Feasibility study of a knowledge platform incorporating a gamification concept for SMEs in the timber industry

Project background

The acquisition of knowledge, even after vocational training or studies, is crucial for employees and the success of companies. SMEs in particular often have too few resources and too little practical access to knowledge and Innovation. In addition, acquired knowledge is not shared enough between companies.

The "KnowHow2Share" project transfers playful and motivating approaches of digitally supported and interactive learning environments to learning in a company environment. Supported by practical learning elements, users are given targeted support in acquiring knowledge. The project will validate whether these approaches are accepted in the corporate environment and to what extent self-directed learning is possible using such a platform.

The platform will later offer free content as well as provide individual learning environments for companies.

Project objective

The project aims to develop and test a practical learning environment for in-company learning. The aim is to support the acquisition of knowledge, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, to promote the exchange of knowledge between companies and to validate the acceptance and feasibility of self-directed learning using digital learning environments.

Project procedure

The project adopts an iterative, user-centered approach. First, the needs, expectations and learning prerequisites of the target group are systematically analyzed in order to identify relevant requirements for content, learning formats and technical framework conditions. On this basis, a specification sheet is created that defines the didactic requirements and the design of the learning environments.

Building on this, didactic support is provided during the development of the prototype. This is checked and further developed in several loops using functional and usability tests. In a subsequent test phase, the prototype is tested in the application context, with scientific monitoring of its use, data collection and evaluation of user feedback. The learning content and didactic design will be specifically adapted and optimized based on these results.

Finally, the systematic data evaluation and documentation of the results will take place. The insights gained are prepared in the form of a case study, which is used for teaching purposes and serves as a practical example of the use of interactive learning environments in a professional context.

Innovation

The project is innovative because it systematically transfers problem-based learning activities to learning in a company context and implements them in a didactically sound manner. The focus is not purely on imparting knowledge, but on self-directed, practical learning in realistic application scenarios. The scientifically supported feasibility study will empirically validate the technical, didactic and organizational feasibility of the approach.

Successful project completion offers small and medium-sized companies in particular low-threshold access to innovative training formats, strengthens employees' motivation to learn and promotes the exchange of knowledge between companies. In this way, the project contributes to securing skilled workers (isb. in the industry), increasing innovative capacity and digital transformation in vocational training.