ECHOES – Extended Classroom for Higher Opportunities Enhancing Skills is a European project funded under the Erasmus+ Programme, KA220-VET – Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training. The project focuses on two of the most significant recent developments in vocational education and training (VET): distance learning (methodologies, tools, and resources) and digital online learning. The project partnership consists of Ass.for.SEO (lead partner, Italy), T2i – Technology Transfer and Innovation (Italy), Primorska Technology Park (Slovenia), InfoDef – Instituto para el Fomento del Desarrollo y la Formación (Spain), HTBLA Wolfsberg (Austria), and Wematica Srl (Italy).
Digital Technologies in Education and Training
Digital technologies have expanded access to learning opportunities and made learning more flexible and personalized. E-learning and online training enable the remote delivery of courses and educational content, often accessible from multiple devices such as PCs, smartphones, and tablets.
In this context, digital training methodologies and resources must continually adapt to the evolving technological landscape. As a result, trainers and training professionals face the ongoing challenge of updating their skills to manage their courses effectively.
Digital skills encompass a wide range of knowledge and abilities: from instructional design to the use of Learning Management Systems (LMS); from integrating interactive multimedia tools to conducting online student assessments. Training professionals are required to design and deliver online courses that effectively replicate physical classrooms and provide engaging and accessible content. Moreover, online trainers must manage digital communication and effectively monitor learners’ progress.
The ECHOES Project Objectives
The ECHOES project aims to support training professionals in the VET system by equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to employ digital methodologies and resources for more effective online education.
In VET systems, online teaching requires collaboration among various professionals, each contributing specific competencies essential for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of courses. These professionals (Subject Matter Experts, Instructional Designers, Online Trainers) are responsible for:
- Creating accurate and up-to-date educational content for course topics, delivered as learning modules using appropriate technologies and methodologies.
- Designing the learning experience by applying effective instructional theories and designs, such as gamification and microlearning, to enhance engagement and learning outcomes.
- Effectively utilizing online training platforms to facilitate and monitor student learning, including managing communication tools, discussion forums, interactive webinars, and online assessment tools.
These professionals must possess a diverse set of digital skills, not only general ones applicable to education but also specific skills required to activate, manage, and monitor online learning pathways. These skills must also align with the distinct teaching approaches typical of vocational education, such as:
- Classroom and work-based learning.
- Job shadowing and workplace accompaniment.
- Support for entrepreneurship and business creation.
Main Deliverables: Toolkit and MOOC
The ECHOES project contributes to identifying and developing these specific skills through two main outputs:
- A Toolkit: A resource for training professionals, offering a collection of digital tools, categorized by competency areas and explained for application in different vocational training contexts.
- A MOOC (Massive Open Online Course): Designed for training professionals, this course provides access to learning activities and resources to acquire or strengthen online teaching skills.
Both outputs are structured around the six areas of the DigiCompEdu framework, developed by the European Commission. This framework is a structured guide for improving and evaluating educators’ digital competencies and effectively integrating digital technologies into the educational process.
The Six DigiCompEdu Areas
The ECHOES Toolkit and MOOC focus on the following six areas:
- Professional Engagement: Communication and collaboration via digital tools.
- Digital Resources: Selection, creation, and management of digital content for online learning.
- Teaching and Learning: Using technologies and digital resources to support online instruction.
- Assessment: Evaluating student learning through digital (online) tools.
- Empowering Learners: Leveraging technologies to enhance student autonomy and inclusion.
- Facilitating Students’ Digital Skills: Stimulating interaction, collaboration, and creativity in online learning.
Practical Applications and Features
The Toolkit offers a classification system for each resource, aligning with the DigiCompEdu framework’s proficiency levels—ranging from beginner to pioneer. This helps trainers identify the best tools to meet their needs based on their current skill levels and intended applications in areas such as:
• Classroom and work-based learning.
• Job shadowing and workplace accompaniment.
• Support for entrepreneurship and business creation.
The MOOC includes lessons, practical resources, external links, and case studies to help trainers acquire skills for using specific online teaching methodologies and resources across the six areas of the DigiCompEdu framework.
Standardizing Online VET Education
By referring to the DigiCompEdu framework, the ECHOES Toolkit and MOOC aim to standardize online vocational education and training (VET) through clear and shared criteria. Both resources support digital teaching while helping educators identify and enhance their competencies for more effective online learning.
Free and Open Access
The Toolkit and MOOC are free and fully accessible. To learn more or access the resources, visit the project website: echoes-erasmusplus.eu.
