Context : TVET in general was forced to use massively e-Learning to replace or complement classroom lessons stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure a degree of continuity to learning and teaching. This shift found TVET learners at disadvantage since most of available ready-made online courses were neither TVET-specific nor relevant to the national context or focused on theoretical knowledge rather than on the practical skills of each occupation. Work-based learning in companies was also affected by Covid-19. Self-learning became the only option even if assignments’ planning, home-based theoretical and practical tasks, interaction and cooperation among learners from remote, work on real situations and projects, capacity of teachers, trainers, coaches and mentors, to adapt teaching and training skills to eContents, were far from ideal. Moreover, uneven access to technology and digital devices aggravated inequalities and gaps between those able to access and those who were shut out.
This extraordinary situation became an opportunity for TVET students to develop or deepen their digital skills as well as for TVET national institutions and TVET suppliers to capitalize individual eLearning experiences as a blended training system that completes face-to-face TVET theory in classroom, practical skills in workshop floor and actual application though work-based learning with on-line, eLearning modules or components of the training programmes. In Jordan, before the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis, public TVET providers had accumulated some experience of on-line learning. For example, in 2018-2020, the GIZ implemented EU SESIP TA promoted public-private partnerships between TVET suppliers that had developed e-learning programmes and tools and supported the TVSDC in developing an eLearning platform to offer to all TVET suppliers. The shift to eLearning and distance training revealed that:
•skills and competencies to support digital and technological transformation in all areas of business were scarce,
•the regulatory bodies (TVSDC) had yet to formalise the legal recognition of large-scale distance learning programmes,
•TVET institutions lacked Learning Management System (LMS) for e-learning, financial resources, facilities, technology, equipment and skilled staff to design, develop and produce e-learning contents,
•training providers mostly resorted to free tools, which were not originally intended for interactive and blended learning,
•the 300 accredited providers did not adopt a modular approach required for blended training programmes,
The Overall objective of BTEL is to Improve coordination, synergy and policy coherence (governance) among national public and private TVET institutions and international partners, to enhance the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and impact of resources invested in ensuring the continuity of the learning and teaching through e-Learning and promote the systematic adoption of blended training in the TVET sector in Jordan.
Approach
BTEL supports the TVSDC to develop e-Learning and blended training in Jordan. Thanks to BTEL the TVSDC will by put at the disposal of the TVET sector a blended training system (concept and features), advanced eLearning technology (the TADREEBAK platform) and e-contents, Learning Management Systems for TVET providers. BTEL strengthens the TVSDC capacity to implement selected pillars of its Action Plan 2020-2024 in the wake of the TVET reform.
The TVSDC is the independent government body regulating and coordinating TVET and providing services to the public and private suppliers and stakeholders., established with the TVSD Law 9/2019. The TVSDC as a regulator, adopted the By-law "Licensing of TEVT providers" (19 -2020) with which approved eLearning as one of the TVET training and learning modes as well as the By-Law "Accreditation of TVET Providers" (19/2020), for TVET institutions using eLearning to blend with residential training, apprenticeship and on-the job training. The TVSDC launched the TADREEBAK, life streaming, interactive, cloud-based platform, developed with the support of the EU SESIP TA project, in early April 2020 and progressively reached the actual capacity of hosting capacity of 5000 concurrent users extendable to 50,000.
BTEL ‘s trifold purpose includes:
•support to the TVSDC in building the capacity of the TVET providers to implement e-Learning and blended training in the delivery of TVET programmes that increase the employability of students and trainees and are relevant to the needs of the sectors of the labour market in Jordan.
