Abstract:

In 2010/2011 The School of Electrotechnics Zagreb and Electromechanical School Varaždin have implemented the IPA project With Flexible Learning Approach and Curricula Innovations towards the Labour Market supported by Croatian Agency for Vocational Education and Training. The first study by this group of authors – Flexible Learning Approach and Curricula Education towards the Labour Market in Secondary Technical Education: A Case Study [1] – explores the initial challenges associated with implementing flexible learning approach in The School of Electrotechnics Zagreb using e-learning tools with a special accent to teacher training and student satisfaction. The second study by the same group of authors – Introducing Flexible Learning Approach in Secondary Technical Education: A Comparative Study of Two Schools [2] – explores the same challenges in Electromechanical School Varaždin and compares found results, paying special attention to organizational and cultural differences between schools. Both published studies have been conducted roughly half way through the project, and the developed reccomendations have been implemented in its later stages.
This, final study in this series, is conducted after project completion, and presents a complete comparison of relevant aspects of school life before, during and after introducing flexible learning approach. Research methods include comparisons between stocktaking reports and final reports, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups conducted with teachers and students. This study analyzes results from the previous studies, places them into appropriate contexts, and explores validity of earlier recommendations after their implementation. In short, it presents an exhaustive documentation of various issues associated with each important step in introducing flexible learning model into technical education in Croatia and provides recommendations based on real-life experience in two different contexts.
Based on involvement of schools from different parts of Croatia, strong support by national Agency for Vocational Education and Training and European character of the project, authors are convinced that results of this study can be generalized to other secondary technical schools in Croatia and beyond.

References:
[1] Jandrić, Petar; Božurić, Mario; Čarapina, Mia, "Flexible Learning Approach and Curricula Education towards the Labour Market in Secondary Technical Education : A Case Study", 22nd Central European Conference on lnformation and lntelligent Systems, 2011.

[2] Božurić, Mario; Čarapina, Mia; Jandrić, Petar, "Uvođenje fleksibilnog učenja u srednjoškolsko strukovno obrazovanje: komparativna studija dvije škole", CARNet Users Conference, 2011.