This proposal is a follow-up of a paper session at ECER 2013 that outlined an agenda for reviewing prior European research approaches to “Work Process Knowledge”, “Informal Learning” and “Knowledge Maturing”. That session had the task to map the conceptual contributions of predecessor projects to the EU-funded “Learning Layers” (LL) project (2012 - 2016) and to examine the conceptual relevance, contradictions and needs for updating from the perspective of current situation. This symposium session will shift the emphasis from reviewing prior approaches to conceptualisation of the research agenda of the LL project and to interim reflection on the ongoing research & development work in the construction sector.

Concerning the research agenda of the Learning Layers project it is worthwhile to take into account the following interests of knowledge and strategic tasks that are involved in different work packages of the project:

a) “Basic research” - Production of empirical background data on workplace learning and networked learning concepts in construction and healthcare sectors (Work package 1);

b) “Interactive research” and “accompanying research” - conceptual and methodological support for participative design activities with application partners in construction and healthcare sectors (Work packages 2-6);

c) “Innovation research” and “action research” - Analysing of mechanisms for scaling up innovations, ensuring their sustainability and engaging stakeholders in pilot regions and other interested regions (Work package 7).

This symposium session will focus on the two latter aspects and the respective interests of knowledge as well as on the work in the construction sector. In addition to the materials of the above mentioned review session and internal working documents (Y1 deliverables) of the LL project it draws upon prior methodological analyses on ‘accompanying research’ in the context of earlier ECER sessions and in German innovation programmes (see the articles of Deitmer and Kämäräinen in De Bruijn & Manning (2004) as well as Deitmer (2004) and Deitmer et al. 2004).

Concerning the development agenda, the aim of the Learning Layers (LL) project is to develop web-based digital tools and services that support workplace learning of apprentices, skilled workers and advanced professionals in construction sector. Due to dynamic development of internet and the varying working conditions in the construction sector it is necessary to bring together different approaches that study learning and knowledge sharing in that sector.

Concerning the research & development agenda, the LL project seeks to overcome one-sided views on technology-push or customer-demand. Instead, the LL project has put into the centre of its work participative co-design processes in which domain-oriented research partners, technical development partners and application partners work together. This requires interdisciplinary research dialogue between different fields of expertise and interactive research & development dialogue between ‘experts’ and practitioners.

In the following three research papers we focus on different action contexts, systemic levels and issues of dialogue and interdisciplinarity:

1) The first paper “Work Process Knowledge meets Mobile Learning - Insights into Design Process of Sharing Turbine” provides a micro-level example of participative design process and the incorporation of ‘work process knowledge’ into technical development.

2) The second paper “The Role of Accompanying Research and Participative Design in the Learning Layers Project” reflects on the supporting contribution of accompanying research in a complex design process.

3) The third paper “Cluster Organisations, Innovation Hubs and Project-based Learning as Means to Promote Innovations” explores the prospects for scaling up regional innovations via cluster organisations and for promoting mutual learning between innovation hubs.