Augmented Reality in Teaching in Construction VET

VET-staff in the project got a deeper insight into chances and limits of Augmented Reality (AR); that was realised by seminars of a minimum of 4 hours duration within the range of each of the thre...

VET-staff in the project got a deeper insight into chances and limits of Augmented Reality (AR); that was realised by seminars of a minimum of 4 hours duration within the range of each of the three project meetings. AR-seminars were conducted by project partner WEKIT-ECS. Project staff of other project partners only needed to bring with them AR-fit tablet PCs and AR-fit smartphones. That contributed to increased knowledge about the technical set-up of devices, the handling of the device in AR-applications, the interface with stationary computers and its data exchange, etc. Project VET staff contributed with presentations dealing with pre-requisites for regular VET-staff (i.e. VET-trainers) to apply AR e.g. individual/personal pre-conditions, necessary technical equipment (tablets, AR-glasses, etc.) and support in which VET-content is appropriate for combining it with AR. ARTVET has established a new network of AR-considering and applying VET-centres.

At the meeting no. 1 (7.-8. September 2022, Bologna / IT) there was an introduction of the ARTVET project, the new network, necessary administrative items and the AR workshop. The workshop AR-introduction, of 4 hours dealt with the history of AR and a demo of the Mirage XR software. Next there was a practical hands-on session of all partners in a workshop of the IIPLE training centre by making use of mobile devices. After the kick-off, phase 1 started with the task of defining starting points to enter AR in VET-centres and merging partners´ VET-contexts with opportunities AR offers; was to be done until the 2. meeting. At the 2. meeting (29.-30. November 2022, Liege / BE) there were presentations of phase 1 results followed by a discussion and an extension of team-work in another 4 hours practical workshop. The more theoretical part dealt with a comprehensive presentation about AR-standards, formats and case scenarios. The meeting was followed by phase 2, in which the tasks were to define/select use cases for developing AR-solutions in VET. At the 3. meeting (27.-28. of February 2023, Madrid / ES) there were presentations of phase 2 results and drawn from that conclusions/follow-up ideas and a final practical seminar with hands-on

The 3 main outputs consist of the 3 meetings with 9 network partners and always more than 15 VET-experts and university staff involved, where the actual purpose of an Exchange of Experience project was realized. There was always a pragmatic, but nevertheless theoretical, input along the targeted contents from the application and a practical hands-on session with staff´s own digital devices to experience AR live under supervision/support from the technical partner. In particular, all participants built up more knowledge and even skills related to Augmented Reality. The opportunities but as well the limits of what AR can provide were presented and discussed in a controversial way. The linear way from a more general input about AR (1. meeting), followed by more specific technical features like AR-standards and formats (2. meeting) up to concrete case studies about current or desired AR-VET-scenarios (3. meeting) offered all project participants to start their journey into this emerging technology for VET. With the experienced theory and practice, project staff can now better estimate whether and how AR can enrich and possibly upscale VET in their individual VET situations; which target group to address, which hard-/software necessary