User of the EKFI platform (07-10-24)

The supporting partners of the EKFI Platform have concluded the last phase of the project. This phase entailed the enhancement of co-creation capabilities for materials, employing a structured workflow to ensure the systematic and pedagogical integrity of the content. This milestone was achieved in June, and subsequent to this accomplishment, the platform has been enriched with an extensive array of new materials.

In light of this enrichment, the partners wish to extend its benefits to all users by bestowing an additional 300 ekfi credits, thereby enabling the exploration and acquisition of further materials. 

As you are aware, access to the platform is available at https://ekfi.eu, utilizing your designated email address and password for entry.

 

Downloading or developing teaching materials together with others? (30-09-2024)

Then the EKFI.EU platform is the solution for your lessons!
It costs you absolutely nothing. We work according to the principle of 'tit for tat'. You can already download a number of teaching materials for free. You can download more and more if you also upload materials yourself.

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All you have to do is register on the online platform EKFI.EU and you can start! Click here!

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Database full of useful teaching materials
EKFI is a European project intended to prevent schools from reinventing the wheel when it comes to new teaching materials.
The number of documents is increasing, there are now around 200 downloadable files. These are textbooks for students, manuals for teachers, PowerPoint presentations, etc.). All the material relates to the creative sector, but also to technological applications such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

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Also develop together!
In addition to downloading and uploading, EKFI also offers you a structured approach to developing teaching materials yourself. Step by step, EKFI lets you develop the material according to a systematic and educationally responsible approach. You can do this alone ('solo'), but also with others in the Netherlands and Europe. EKFI helps you to form a good team with teachers who want the same as you.

 

All learning material published on this website (20 July 2024)

In this project we also developed teaching materials for two themes that are current in education and the communication sector of the Creative Industry. The themes are: Mixed reality in print, sign and packaging and Circular economy. The material is available in 5 languages: English, Dutch, Estonian, Greek and Spanish. The teaching material consists of a student and teachers manual and a teacher's toolkit with presentations and other material. You can download it for free via the tab: outputs, click on WP4 Mixed reality or WP5 Circular economy. You can also check the EKFI Exchange platform (ekfi.eu) for more and free teaching materials. If you have any questions, please contact one of the contact persons from your country.

 

End results in last Partner meeting in Athens Greece  (30-06-2024)

At the last partner meeting in Athens, the last results of the EKFI-PLUS project were discussed. At this project we developed the  Educational Model, the extra tools on the platform, learning material on Mixed reality in print, sign and packaging and learning material on Circular economy.  We discussed the testing of the platform and the learning materials in the classrooms.  The final changes are being incorporated. We discussed also the dissemination and creating impact by publications, workshops, meetings, the use of the platform etc. In Greece we organized also a dissemination event/conference. At this event al the outputs were presented and discussed.

 

Dissemination Event 20th of June at University West Attica (14-06-2024)

EKFI PLUS will organize a dissemination event to inform the public on the outcomes of the project. The events starts at 17.30 hrs with a short introduction of the project. The developed materials will be presented in several presentations. Also, a hands-on demo of the system will be done with the participants of the event.

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Schedule of the dissemination event

17.30 - 17.50: Short intro to the program 

17.50 - 18.10: Presentation of the Platform 

18.10 - 18.30: Hands on Demo Demo and registration details 

18.30 - 18.50: Presentation of WP4  

18.50 - 19.10: Presentation of WP5 

19.10 - 19.15: Closing of the dissemination event 

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The event will be also online and participants can join by zoom - Uni WA will provide the link in the announcement.

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Email to our participants on the platform (11-06-2024)

From the moment you register, you can download and, more recently, develop (co-create) teaching materials without breaking the bank. You can do this with other schools within your country and in Europe.

 

A database full of useful teaching materials

EKFI PLUS is a European project that aims to prevent schools and companies from reinventing the wheel when it comes to new teaching materials.

There are already 146 documents (textbooks, teachers' manuals, PowerPoint presentations, etc.) related to the Creative Communication Industry available in the database and ready to be downloaded. If you want to download more materials, you can do so by earning 'tokens' by first uploading and reviewing teaching materials yourself. This will fill the database with a lot of interesting material.

 

We ask you to upload and download learning materials. Then you will really be part of the success of our project!

 

NEW - Develop together!

