Learning Factories 4.0 in technical vocational schools: can they foster competence development?

Michael Roll,Dirk Ifenthaler

doi:10.1186/s40461-021-00124-0

Michael Roll, Dirk Ifenthaler

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-021-00124-0

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Abstract

Learning Factories 4.0 are thought to prepare vocational students for the challenges of Industry 4.0. The implementation of those interconnected Learning Factories 4.0 at technical vocational schools may promote the development of subject-related technical competencies as well as multidisciplinary digital competencies. Still, research is scarce with regard to the development of competencies supported through Learning Factories 4.0 in technical vocational schools. Hence this research focusses on subject-related technical and multidisciplinary digital competencies of technical vocational students change due to different levels of Learning Factory 4.0 interaction over time. Three subsequent competence tests with N = 63 technical vocational students were conducted. Findings indicate the benefits of integrating Learning Factories 4.0 for developing subject-related competencies in technical vocational schools. However, the study could not identify a positive development of multidisciplinary digital competencies. The findings of this study can help educators to further develop learning environments with support from Learning Factories 4.0 as well as preparing their learners for the demanding competencies of Industry 4.0.

Highlights

Industry 4.0 is the vision of a horizontally and vertically interconnected digitization of entire industrial value chains (Stecken et al 2019; Veile et al 2019)
Research is scarce with regard to the development of competencies supported through Learning Factories 4.0 in technical vocational schools
Hypotheses This study aims to validate the development of subject-related technical competencies within a discipline and non-subject-related, multidisciplinary digital competencies through Learning Factories 4.0

Summary

Introduction

Industry 4.0 is the vision of a horizontally and vertically interconnected digitization of entire industrial value chains (Stecken et al 2019; Veile et al 2019). The literature provides many suggestions for non-subject related multidisciplinary digital competencies which university students should properly develop for Industry 4.0 with Learning Factories 4.0 (Bauernhansl et al 2018; Enke et al 2018; Pittich et al 2020; Tisch et al 2016). It is assumed that the higher the level of interaction (LOI) of technical vocational students with a Learning Factory 4.0, the higher the level of their multidisciplinary digital competencies (MDC) will develop over time (Hypothesis 1). Given the fact that the topic was taught in eight lessons à 45 min, a total of 360 min was controlled for each class for how many minutes the students worked and learned with the CPPS or some modules of the foundation laboratory As mentioned before, both components belong to the didactical concept of Learning Factories 4.0 and this study does not differentiate between them. The statistics software R (version: 4.0.2), R-Studio (version 1.2.502) and the R-package rcompanion (version 2.3.25) were used for data analysis (Mangiafico 2020)

Results

Discussion

Limitations