Explainable AI Personalised Learning Pathways Powered by Digital Escape Rooms and Gamified Learning (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T03-DIGITAL-BS)

Aim: Develop, implement, and evaluate ethical, transparent, and explainable AI-powered PLPs that measurably improve basic skills for EQF 1–4 learners through microlearning + immersive/gamified learning routes, and produce evidence-based policy guidance for scale-up across participating countries.

Approach

1) Co-design + policy alignment (what is taught, how success is defined)

• Jointly define the basic skills targets (e.g., numeracy + digital skills, optional reading) and map them to national curricula and EQF 1–4 competency descriptors.

• Co-design learning scenarios with teachers/VET trainers and learners, ensuring inclusive pedagogy (UDL-style accessibility, mixed-attainment teamwork, language support).

2) AI-powered PLP engine with teacher-in-the-loop control

• Learner model: lightweight diagnostics + continuous evidence from activities (accuracy, attempts, time-on-task, misconception patterns) to estimate mastery and learning needs.

• Pathway orchestration: recommends “next best” microlearning steps and collaborative missions, constrained by teacher-set goals (so AI suggests, teachers decide).

• Explainability: every recommendation provides why (skill gap, prerequisite chain, confidence, alternatives), plus uncertainty flags and “what would change my mind” signals (e.g., one more diagnostic item).

3) Pedagogical design that makes PLPs engaging and inclusive

• Microlearning progression: short competency units for fast feedback and low frustration.

• Digital escape-room missions: collaborative, story-driven challenges that require applying basic skills, supporting a “level-playing field” in mixed groups.

• Inquiry scenarios + prompt scaffolds: structured questioning to build reasoning (especially in mathematics and digital literacy tasks).

4) Dashboards + learning analytics + feedback loops

• Student dashboard: mastery map, achievements, next-step rationale, reflection prompts.

• Teacher dashboard: class heatmaps, misconception clusters, suggested groupings/interventions, early-warning indicators.

• Systematic feedback collection from learners and educators (short pulse surveys + focus groups).

5) European policy experimentation evaluation

• Multi-country pilots followed by larger experimentation (cluster/quasi-experimental depending on feasibility).

• Baseline–midline–endline assessment of targeted skills + engagement, inclusion and equity effects.

• Implementation fidelity + teacher workload/acceptance + cost/interoperability analysis to validate scalability.

Deliverables

A. Intervention assets

1. Competency framework & curriculum mapping pack (EQF 1–4): target skills, proficiency descriptors, prerequisites, and country mappings.

2. Microlearning content library: bite-sized units per competency (teacher-editable templates).

3. Digital Escape Room mission kit: reusable mission “design patterns,” puzzle banks, collaborative mechanics, and difficulty adaptation rules.

4. Inquiry scenario toolkit: structured questioning templates and safe prompt scaffolds aligned to basic skills tasks.

5. Inclusive pedagogy package: UDL-informed guidelines, accommodations for SEN, language support strategies, and mixed-attainment collaboration protocols.

B. Technology deliverables

6. AI-powered PLP prototype platform (web-based; deployable in school/VET settings): learner modelling + pathway recommendations.

7. Explainability module: “Why this next?” explanations, uncertainty reporting, alternative pathways, and teacher override controls.

8. Dashboards: student, teacher, and aggregated school/policy views with privacy-preserving analytics.

9. Interoperability & deployment package: APIs/data formats, integration guidance with common LMS environments, and on-prem/cloud options.

Work plan

WP1 – Policy & co-design alignment: ministries/agencies, school/VET leaders, teacher training bodies; success criteria and national curriculum mapping.
WP2 – Content & pedagogy packages: microlearning competencies + escape-room mission templates + inquiry scenarios + meme-based engagement kits (UDL-informed accessibility).
WP3 – AI/PLP platform & explainability: pathway engine, dashboards, model documentation, teacher control panel, bias/fairness monitoring.
WP4 – Pilots & refinement: usability, classroom integration, infrastructure variants (low-tech to immersive).
WP5 – Large-scale experimentation: implementation + monitoring + cross-country comparability.
WP6 – Evidence synthesis & policy scaling kit: guidelines, procurement/interoperability recommendations, training modules for teachers, and a replication playbook.