The European eEarlyCare-T project "Specialised and updated training on supporting advance technologies for early childhood education and care professionals and graduates" presented progress and plans for future actions at the third transnational meeting of this EU co-funded initiative..
Designed by a strategic partnership formed by three European universities (University of Burgos, University of Roma Tre (Italy) and Croatian University of Sveuciliste u Rijeci) and the companies GESTIONET S.L (Spain) and SENIOR EUROPA S.L (Spain), this project aims to develop a training programme aimed at the specialisation of professionals related to early care for 0-6 year olds. The training activities apply innovative teaching methodologies based on the use of avatars, gamification, virtual laboratories and virtual reality. Likewise, the entire training process is carried out within a virtual learning environment that applies different resources that facilitate self-assessment and personalised learning. Artificial Intelligence techniques will be used to adapt the learning materials and resources.
During this third meeting, the report on the results of the evaluation of the proposed training modules with the methodology of expert judgement (profiles and Syllabus) was discussed. Specifically, the training proposal accepted includes different modules and virtual laboratories of practical application:
Modules
Introduction
Module I. Introduction to the concept of early care and intervention in different contexts.
- Module I.1. Concept of early care and intervention in different contexts.
- Module I. 2. Pregnancy and childbirth: implications in the early development of the baby.
- Module I. 3 Parenting: implications for early child development.
Practical application through simulation laboratory 1.
Module II. Early neurodevelopment.
Module III. Pathologies in early ages.
Module IV. Techniques and instruments for assessment at early ages.
Module IV.I Observation and assessment techniques based on the use of intelligent resources.
Module V. Cognitive, social and language development and early intervention.
Practical application through simulation laboratory 2.
Module VI. Psychomotor development and development of personal autonomy and early intervention.
Practical application through the simulation laboratory 3.
Module VII. Early intervention and application of intelligent resources (IoT, IPA, Health Smart, AI).
Practical application through simulation laboratory 4.
Furthermore, the SME Gestionet has presented a prototype for the inclusion of the theoretical contents, specifically Module I.1, in the virtual learning environment. This environment contains the help of inclusive avatars to facilitate the learning regulation of the users participating in the training. The design of the avatars applies Artificial Intelligence techniques that consist in synchronising the voice to the facial expressions of the avatars according to the pragmatics of the discourse. This functionality has great potential, as it will lead to greater self-regulation during the learning process.
The Development Manual Project was also presented, which includes different tools for the planning, dissemination and monitoring of the project's progress and results.
Similarly, the researchers showed the eEarlyCare-T project website developed by the Web Team of the University of Burgos, as well as the various resources for the dissemination of the project through social networks, web and YouTube channel. All this information will be managed through Hootsuite technology.
In addition, the researchers presented the Promotion & Communication Plan of the project. This includes all dissemination resources, as well as dissemination actions and log sheets to ensure traceability.
Finally, they reflected on the planning of further steps and actions. Specifically, in September the development of the 8 training modules will be finalised and in October and November they will be validated by the expert judgement methodology (3 active professionals in the field of early childhood care and 3 undergraduate or master students in degrees related to this professional field for each of the participating partners from the Universities of Burgos and Roma Tre and the Faculty of Medicine of Rijeka). Once the training modules have been validated during the months of November 2022 to February 2023, their content will be inserted into the virtual learning environment.
Three researchers from the University of Burgos, PhD. Sáiz-Manzanares, coordinator of the project, PhD. Escolar-Llamazares and PhD. Rodríguez-Arribas, participated in this transnational meeting. From Kveloce, Belén Costa and Lorena Aguilar; from the University of Roma Tre (Italy), PhD. Vincenzo Piccione and PhD. Amelia Broccoli; from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Rijeka (Croatia), PhD. Darko Rovis, PhD. Vanja Vasiljev, and PhD. Denis Juraga and from the SME Gestionet Gary Balenciaga and Judith Laforga. he European eEarlyCare-T project can be followed on social media via Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channel.