The Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Health (FINH) and Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FEBT) academic program of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), along with priME academy, and SEA-ABT (South East Asian – Academy for Beverage Technology), organized a training workshop on “Implementation of Participative Methods and Digital Tools in Higher Education Teaching” at AIT on 1-2 August. Twenty-five participants from different academic institutions, including the Asian Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Rajamangla University, Siam University, Walialak University, Ubon Ratchathani University, and the Rajamangala University of Technology, and Chitralada Institute of Technology, attended the workshop.
This training was organized under the project titled “INCREASE” (Innovative Capacity building by participative and Reflective teachers’ training for Academia, Society, and Enterprise). It is co-funded by the Erasmus plus Program of the European Union (EU). It aims to sustainably modernize and update teachers and trainers’ pedagogical and didactical training capacities in Southeast Asia.
The objective of this program is:
-to develop and introduce new courses on innovative participative methods, teachers focused tools, not limited in the sectors food and hospitality,
-to develop and implement a participatory process to continuously identify and address needs, resources, and strategies for educational organizations and companies (participatory lab approach),
-to introduce innovative digital training solutions, to establish a sustainable network and approach (Inspire garage)
-to ensure easy reproducibility and adaptability to other sectors and content to maximize the impact.
Prof. Anil Kumar Anal, Professor in Food Innovation, Nutrition and Health (FINH) and Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FEBT) Academic Program of AIT, convened this training session. The two instructors, Professor Dr. Gerhard Schleining, President of SEA-ABT, and Mr. Heiko Hammer, CEO of priME Academy AG, were from Europe.
This training workshop was held for two consecutive days. Prof. Anil shared the present scenario of teaching methods and the importance of using digital tools and teaching methods in higher education teaching to make learning more effective and participative. He further explained the crucial roles of interactive sessions, participative approaches, and team-building activities in current teaching practices. Prof. Anil opened the floor for the instructors and all participants to join the training session.
Dr. Gerhard Schleining (President of the SEA-ABT association) presented the Nextfood model, an approach to transforming conventional linear classroom teaching into a participative, collaborative, and action-oriented learning process. He introduced two digital tools for the trainee to use in their teaching practice, Smart LEO App and Imagino. Smart LEO app is a quiz-based mini-game mobile application to facilitate student learning. It supports the educational process by providing students with basic concepts ahead of classes for their understanding. Imagino, an AI (artificial intelligence) software, supports a training and knowledge management approach based on multimedia triggers (images, videos, audio) which supports multiple languages (English, German, Thai, Vietnamese, etc.).
Mr. Heiko Hammer introduced the priME SIM, a business simulation game to support team building, entrepreneurial mindset, and learning of the central elements of the start-up and innovation process. All the participants’ constructive participation made the practice session more dynamic and exciting. This training focused on using different participative teaching methods and innovative digital tools. These will be beneficial to the teachers at university courses and trainers for short courses who want to update existing courses with participative methods and make them more interactive and engage their learners. After completing this workshop, the participants were able to develop scenarios for their courses to implement participative methods.
Prof. Anil wrapped up the program on the afternoon of 2nd August 2022 and thanked all the speakers, participants, and volunteers for making this training successful.
