It is noteworthy that the TC of the InnStation project had a laboratory format and was attended by twenty-five (25) teachers of Primary and Secondary Education, who acquired valuable knowledge on the implementation of the blended learning model and self-directed learning in practice. The TC aims at the design of digital material and digital courses, supportive to face-to-face learning, by utilizing tools such as software, applications, platforms and the exchange of European good practices that enhance and cultivate the autonomy of learners.

Specifically, the TP of the InnStation project:

• Was based on the blended learning model, with asynchronous and synchronous participation in the LAMS platform and was available free of charge.
• Had a total duration of thirty (30) hours over a period of four (4) weeks and included five (5) Teaching Modules, as follows:
  • Module 1: Familiarization with the working environment of the LAMS platform for blended learning
  • Module 2: Cultivating the autonomy of students in learning and introduction to basic concepts
  • Module 3. Utilization of good practices from the European area for blended learning
  • Module 4: Key parameters in self-directed learning
  • Module 5: e-Safety
• The twenty-four (24) hours of participation were carried out asynchronously, with study of material and assignments on the LAMS platform, while the six (6) hours with face-to-face laboratory training.
• The educational material was based on the Teacher’s Guidebook for Self-Directed and Blended Learning, one of the deliverables of the InnStation project.
• Twenty-five (25) participants successfully completed and received a Certificate of Successful Completion.

The aim of the project InnStation is to upgrade the digital skills of teacher and educators by providing resources and educational material. An additional prominent goal is to enhance the learning ability of students and undergraduate students. Moreover, the project aims to cultivate the autonomy of young people during their participation in online education and to develop the skills of self-directed and self-managed learning.

The InnStation project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union and is implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from five (5) European countries (Greece, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Poland), including the Hellenic Open University through the DAISSy Research Group.

For more information about the InnStation project as well as other activities of DAISSy-EΑP:

• Website: https://daissy.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

The aim of the TC is to train educators in updated good practices from the European context. Specifically, it offers hands-on experience in applying blended learning techniques in the classroom, so as to help teachers to develop their own blended learning strategies and to design digital materials as well as supportive face-to-face lessons, by utilizing tools such as software, applications, and platforms.

The training course is structured as a workshop, with a maximum number of twenty-five (25) participants.

Key information regarding the TC is the following:

• It starts on February 12, 2024 and ends on March 8, 2024.
• It is based on the blended learning model, having a thirty-hour duration, in total and it includes asynchronous remote training (24 hours) and face-to-face training (6 hours) through a workshop.
• The asynchronous remote training is provided through the LAMS electronic platform.
• It is offered free of charge, and upon completion, the trainees receive the corresponding Certificate of Participation, signed by the Hellenic Open University.
• It requires the submission of an expression of interest form, here. The deadline is February 8, 2024 and priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis for filling the twenty-five available seats.

The Training Course is provided within the “Innovation Station [InnStation] – A new approach to online and blended learning” European project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. “InnStation” project is implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from five (5) European countries (Greece, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland), with DAISSy-HOU as the partner in Greece, aiming to enhance the digital skills of educators through the provision of resources and educational material.

For more information about the InnStation project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

• Websites: https://daissy.eu/  and https://www.innovationstationproject.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

The main aim of the training activity was to train teachers in Self-directed Learning (SDL) and Self-regulated Learning (SRL) by applying the Blended Learning Model.

In fact, twenty eight (28) teachers/trainees and trainers were involved, coming from ten (10) countries, namely: Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey. Greece was represented by five (5) secondary education teachers, who were selected as a result of an evaluation process through an open call for interest, released by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek partner of the InnStation project.

More precisely, three (3) workshops were implemented during the five-day training activity, that enhanced the trainees’ active participation through working in transnational groups alongside with lectures and also promoted the InnStation project to the European educational community. Furthermore, the characteristics and the principles of Self-Directed Learning and Self-Regulated Learning were presented by the trainers and good practices from four (4) EU countries were demonstrated by the participants. Additionally, relevant strategies and digital tools, which were tested during the pandemic, were recommended by the international working groups, in which teachers’ experience was merged with new knowledge. In addition, the trainees were invited to offer feedback on the Guidelines manual which aims to support European teachers regarding the development of Self-Directed Learning and Self-Managed Learning skills of students in the context of Blended Learning Model. Upon its completion, the Guidebook is to be promoted to education institutions at European level.

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) participated in the training activity and was represented by Anestis Exaftopouos, Eleni Rossiou, Konstantinos Mathiopoulos, Spyros Papadakis, and Zeta Tsigka. Additionally, the DAISSy-HOU delegation participated in the “Digital Invations” event and the Social Hackathon of Umbria, organized by EGInA, Italian partner of the InnStation project.

The InnStation is a two-year project, co-financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union and implemented by a consortium of five (5) partners from five (5) European countries (Greece, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland), with the DAISSy-HOU as the project partner in Greece.

For more information on the InnStation project and other activities of DAISSy-HOU:

• Website: https://daissy.eu/  https://www.innovationstationproject.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

The project’s main objective is to connect the students and the teachers across Europe so that they join forces and find solutions to the everyday challenges of online and blended learning.

