This work package (WP) initiates the project by researching current best practice and trends in the areas of e-learning standards and Virtual Scenario (VS) systems, and conducting a needs analysis to fully understand the state-of-the-art and requirements of end users in the world of work. This is an important preparatory WP to ensure that the project has a common understanding on what existing standards are available and how best to utilise them to meet the practical needs of the project.
This WP will focus on the technical development required to make Virtual Scenario tools (to deliver SBL) more easily accessible and usable to educators and learners. Specifically access of the authoring user interface of the VS tool for educators, access to the learning delivery platform for the learners and access to the session data of the learners for the educators. The developments will make use of existing standards to ensure that integration can be achieved with conformant systems and suitable for different languages and alphabets to be maintained.
This WP covers the development of the content that constitutes the non-technical “toolkit” of resources designed to make SBL and VS accessible to users. The toolkit will consist of development of guides; general pedagogical principles, best-practice, and installation and maintenance information, produced in targeted languages. A “How-to” guide on creating VS MOOC will also be part of this toolkit.
This WP will put in place the project quality monitoring procedures, checklists, and flexible and mandatory responses to any evidence of unsatisfactory quality. The responses defined will include remedying problems and making adjustments to the project where necessary, under the direction of the WP lead, with the PSG as final arbiter.
This WP will evaluate the effectiveness of all phases of the project and determine whether anticipated outcomes are met which will be documented in an Evaluation Plan. The plan will cover: suitability of the final agreed specifications based on the needs of end users; process, progress and testing of technical developments, technical toolkit, and the demo platform; non-technical ‘toolkit’ for end users; dissemination activities for quality and number; use of the open source portal for project sustainability. Specific instruments will be created to generate data from the evaluation activities that will feed into WP4 to ensure standards were met.
This WP will plan and implement activities to sustain the project’s results, networks and community. All project resources, such as the website, toolkit and online communities will be maintained and updated by the partners for at least 3 years after the project has ended.
The aim for this work package is to ensure the project and its outputs are shared with the wider community, with specific and tangible benefits to be gained from active involvement in the overall dissemination plan of the project. This engagement will pass through the wider WAVES network, which consists of the project partners, Associate Partner Forum and additional Dissemination Partners who wish to be involved.
The management WP will aim to deliver the project in the most cost effective and timely manner. The WP will manage the overall running of the project and coordinate communication between the partners; this includes organising partner meetings both in person and online. The project plan will be produced as part of the start-up of the project and agreed by partners along with a mutual agreement of work to be carried out during the duration of the project.
