Current challenge in schools
Many pupils in the ‘Green’ VMBO programme have little or no experience with animals, agriculture or farms and consequently have limited basic knowledge and little motivation for the subject. At the same time, organising hands-on practical lessons on farms is becoming increasingly difficult due to time constraints, costs, logistics, behavioural issues, biosecurity measures and a declining number of farms willing to host groups of pupils. This creates a gap between the exam skills required and the actual opportunities pupils have to practise. Teachers are therefore seeking a way to enable pupils to gain practical experience in animal care, animal behaviour and sustainable agriculture within a safe, motivating and realistic learning environment.
The practical challenge
How can an interactive VR learning environment support pupils in developing practical knowledge, motivation and animal care skills, in preparation for practical training and examination components?
Possible sub-questions
- Which learning activities are best suited to VR within animal care and green production?
- How can VR contribute to the recognition of animal behaviour, health indicators and care procedures?
- Which form of feedback (teacher-led, AI-led or adaptive) best supports the learning process?
Development objective
To co-create and investigate an interactive, lifelike VR prototype for the ‘Green’ VMBO programme, in which pupils can experience and practise realistic practical situations relating to animal care and livestock farming. The prototype focuses on:
- Virtually exploring different livestock farming environments (such as dairy, poultry and pig farming).
- Practising practical skills and exam-oriented tasks.
- Recognising animal behaviour, health and welfare.
- Providing meaningful context and basic knowledge for pupils with limited practical experience.
Scientists wanted!
Does your research institute enjoy working in co-creation with teachers and a company to develop new knowledge in and through practical application? We’d love to hear from you! The following criteria play a role in the selection of a suitable research partner:
- Demonstrable subject-matter expertise relating to the potential research question and sub-questions.
- Developing measurement tools for motivation, learning outcomes and analysis
- Investigating the effectiveness of VR and AI feedback in a VR environment
- Research into improving animal welfare and the societal impact.
- Experience with co-creation.
- Experience with design-based research is an advantage.
A minimum three-year appointment at a research institution.
Open call closed
This Open Call is now closed. Applications are no longer being accepted.
About NOLAI
NOLAI is the national education lab AI for elementary, secondary and special needs education in the Netherlands. We are constantly gathering questions from teachers by organizing workshops throughout the country. These practical questions are the sole starting point for new co-creation projects in which a school, together with scientists and a company, researches and develops a prototype of educational AI. Over a three-year period the parties jointly progress through a concept, development and validation phase. NOLAI facilitates and funds the co-creation. The knowledge gained is shared as widely and openly as possible, to drive educational innovation.
