Aim

ASOK-projectpair aims to map out and integrate working life’s and education providers’ opinions on welding, welding education and challenges appearing in welding. In addition, project examines material consumption and material loss in welding and car painting. Results are spread out and can be used in working life. RDI-activity task is to research how well simulation learning environments correspond to reality in welding and painting in the car industry. Lapland education centre REDU’s learning environments are developed by information gathered in mapping. Learning environments are developed together with Lapland University of Applied Sciences by using and researching digital solutions and simulation-based learning environments together. Project includes investments of 5 car painting simulators and 5 welding simulators. Simulators enable for example better individual education for students with special needs and they also reduce material loss in education. Project continues and upgrades learning environments developed in earlier project ‘Developing the learning environments of ecological driving’ in which REDU’s vehicle sector’s learning environments were developed by investments.Learning environment development is based in increasing competences and competent work labor in Lapland. Simultaneously environmental aspects and controlling environmental burden is perceived in development. Using digital solutions enables developing better education, perceiving students’ different needs and have influence on reducing emissions and material loss. Digital learning environments notice students’ different competences better. For younger students, digital environments are familiar and natural places to learn basic skills. Digital environments make it possible to train same case multiple times without material loss and giving automatic feedback for student. Creating modern learning environments is possible by developing simulation learning environments. This also has effect on how car welding and painting are educated sustainably in Lapland. Modern digital technologies increase producing the newest data and competences in vocational education and offer a new learning and researching environment for students, educators and RDI-staff in university of applied sciences. This project supports also developing wider areal RDI-cooperation following REDU’s systematic development of learning environments together with Lapland University of Applied Sciences. Learning environments including modern technologies secure students’ gaining competences needed in working life. However, simulation-based learning correspondence to traditional learning environments has not been deeply researched in Finland or internationally.