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a) Data collection by working with Focus Groups

The first part of the investigation was set-up with regards to the question as to what extent
VR/AR/XR is already known in VET and what experiences have been gained with it, which target

groups and stakeholders are open to this topic and how, and what possibilities and opportunities,
but also risks and obstacles experts see in the use of immersive technologies with this specific

learning target group in WBL and in work mobility.

For this purpose, two Focus Groups were set up in each partner country. One was to consist of at

least 10 VET trainers and teachers, the other of at least 5 stakeholders and 3 experts with VET
experience; all persons in the focus group had in common that they already had experience in

working with SEN students as well as in the field of WBL. Semi-standardised workshops and inter-
views were to be conducted with both groups, in which the project partners played a participatory

role; the workshops were to last at least 4 hours each. The organisational and didactic implemen-
tation of the workshops was largely left to the partners, but individual question sets were specified.

Originally, the workshops were planned be held face to face, however, due to the C-19 situation,
the partners were free to hold several smaller workshops, to do them online or even to conduct

individual expert talks in telephone sessions.

Tab. 1 gives an overview on the frameworks of the Focus Groups work in all countries. The Focus

Groups were implemented in all partner countries as planned in the period from 27/01/2021 to
30/03/2021. Most of the partners adhered to the proposal to conduct the Focus Groups in two

different group sessions; TILI/ES organised the work in four different sessions. Auxilium/AT de-
cided to conduct the data collection in individual expert interviews, because in this period was

the 3rd lockdown in Austria which made it difficult to reach the target groups of the Focus Groups
in other formats. However, all other partners were also affected by C-19 and the associated re-

strictions, as can be seen from the fact that only TILI/ES was able to physically hold its four focus

group meetings.

The duration of the workshops and interviews totalled 66 hours (originally planned were 56

hours), whereas those partners who conducted more sessions also spent more time on them.
The duration of these sessions is important because it can be assumed that there is a certain
positive correlation between the length of time spent on the research topic and the quantity and

quality of the working results. With a total engagement time of almost 70 hours, it can be as-

sumed that this quality indicator was fulfilled. Of course, the duration alone is not decisive, how
this time is used for high-quality content work and the documentation of its results being key.

Nevertheless, it is good to know that an appropriate amount of time was provided for this task.

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