In addition to downloading and uploading, you can also develop learning materials through this system.

Step by step, EKFI allows you to develop the material in a systematic and pedagogically sound way. You can do this alone ('solo'), but also with others in your own country and in Europe. EKFI helps you to build a good team of teachers who want the same thing as you do. A number of new development projects have already started (see platform).

 

As you know, you can log in to the platform ekfi.eu  with your email address and password. You can follow the project via the project website: https://www.ekfi-project.com. 

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New Learning material published (01-05-2024)

The newly developed learning resources for Mixed reality and Circular economy have been published on the website (see Output/Work package 4 and 5). The student and teacher manual and toolkit for Circular Economy are now available in English and Dutch. Translations into Estonish, Greek and Spanish will follow soon. The Mixed Reality Student Manual is now available in English, teacher's manual and toolkit, and translations will follow soon.

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EKFI PLUS at IC stand at DRUPA 2024 Hall 7 Booth GO1 (18-04-2024)

EKFI will be present at the Drupa in Dusseldorf, Germany, the main event in Europe focussed on professionals from the print and media industry.  The event is from the 28th of May till the 7th of June. EKFI PLUS participates in the location of IC- International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology and Management, Helgramed and the International Association of Research Organizations for the Information, Media and Graphic Arts Industries (Iarigai). The Booth is in Hall 7, Booth GO1. Link to the Drupa site: click here.

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E-tools integrated into the EKFI platform (20-03-2024)

The development of the e-tools (WP3) has entered its final phase. As of today, the platform's homepage (ekfi.eu) will look different. The create button takes you to the newly developed part of the platform with which you can start development projects for learning resources. The educational model, which was developed earlier in the project, has also been integrated into this new module. The project and process management of the project is also supported.
 

Free learning resources for the creative and graphic media sector (13-03-2024)
Research shows that in education (especially Vocational and Higher Education), much teaching material is developed by the teachers themselves. Result: on the same subject there are different versions of teaching materials, not only in different countries, but also among educational and training institutions in different schools in the same country!

Exchange of material is not that common. That is why we started the EKFI project. This EU-subsidized project, which started in 2018, aimed to develop a platform where teachers and developers can upload learning materials and research and also download material. And with the stock market closed.

At this point you can go to the EKFI platform, see ekfi.eu. About 150 publications have now been uploaded to this platform in various themes such as: technology, digitalization, quality, OHS and environment, Circular economy, management, marketing, leadership and self-assessment tools.
If you register as a user you will receive points to download learning resources. The same applies if you upload material yourself or write reviews, translate material, etc.

 

The platform was mainly developed during Corona times when schools had other things on their minds such as developing new material. We also noticed that teachers had difficulty sharing material just like that. That's why we started EKFI PLUS. More information at: https://www.ekfi-project.com/.

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EKFI PLUS

In this project we focus on the further rollout of the platform, but also on the joint development of learning resources, alone, together in our own country, school or company or across borders. An educational model has been developed for this purpose and the platform is being expanded with a development module. The additional options will be added to the existing platform in mid-March 2024.

This new EKFI tool provides the opportunity to collaborate on developing and writing the learning material at national and European/international level. This includes finding partners with like-minded needs. Support at didactic level. Project management and process management support. This tool helps organize the learning material development process. Developing in teams will lead to an improvement in efficiency (saving time and money) and an increase in the quality and innovativeness of the learning materials by making use of different competencies of the participants.

 

Benefits of collaboration

Creating your own learning materials offers several benefits:

 

• Personalization: Tailoring content to students' needs and preferences meets diverse learning styles, promoting comprehension and retention. It also allows you to adjust the pace of instruction.

• Deeper Understanding: Developing materials deepens teachers' understanding of the subject through research, analysis and curation, increasing their ability to explain complex concepts clearly.

• Relevance: Personalized materials stay current by integrating the latest research, trends and applications, keeping content current in a rapidly changing world.

• Creativity: Creating materials stimulates creativity, allowing teachers to design engaging activities and teaching methods that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Connection: Personalized materials demonstrate effort and care, strengthen the connection between teacher and student, and promote a positive learning environment.

 

By creating their own materials, teachers improve the quality of education, personalize the learning process, ensure relevance, promote creativity and strengthen relationships between teachers and students.

