly relevant, with innovative digital production undertaken by the students and important contributions to enhance students´ digital literacy. As planned, the project has resulted in scalable modules, whereof many have crossed the education chain including insights from the outside world and addressing new target groups.
Apart from the overall well-performed local results, the short project period made it challenging to develop and implement transnational teaching modules. Efforts were needed to initiate bilateral cooperation – for instance, a joint travel and educational activity in Berlin with shared responsibilities sparked the collaboration. Several network meetings and workshops facilitated further dialogues and planning. A successful joint didactic workshop on developing the new version of ROBOdidactics, strengthened the mutual understanding for differences as well as common approaches.
AS a few examples, the border-crossing collaboration has so far led to planned student exchanges for 2025 and the deveopment of an extended cross-national application. Impulses from Germany resulted in innovative AI avatars speaking German, while the German partner RBZ Wirtschaft Kiel invested in underwater drones following a tech workshop at Danish SIMAC.
The use of ´ROBOdidactics´ as a joint didactic framework made it easy to understand what the teaching modules and the considerations behind were about. The model provides a simple template for documenting and communicating the modules.
