Bringing the Curriculum to Life through Inclusive and Digital VET
As part of the ConstructHer Future – CoHER Project, ÇEKDEV & PIXIE Academy organised a national online webinar in Türkiye under WP2 A2 – Educator Training Programme. The event was held on 18 May 2026 and focused on supporting VET educators in applying inclusive, digital, gender-sensitive and competence-based approaches in construction-related vocational education and training.
The webinar was developed as an online adaptation of the face-to-face educator training programme introduced and tested during the CoHER training session in Dalaman. While the Dalaman activity used an interactive face-to-face format, the online webinar transferred the same core methodology into a digital environment, making the training content more accessible to a wider group of educators and vocational training stakeholders in Türkiye.
The session introduced participants to the aims of the CoHER project and explained the role of WP2 A2 in strengthening educators’ capacity to implement the reformed CoHER curriculum. The webinar focused on practical ways to make construction VET more inclusive, attractive and supportive, especially for women and underrepresented learners in technical fields.
Key topics included gender-sensitive pedagogy, barrier mapping, active learning, project-based learning, digital tools, competence-based assessment and the Learning Carousel methodology. Participants reflected on how educators can transform curriculum content into practical classroom and workshop activities that encourage equal participation, fair assessment and learner confidence.
A total of 25 participants took part in the webinar and completed the evaluation process. The participant group included VET teachers, technical teachers, trainers and other relevant stakeholders from vocational and technical education. The activity also supported the dissemination of the CoHER platform and encouraged participants to explore the project’s online learning materials and mini-courses.
During the webinar, participants explored the barriers that women and underrepresented learners may face in construction education. They discussed how classroom culture, role distribution, digital confidence, assessment practices and career guidance can either support or limit equal participation. Through the barrier mapping activity, educators were encouraged to identify practical responses that can be applied in their own teaching environments.
Another important part of the webinar was the Learning Carousel methodology, presented as a flexible, participatory and practice-oriented model for educator training. Participants explored how this station-based approach can help teachers move beyond traditional lectures and create more active, collaborative and learner-centred training sessions.
The webinar also highlighted the importance of digital tools in construction VET. Participants discussed how tools such as BIM viewers, VR/AR simulations, online collaboration platforms, digital portfolios and learning management systems can make construction education more visual, accessible and connected to real industry practices. The digital integration task helped participants understand that digital tools should be linked to clear learning outcomes, educator roles and assessment methods.
Feedback from participants was highly positive. Participants found the webinar useful, clear and relevant to their professional practice. The most appreciated parts of the session included the Learning Carousel methodology, barrier analysis, scenario brainstorming and digital tool matching. Participants also expressed interest in applying the presented methods in their own teaching contexts.
The online webinar contributed to the wider CoHER objective of making construction VET more inclusive, attractive and supportive for women. By engaging educators directly, the activity helped transform project outputs into practical teaching strategies that can be used in real classrooms, workshops and training centres.
5 Key Reflections from the Event
- Inclusive teaching requires practical tools, not only awareness.
Participants recognised that gender equality in construction VET must be supported through concrete classroom strategies, fair role distribution and bias-aware assessment.
- Barrier mapping helps identify hidden challenges.
The activity encouraged educators to reflect on pedagogical, institutional and sectoral barriers that may prevent equal participation in technical learning environments.
- The Learning Carousel methodology supports active educator training.
Participants appreciated the interactive logic of the method because it encourages collaboration, reflection and practical application.
- Digital tools must be connected to learning outcomes.
The webinar showed that tools such as VR, BIM, digital portfolios and online collaboration platforms are most effective when linked to clear educational aims and assessment criteria.
- Online delivery can extend the reach of face-to-face training.
Conclusion
The CoHER WP2 A2 online webinar in Türkiye was an important step in promoting inclusive, digital and competence-based approaches in construction VET. It strengthened educator engagement, supported platform dissemination and created a bridge between the face-to-face training programme developed in Dalaman and wider implementation among Turkish VET educators.
Through this activity, ÇEKDEV & PIXIE Academy contributed to the project’s wider mission of challenging stereotypes, supporting female participation and helping educators create more inclusive learning environments in construction-related vocational education.
Continue learning on the CoHER platform:
Click here for Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution for Women in Construction
Click here for Combating Workplace Biases in Construction Education
By CEKDEV International Education and Development Academy