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New projectvideo published ( 21-02-2024)

A new project video for the EKFI PLUS project has been developed by the Spanish partner. An earlier version was shown at the EGIN conference in Barcelona in November 2023. The new version provides an introduction to the EKFI platform with the most important highlights. The video can be used as a short introduction to the EKFI platform. Watch the video via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BQxHJkYspQ&t=4s

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What is EKFI (10-02-2024)
EKFI is an exchange platform for the exchange of learning materials and research reports and other information that can be used by the target groups: vocational and higher education, SMEs, sector organizations, others in the creative industry. It is a web-based application with a database of existing learning/research materials (from various sources). You can also develop learning materials independently or in a team, supported by tools on the platform (see CREATE button).

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Encourage exchange within the EU
The platform has been developed to stimulate the exchange of educational resources and research between institutes within a country and between (EU) countries. The system allows the material to be exchanged without monetary payment. This allows savings on the development of new learning materials.

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Enrich existing material
Existing learning material can be enriched with new material or new insights. The learning resources can then be used for a new purpose. In addition, users of the platform can have their material assessed by other users (peer review). The material can also be translated to make it available in more languages.

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Upload and download material
This database is filled by uploading learning materials and other materials. Uploading can be accessed via the button: Upload. First, you describe these learning/research materials to meet educational standards/formats to meet entry requirements. Then you upload the material. The Search button allows the user to search for the required learning/research module(s).
You can download the material with which you redeem the collected points via the button: Get material and then select Download.

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The why of EKFI
The EKFI platform makes existing learning/research material transparent.
In countries where there are fewer resources for development, they can use learning resources developed by institutes further innovating. In countries where certain techniques have disappeared, and therefore also the training for them, you can use learning resources that are still available in other countries. Uploaded learning resources can be improved or supplemented by the knowledge of teachers/developers who have downloaded the learning resources (and later uploaded them again). The material can be translated for countries where it is not yet available. Collaborating in developing and therefore bundling the competencies of the various participants can result in efficiency and quality improvement.
By working together to develop materials, the developers strengthen each other by joining different forces. A well-known saying applies here: alone you go faster, together you go further.

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Partnermeeting and Developers/teachersmeeting in Barcelona: Just a few loose ends we need to tie up (05-02-2024)

Both conferences took place at the end of January and the beginning of February. In the Partner Meeting we mainly looked at the prototype of the E-tools and discussed the research in the context of the Educational model. The concept learning material for Circular Economy and Mixed Reality were also discussed.
The Developers/teachers meeting was entirely focused on the developed learning resources. The latest additions and changes were discussed and implemented. A second introduction to the EKFI platform was also provided and the evaluation was discussed and prepared by the teachers.

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Learning material and E-tools in concept ready (18-01-2024)

The learning material Circular economy is in concept ready. Also the material of WP4 Mixed reality in Print, Sign and Packaging media will be discussed at the Partner- and the Developers/Teachers meeting end of January and beginning of February 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

Also the E-tools on the existing EKFI-PLUS platform are in concept stage developed and will be demonstrated and discussed at the partnermeeting.

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A happy New Year!  (01-01-2024)

A lot of work is being done in the EKFI PLUS project to develop the technical infrastructure of the platform and to shape the learning resources for Circular Economy and Mixed reality in Print, Sign and Packaging media. We will continue to do this in 2024. Everything will be completed and the project will be closed at the end of August.

On behalf of all partners and developers and teachers involved, I wish you a great 2024!

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EKFI PLUS at IC 54th International Conference in Wuppertal (30-11-2023)

EKFI PLUS partner GRAPHMEDLAB-UNI West Attica has presented a paper on "The EKFIPLUS Project Inventory Results on Learning Material. Development in The Creative and Cultural Industries". The conference of International Circle of Educational Institutes of Graphic-Media Technology & Management was held in Wuppertal, Germany at the 18th-20thSeptember 2023. If you are interested, download the paper here!

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EKFI PLUS presented at EGIN Conference in Barcelona (10-11-2023)

During the EGIN-conference, Stivako (Lex Bergers) gave an extensive presentation about the EKFI platform, the developed educational model, the E-tools and the new learning resources to be developed about Circular Economy and Mixed reality in Print, Sign and Packaging media.
The participating VET and HE schools, social partners and consultants were very enthusiastic and a number of participants immediately registered with the EKFI platform (ekfi.eu).