During the TPM, the OBESSU, coordinator of the Innovation Station project, made an overview of the project’s work and management. In this context, the administrative and financial issues of the project were reviewed and discussed and both the progress in terms of quality assurance and the dissemination and promotion activities of the project were presented.

This was followed by a discussion on the content of the guidelines and the training of the teachers. In particular, Euroclio, project partner, presented the draft guidelines for teachers, on which the other partners are expected to provide their comments.

Subsequently, the EGInA project partner presented the stages of the selection and training of teachers, including the criteria for the selection of participants and the agenda of the training program.

In addition, IF, project partner, and leader of WP 4, presented the Massive Open Online Course-MOOC platform, describing the material and content, such as the recorded videos, subtitles, audio files in all languages of the consortium, etc. Through a very productive brainstorming and discussing, all partners agreed on the general framework and structure of the MOOC platform and set future deadlines.

The last important point of the meeting was to report on the steps regarding the policy proposals for a more effective online education and teaching, with an emphasis on ensuring that the proposals are credible and comprehensive.

The meeting was a success!

All partners participated in the two-day discussions with great attention and a spirit of collaboration. The TPM was an opportunity for the partners to meet again, after the first transnational meeting in Brussels (Belgium).

The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek partner, was represented by Ms Panagiota Zafeiropoulou, Project Manager and Researcher of DAISSy, who actively participated in all sessions of the 2nd TPM and exchanged on the progress of the project implementation.

The “Innovation station” is a two-year project co-funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ program, under the “Partnerships in School Education” action. The project consortium consists of five (5) partners from Belgium, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands and Greece, and DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) is the Greek partner.

For more information about the “Innovation station” project and other DAISSy activities:

• Website: https://daissy.eu/ , https://www.innovationstationproject.eu/
• Facebook : @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter : https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email : info@daissy.eap.gr

The exchange seminar was attended by 35 teachers and high school students from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey, and Greece.

During the four-day meeting, several workshops were held, presentations were given and some of the project’s research work was promoted. In particular, good practices of distance education, and structural problems encountered by the participants such as problems with internet access, limited connection to online courses, etc. were presented. Reference was also made to the problems of students such as lack of technological infrastructure, unequal digital skills, lack of technical support, etc. Regarding the problems of teachers, these were related to the lack of digital skills, time management, lack of motivation, bureaucracy, lack of uniform ICT tools, etc. In addition, reference was made to the socio-emotional experience of both students and teachers as well as the pedagogical challenges encountered.

The innovation of this workshop was the equal participation of teachers and students in the exchange of views and ideas on distance teaching and learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Both teachers and students had the opportunity to share their experiences and make recommendations for good practices, methods, and tools that will shape future sustainable education.

Six short interviews were conducted with 3 students and 3 teachers from EU countries who attended the event. They expressed their satisfaction with the knowledge they gained and their willingness to participate in future educational activities.

If you or your institution are interested in “Innovation Station” and would like to contribute, benefit or just follow the development of the project, you will find us in the following:

• Website DAISSy and Project’s site: https://daissy.eu/, https://www.innovationstationproject.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

The project is funded by the Erasmus+ “Partnership for Cooperation in the field of Education and Training – European NGOs)” programme, by the European Commission.

Hosted by the “OBESSU” 6 people participated in an online meeting, representing all project partners from Belgium, Italy, Greece, Poland and the Netherlands.

Innovation Station is an Erasmus+ project with a duration of 24 months (April 2022 – March 2024).

In response to the reduced participation of students in online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project aims to create a support system for both teachers and students to adapt to the digital challenges of online education. The objectives of the project are to explore a variety of methods and practices in online education, to find new ways of learning for students aimed at increasing their participation in the online classroom as well as promoting self-directed learning, to create social media content on self-directed learning, to develop guidelines and a MOOC for teachers in distance learning, to develop teachers’ skills for more appropriate and creative distance learning, to develop the skills of teachers for more effective and creative online learning, and to improve the quality of their teaching.

Through the development of sustainable attitudes and lifestyles in various target groups, from teachers and students, to their families and local communities, thus inspiring citizens in the EU Green Transition.

It will also upgrade teachers and education professionals by training them in a variety of interdisciplinary teaching methodologies that will help them develop global citizenship skills in their students.

The desired outcomes of the Innovation Station project are:

• Further research on blended learning, innovative educational practices and needs of teachers and students.
• To make educational programmes more engaging, holistic and learner-centred, developing a set of participatory approaches to education by creating a space where teachers and students can discuss and interact in such a way that the challenges of digital transition can be addressed.
• To promote initiative, digital and professional competence and crisis response to meet the daily activities of students and teachers.

If you or your institution are interested in “Innovation Station” and would like to contribute, benefit or just follow the development of the project, you will find us in the following:

• Website DAISSy: https://daissy.eu/
• Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
• Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
• Email: info@daissy.eap.gr

 Project partners:

• Belgium: Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), project coordinator
• Italy: European Grants InterNational Academy, sr (EGINA)
• Greece: Hellenic Open University (HOU)
• Poland: Impossible Foundation (IF)
• Netherlands: De Europese Vereniging Voor Geschiedenisond erwijsgevenden (EuroClio)