Creating a hybrid learning model elective course “Holiday pastries of different Europe nations”

The project was prepared at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic and was greatly influenced by the need to find ways to provide distance and hybrid learning in vocational schools by improving teache...

The project set a specific objective to create a student centred and engaging hybrid learning elective course module “Holiday pastries in Europe nations” with a capacity of 104 academic hours (4 ECTS) and implement the course in a hybrid learning mode. More specifically the project team will create: 1) a model structure for a hybrid learning course; 2) an online learning material for baker-confectioners online course, including video instructions for practical workshops; 3) develop VET teachers digital competences in creating online learning content; 4) pilot the hybrid learning course with students from partner schools on a mutual platform; 5) ensure participation for students with lesser opportunities (with different mother tongue, and vulnerable socio-economic background); 6) develop an international cooperation framework for teachers and students, promote diverse cultures and traditions in an international environment.

The main activities within the project were: Project management that involved communication between the partners; planning and organising activities, monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Organising short-term teachers training (5 training sessions in total) to improve teachers digital competencies, provide necessary skills for preparing training materials, tutorials, instructional videos, online tests and exchange knowledge on baking national holiday pastries. 22.–24. February 2022, in Maribor - Short-term training “Hybrid learning course design and structure”, 12 participants 17.-19. May 2022, in Riga - Short-term training “Web platforms and tools for hybrid learning”, 13 participants + 1 online 27.-29.September, in Salo - Short term training “How to do instructional videos” , 14 participants. 29 11.- 01.12. 2022, in Utena - Short-term training “Technological maps for hybrid learning course materials”, 12 participants 21.-23.02.2023, in Kuldiga - Short-term training “Evaluation and assessment in hybrid learning courses” , 15 participants Development of project results: IO1 - A curriculum and course outline for hybrid learning module; IO2 - the online course content, including video tutorials for workshops, technological maps for products and holidays descriptions in context of the holiday recipe; IO3 - The online platform for hybrid learning course created and materials published. The online learning materials included three different baker-confectionery product instructions per partner representing three national holidays, in total eighteen products which are related to three different national holidays of their country and step-by-step instructional videos. In total the project results included 18 instructional videos on different traditional holiday bakery products. Hybake.com serves as a platform for students to take part in piloting of the hybrid learning course but it remains an open educational source for partner schools as well as for all interested bodies. Piloting the hybrid course in all partner schools during the spring 2023. About 100 students tested the course content. According to the piloting plan each school had to test at least three nations' holiday pastries (holiday descriptions, practical baking part according to the instructions and submitting an online test). Among students who piloted the course were vocational students at different study levels, but also Erasmus exchange students and refugee groups from Ukraine. In order to disseminate the results of the project and promote wider use of Hybake.com a baking day was organised on 26.10.2023 with the participation of over 60 people.

The project prepared 3 main outputs: IO1 - A curriculum and course outline for hybrid learning module; IO2 - the online course content, including video tutorials for workshops, technological maps for products and holidays descriptions in context of the holiday recipe; IO3 - The online platform for hybrid learning course created and materials published. Together they form a complete learning platform Hybake.com for students to take part in piloting of the hybrid learning course but it is also a long-term and open educational source for partner schools as well as for all interested bodies. By this the project achieved the objective to prepare a hybrid course module with online content and hybrid instruction materials (4 ETCT). The result of this course created by the partners is that students and teachers can use it continuously for hybrid and distance learning mode. But also we foresee that students can take this module in any partner school in the future as well and teachers instruct students internationally. During the piloting period this concept worked well. The hybrid course was evaluated by students and following aspects were most important to students: * obtaining practical skills and knowledge on how to make other nation´s bakings (81,5%) * cultural awareness and knowledge about other nation´s holiday traditions (41,3%) * self- confidence to be able to learn and practice independently (40%) All students (100%) that responded to the feedback questionnaire stated that they would suggest the platform to other students. The second outcome is 5 short term training sessions with 67 participation in total. The participation created a foundation for further cooperation between the baker-confectionery teachers and improved teachers' competencies. According to the feedback most importantly teachers feel that * they learned how to make other nations' baking (90% strongly agreed, 10% somewhat agreed ) * They know more about other nation´s holiday traditions (90% strongly agreed, 10% somewhat agreed) * they improved english language skills (70% strongly agreed, 30% somewhat agreed) * they improved digital skills (70% strongly agreed, 30% somewhat agreed) The project created following results: 1. Tested and approved hybrid course module with online content and hybrid instruction materials hybake.com opened for the public. The course module allows for future cooperation internationally - students can take this module in any partner school and teachers instruct students internationally. The project added prestige of vocational education establishments by introducing a hybrid learning course module in practical workshops and developed cooperation possibilities between VET schools 2. The project created a foundation for further cooperation between the baker-confectionery teachers. The participants have benefited from cultural exchange, language training, new social skills in an international context and developing close cooperation relationships. 3. Teachers that participate in the project improved digital skills and are able to create relevant online learning content including video tutorials, using virtual online tools (Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams) and using Excel, PowerPoint, Word for recipes and calculation purposes, 4. The partner schools have a new innovative module that is added to their baker-confectionery curricula. 5. All participants, teachers and students have a good overview of different local cultural traditions and traditional bakery products in partner countries. The students that have participated in a pilot course, have knowledge of different European holidays and traditions including culinary traditions and new skills in preparing different national products from partner countries.