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Educational model, final version published (01-11-2023)

The final version of the Educational Model is published. This model is developed to be used in developing learning material in teams (across borders). In this educational model different elements of the process of developing learning materials in teams will be integrated:
- the appropriate didactic model for developing learning materials (with the latest didactic insights) containing the various elements: objectives, learning contents, learning activities, role of the teacher, learning resources/materials, group form,
learning environment, time indication, testing, other criteria such as: costs, practice tested, etc.
- the structure and the elements of a model for the efficient cooperation of teachers for developing learning material (including project management and process management);
- definition guidelines for joint authoring of learning material including copyright;
- quality control and evaluation of the learning material. The publication is to download for free, see Output WP2 Educational model.

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What is the EKFI-platform? (24-10-2023)

The EKFI platform can be found at: ekfi.eu. You can register for free to access this exchange platform for learning resources in the creative industry.

EKFI is an exchange platform for the exchange of learning material and research reports and other information which can be used by the target groups: VET and HEs, SMEs, sector organizations, others in the Culture and Creative Industries (CCI). It is a web based applications with a database of existing learning/research material (from various sources).

The platform has been developed to stimulate exchange between institutes within a country and between (EU) countries. A system has been chosen in which the material can be exchanged without a monetary payment. This allows savings to be made in the development of new learning materials. Existing learning materials can be enriched with new material or new insights. The unused resources can then be used for a new purpose. In addition, the users of the platform can have their material reviewed by other users (peer review).

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Developers busy developing the learning material (08-10-2023)

After the meeting in Ghent in June 2023, both development teams started working on the teaching material. The tasks are divided in Ghent. The student manual and teachers manual are currently being developed and should be ready in concept for the meetings in early 2024. A number of online meetings have already taken place and another number are planned until mid-January 2024. During these meetings discussed the progress of development. The developed educational model is used as a guideline and background information.

 

Next partner meeting in Tallinn, Estonia (16-09-2023)

The third partner meeting will take place on 5 and 6 October 2023 in Tallinn. Topics to be discussed  are:

• Final report on inventory  of the EKFI Plus project

• Educational model final report 

• Presentation E-Tools (developments)

• Involving schools/teachers and companies in the project

• Administration/finance/planning/intermediate report

• Dissemination and creating Impact

Several results of the project have already been published in draft form. Check the website: tab Outputs

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Developers/Teachers meeting successful (15-07-2023)

During the Developers/Teachers meeting in Ghent in mid-June 2023, the developers and teachers involved from the 5 partner institutes started the development of learning tools on Circular Economy and Mixed Reality in Print, Sign & Packaging Media. The meeting started with an introduction of the project, the educational model and the EKFI platform. The group was then divided into two parts. One group started with initial discussions on Circular Economy and the other group on Mixed Reality in Print, Sign & Packaging Media. Agreements were made on content, teachers' handbooks, scheduling and online meetings. The first online meetings will take place before the summer and from September. Media January 2024 should have developed the first draft material. The second offline developer/teacher meeting in Barcelona in February 2024 can evaluate the concepts.

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First results in Second Partner meeting in Ghent Belgium  (30-06-2023)

At the partner meeting in Ghent, the first results of the EKFI-PLUS project were discussed. The Educational Model was developed and discussed in concept. The final changes are being incorporated and the final report will be discussed at the third meeting in October in Tallinn. A start was also made on the development of the E-tools. The technical analyses have been made and discussed. Building the software will start in the summer.
In preparation for the Developers/Teachers conference, which followed the partner conference, the broad outlines regarding the learning tools to be developed were discussed. 

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Survey for the need of new/advanced Learning Material (25-04-2023)

This project aims to improve the development of new innovative learning materials for education and training. The project will extend the existing EKFI platform, (already containing more than 100 learning modules that have been uploaded in the wider field of CCI to be reached at https://ekfi.eu/). The EKFIPLUS project will add features supporting authoring and development of new/advanced learning material.

In order to define the most required topics and field of learning material for authoring and development a survey has been created. Teachers, experts and educators from the five countries participating at the project (NL, GR, ESP, BE and EST) are asked to answer the questionnaire. Fill in the questionnaire. Click on this link!