•further development of the TVSDC capacity to manage TADREEBAK platform for e-Learning and blended training as a technology-enhanced environment for the coordination of policies, projects and resources in the field of eLearning
•strengthen the TVSDC capacity to implement the building blocks of its Action Plan
EXPECTED RESULTS:
•Result 1: The TVSDC plays an effective and proactive role in building TVET providers’ capacity, engagement and overall coherence to implement e-Learning and blended training in the TVET sector in Jordan in the short medium and longer-term time frame;
•Result 2: The TVSDC is capable of developing and producing digital contents for students and trainees based on Virtual, Augmented reality (VR&AR), videos and animations, Information graphs for Data visualizations;
•Result 3: The TVSDC develops e-contents for trainers and TVET professionals on pedagogical and training skills, systematic approach to TVET, management of TVET institutions, curriculum and instructional material development for training in-presence and in eLearning scheme; (Pillar TOT of TVSDC AP);
•Result 4: The TVSDC adopts regulations for recognition of blended learning in Jordan.
•Result 5: The TVSDC is capable of running training on how to establish and run a Learning Management System Team for licensed TVET providers that request the use of TADREEBAK as well as regular retraining and upgrading for the institutions that are already using the TVSDC eLearning platform.
•Result 6: The TVSDC is capable of developing eLearning model-technical contents for programmes to be run by the licensed public and private TVET suppliers that use TADREEBAK.
•Result 7: The TVSDC is capable to sustain, manage, monitor, update and continuously develop the TADREEBAK national platform for e-Learning and blended training as a technology-enhanced environment for the effective support of licensed TVET public and private providers.
•Result 8: The TVSDC raises awareness and systematically promotes the use of TADREEBAK nationwide
•Result 9: The TVSDC capacity to consistently implement the pillars of its Action Plan and the actions directly and indirectly related to the implementation of eLearning and blended training is increased.
FACTS & FIGURES:
•The TVSDC TADREEBAK Learning Management System (LMS) unit of 5 specialised staff trained and operational is established and operational.
•The TADREEBAK Team including 5 TVSDC LMS staff, 10 representatives from BAU, MOE/VE, NET, UNRWA and VTC (2 each) and 5 BTEL long term junior non-key experts, established and operational
•TADREEBAK hosted at the servers of the MODEE, with updated hosting specifications, and its cost included in the TVSDC budget of recurrent expenditures
•TVSDC eLab’s equipment tender completed. Equipment and tools expected to be installed and functioning by November 2021
•The TVSDC Action Plan’s Pillar 4 on eLearning and Blended training implemented
•6 TVSDC By-Laws finalised
•E-contents for 75 hours=700 class room hours e-content (VR&AR) produced and integrated in TADREEBAK for TVET student, trainers and supervisors
•200 trainers and teachers, trained on e-learning methodology
•250 licensed providers that will use TADREEBAK for on-line courses per year;
•15 LMS teams with 50 staff trained as LMS team members
•100 and 150 e-content (VR &AR) hours per programme for students and trainees for 5 certified and accredited formal Vocational Education and Training TVET programmes, based on the modular approach at level 4 of the National Qualification Framework
•20 to-40 learning module which are the equivalent of 600 class room and workshop regular training hours).
•100 institutions to, manage, monitor, update their eLearning offer through TADREEBAK
•300 trainers and teachers trained on eLearning and blended training methodology
•200 professionals representing sectors trained on eLearning and blended training system development
•5 members of TVSDC TADREEBAK Team having attended eLearning / BT F2F or on-line courses
•8 TVSDC Managers exposed to study visit to an EU eLearning/ BT centre of excellence
•Visibility ensured through mass, social and dedicated media and videos
It is expected that TADREEBAK (https://tvsdc.gov.jo/en/e-Service/tadreebak/) is utilised by 5000 regular concurrent users, as the capacity of the cloud-based server guarantees 5000 concurrent users, expandable to 45,000 for live streaming courses. SITAP BTEL, will target the 5000 regular users of TADREEBAK by organization, like for example: 1500 from MOE, 1000 from VTC, 1000 from BAU, 350 from NET, 150 from UNRWA, 1000 from private providers, including students/trainees with disability.