A new method for developing interactive courses in smart textiles

This paper presents the essential aspects of the impact of intensive learning materials using online interactive courses and mobilities for learning organised in the ADDTEX Erasmus+ project for involving students in transnational cooperation-based working groups for smart textile prototype development. The e-learning tools and methods (interactive videos, quizzes and smart prototype development), in both asynchronous and synchronous formats, used in the framework of the ADDTEX Erasmus+ project revealed a successful acceptance of the end-users (students and young researchers) attending the online courses through the ADDTEX platform providing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and hackathons organized in comparison with classical teaching methods without digitilased courses and practical prototype development. Also, the on-site summer school organised in Prato, Italy, came with the possibility of working in transnational teams and contributing to the documentation and creation of prototypes and appropriate business plans. At the end of this activity, the students presented the prototypes and business canvas model developed in teams and received rigorous feedback from smart textile industry specialists. The asynchronous learning format allowed students and young researchers to familiarise themselves with green and digital transitions and smart textiles in the EU context. The synchronous e-learning organised in the hackathon format allowed students to interact with companies and clusters and solve the challenges proposed by the industry. The lesson content on ADDTEX MOOC has been delivered in an attractive format using interactive videos, graphics, animation and videos with digital teachers explaining the course.