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Ongoing process discussed in second online meeting (02-03-2023)

 

During this online meeting we have discussed the status of the development of O2 Educational model and O3 E-tools. Also the development of the inventory and the and sending it to the various target groups was discussed. On Friday 10 March, the survey will be sent to stakeholders in 5 countries. The aim is to identify the key elements/subjects within the Cultural Creative Industry (CCI) with a focus on the communication sector that could be considered for developing/writing new/advanced teaching materials. By working in teams, across boundaries rather than individually by a teacher, developing and writing learning materials can increase efficiency and effectiveness. Other agenda items included dissemination and involving schools/teachers and others in the development process of the learning models we will develop in a later phase of the project.

 

First activities have started (02-02-2023)

The first activities within the EKFI-Plus project have started. The Greek partner has started developing the Educational model (Output 2). The inventory/research is also ready to ship. The questionnaire can be downloaded from the website in 5 languages. Click here to go to the relevant page. The Dutch partner, Muldis) has started with the development of the E-tools (Output 3). This will be a continious process during the first year of the EKFI PLUS-project.

 

First conference a success!  (14-12-2022)

The EKFI PLUS-project has started with a first kick off conference in the beginning of December 2022 in Deventer, The Netherlands.

This project aims to improve the development of new innovative learning materials for education and training. The project will extend the existing EKFI platform and add features that will support the development of learning materials. In this way it contributes to strengthening international cooperation between teachers and the use of each other's competences rather than developing alone and focused on the own (school) situation: Innovation through cooperation. It also provides an opportunity to approach educators in Europe after the COVID-19 pandemic and invite them during this new project to use the EKFI platform and the outputs to be developed in this project. ​

Context

As partners in the EKFI project and as research shows that in education many teaching materials are developed by the teachers themselves. Exchange of material is not so common. That is why we initiated the Erasmus+ project EKFI. This project aimed to create an Exchange platform, to facilitate exchange innovative learning and research material, to map the competence needs and match these needs with the suitable learning/research module(s). This EKFI platform (ekfi.eu) is built and the project has been completed on 31-12-2021. Many learning modules have now been uploaded since the putting into use in October 2021. A recent study by our Greek partner shows that existing authoring tools are not very efficient and supportive for authors and concludes that the lack of resources leads to the avoidance of collaborations for writing educational material. In discussions between the partners and with third parties like employers organizations and EGIN it emerged that the exchange of existing learning materials was a good start. But joint development of new learning materials within our sector (and specifically within the communication and media sector) is a necessity to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in view of the developments that are facing the sector.

The main objective of “Innovation through cooperation“ is to bring together educators, lecturers and teachers, scientists from various European countries that will work jointly in developing and authoring the learning material at a European/International level. The extended platform will include innovative tools for enhancing and supporting the cooperation, so the teachers/authors will work together to develop the learning material. By organizing this development process learning material can be developed in groups which leads to an improvement in efficiency (saving time and money) and an increase in the quality and innovativeness of the teaching materials by using different competences of the participants. During the project we deliver four results in the workpackages, namely:
1. an educational model for teachers to work in an efficient way and with the latest didactic insights in developing learning material in an (international) team.
2. software as a new part of EKFI-platform (ICT tools) supporting search for pears and defining the request, developing learning material using the results of output 1, project management and social interaction between the participants in the development group
3. develop new technical/digital learning material supported by the output of 1 and 2

4. develop new entrepreneurial/management learning material with output 1 and 2 on Circular economy in creative industry.

 

EKFI PLUS- project granted  (15-09-2022)
Stivako has submitted the EKFI PLUS project within the framework of the European Erasmus + program. And the proposal has been approved. The project “Innovation through cooperation” aims to improve the development of new innovative learning materials for education and training. The project will extend the existing EKFI platform and add features that will support the development of learning materials. In this way it contributes to
strengthening international cooperation between teachers and the use of each other's competences rather than developing alone and focused on the own (school) situation: Innovation through cooperation. It also provides an opportunity to approach educators in Europe and invite them during this new project to use the EKFI platform and the
outputs to be developed in this project. This offers the opportunity to improve the existing platform if necessary on the basis of greater use and thus more user experiences.

Objectives: 
The main objective of “Innovation through cooperation“ is to bring together educators, lecturers and teachers, scientists from various European countries that will work jointly in developing and authoring the learning material at a European/International level.