Session 1: Digital Services and Social Media Tools for dissemination of AR in VET

Learning Objectives:

• Develop strategies to effectively communicate research findings to VET audiences.
• Understand the most suitable digital tools for the dissemination of applied research in
  VET.
• Select appropriate channels to reach VET stakeholders and maximize impact

Disseminating the results of applied research in Vocational Education and Training (VET) can be effectively achieved using various digital services and social media tools, but it’s important to select appropriate channels to reach VET stakeholders and maximize impact.

Digital Services

1. ResearchGate
   • Description: A social networking site for scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators.
   • Usage: Upload your research papers, datasets, and findings. Engage with other researchers in your field by following, commenting, and collaborating.
2. Academia.edu
   • Description: A platform for academics to share research papers and track their impact.
   • Usage: Post your research papers, get feedback from peers, and track views and downloads.
3. Google Scholar
   • Description: A freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature.
   • Usage: Make your research discoverable by indexing it on Google Scholar. Ensure all your publications are listed for maximum visibility.
4. Zenodo
   • Description: An open-access repository for research outputs, created by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).
   • Usage: Upload datasets, research papers, and other outputs. Each upload gets a unique DOI for easy citation.
5. Figshare
   • Description: A repository where researchers can make all of their research outputs available in a citable, shareable, and discoverable manner.
   • Usage: Share your research data, papers, posters, presentations, and more. Use it to increase the impact of your research through open access

Social Media Tools

1. Twitter
   • Description: A social networking service where users post and interact with messages known as “tweets”.
   • Usage: Share short updates, links to your research, and engage in conversations using relevant hashtags (#VET, #Research, #EdTech). Join Twitter chats and follow key influencers in VET
2. LinkedIn
   • Description: A professional networking site where users create profiles and connect with colleagues and industry peers
   • Usage: Share research updates, articles, and presentations. Join and participate in relevant LinkedIn groups. Publish long-form posts 4on your findings.
3. Facebook
   • Description: A social media platform that allows users to connect, share, and communicate.
   • Usage: Create a Facebook page or group dedicated to your research project. Share updates, host live sessions, and engage with a broader audience
4. YouTube
   • Description: A video sharing service where users can watch, like, share, comment, and upload their own videos.
   • Usage: Create videos summarizing your research findings, explaining methodologies, and demonstrating applications. Share these videos through other social media platforms.
5. Instagram
   • Description: A photo and video sharing social networking service.
   • Usage: Share visual content related to your research, such as infographics, short explainer videos, and behind-the-scenes looks at your research process. Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience.

Content Management and Collaboration Tools

1. WordPress
   • Description: A content management system that allows users to create and manage websites and blogs.
   • Usage: Create a blog dedicated to your research. Share detailed posts about your findings, methodologies, and implications. Enable comments for interaction with readers.
2. Medium
   •  Description: An online publishing platform.
   •  Usage: Write and publish articles about your research. Medium’s built-in audience and social features can help spread your findings to a broader audience.
3. Slack
   • Description: A collaboration hub that connects people, information, and tools.
   • Usage: Create channels for different aspects of your research project. Use Slack for communication and collaboration with your research team and stakeholders.
4. Microsoft Teams
   • Description: A collaboration platform that combines persistent workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration.
   • Usage: Use Teams to organize your research materials, collaborate with team members, and host virtual meetings.

Tips for Effective Dissemination in VET – Key Activities:

COLLABORATION: Foster collaborations with VET practitioners, industry partners, and
policymakers to enhance relevance and applicability of research findings
a. Facilitating discussions or partnerships with VET institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to explore implementation opportunities.
b. Soliciting feedback from VET practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to gauge the practical implications of the findings

ACCESSIBILITY: Ensure research outputs are accessible through open access publications,
institutional repositories, and platforms accessible to VET professionals.

a. Selecting appropriate channels to reach VET stakeholders and maximize impact
b. Identify reputable journals or conferences specializing in VET or related fields
c. Creating visual aids (charts, diagrams) to enhance understanding of key findings for VET practitioners and policymakers
d. Evaluating factors such as readership, accessibility, and relevance to VET research themes.
e. Considering open access options to promote widespread access among educators, trainers,
policymakers, and industry professionals.

ENGAGEMENT: Engage actively with VET stakeholders through participatory workshops,
webinars, and knowledge-sharing events to foster dialogue and exchange of ideas.
a. Developing strategies to effectively communicate research findings to VET audiences
b. Creating a concise summary or policy brief highlighting key research outcomes and implications for VET practice
c. Developing presentations, webinars, workshops tailored, living lab or workcafè to VET stakeholders.
d. Leveraging social media, newsletters, and professional networks to broaden dissemination reach and engagement.

ADVOCACY: Advocate for the integration of evidence-based practices derived from research
findings into VET policy agendas and curriculum development.
a. Supporting pilot projects or initiatives that apply research insights to enhance VET outcomes.
b. Providing ongoing support and resources to ensure sustained impact and adoption of research-informed practices in VET settings
c. Assess the impact and reception of disseminated research within the VET community
d. Monitor citations, downloads, and engagement metrics for published research
e. Reflect on dissemination strategies to refine future efforts and enhance dissemination effectiveness in VET contexts

Activity 1: Example Workflow for Dissemination of an applied research

Following this workflow, try to effectively disseminate your research applied in VET to a wide and engaged audience, improving the impact and reach of your work, using digital services and social media tools.

A. Prepare Your Content: Create various
types of content based on your research findings, such
as:

1. 1. Research papers
   2. Summary articles
   3. Infographics
   4. Videos and presentations

B. Share on Digital Services:

1. 1. Upload your research papers to ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Google Scholar.
   2. Share datasets and additional materials on Zenodo or Figshare.

C. Engage on Social Media:

1. 1. Post updates and links to your research on Twitter, using relevant hashtags and tagging influential accounts.
   2. Share detailed articles and network with peers on LinkedIn.
   3. Use Facebook groups or pages to create a community around your research.
   4. Create and share videos on YouTube and visual content on Instagram.

D. Leverage Collaboration Tools:

1. 1. Use Slack or Microsoft Teams for ongoing collaboration with your research team.
   2. Regularly update your blog on WordPress or Medium with new findings and insights.

Lisa Simpson on Effective Dissemination of Research Findings