elearning_label_training_and_work
Projets
Oppisopimuksella työvoimakapeikkoihin
28 Novembre 2002
The aim is to fight obsolete skills of existing middle aged or ageing personnel by means of an appreticeship and a competence-based performance exam designed for adults.
The project is innovative because apprenticeship has not earlier been used as a training form of middle-aged and ageing persons. Apprenticeship is well suited to the needs of the trainees and it can be tailored to suit the situation of each individual.
The employment effects are good, as the ageing and persons under threat of notice and with low level of basic training will get a new employment contract through apprenticeship; in addition, they will get a professional certificate instead of participating in short courses. The project complements the national age programme.
The project aims to combine training and working life and to maintain permanent contracts of employment and work motivation. These aims will be attained by developing competence which is essential for the well-being at work and by creating positive attitudes toward lifelong learning. As production is more important to companies that certificates it will be sensible both for the employer and employee to develop apprenticeship and to increase knowledge, because in apprenticeship the employee studies on-the-job.
At the same time, the goal is to prevent lay-offs and the risk of unemployment and to decrease unemployment. The starting point is that the best way to secure a job is to have professional competence. 20 % of the target group will be unemployed who mostly have an employer contact through practical training or through work try out. Part of the unemployed may be without employer contacts.
Before apprenticeship there will be an orientation course which will support learning and work ability as well as using information and communication technology.
The employment effects are good, as the ageing and persons under threat of notice and with low level of basic training will get a new employment contract through apprenticeship; in addition, they will get a professional certificate instead of participating in short courses. The project complements the national age programme.
The project aims to combine training and working life and to maintain permanent contracts of employment and work motivation. These aims will be attained by developing competence which is essential for the well-being at work and by creating positive attitudes toward lifelong learning. As production is more important to companies that certificates it will be sensible both for the employer and employee to develop apprenticeship and to increase knowledge, because in apprenticeship the employee studies on-the-job.
At the same time, the goal is to prevent lay-offs and the risk of unemployment and to decrease unemployment. The starting point is that the best way to secure a job is to have professional competence. 20 % of the target group will be unemployed who mostly have an employer contact through practical training or through work try out. Part of the unemployed may be without employer contacts.
Before apprenticeship there will be an orientation course which will support learning and work ability as well as using information and communication technology.
Projets
TARU
28 Novembre 2002
The objective of the project is to create a production model through which the cultural contents of e.g ageing or handicapped artists work could be utilised in digital media.
The target group of the project - e.g. ageing artists and handicapped artists -work as freelancers and in free artist groups; their income rate is often low due to lack of work opportunities. It is almost impossible for handicapped artists to get training in the field of arts. Handicapped artists' work may be professionally implemented and internationally interesting but it often remains unnoticed alongside mainstream art.
The project aims to solve these problems by improving the target group's marketing skills, technical competence in utilising digital media and by carrying out productions with the target groups. The intention is to make the public aware of the target groups' competence in order for the demand for their work to grow and for their income rate improve.
The project will develop a model of cultural marketing which will give tools especially in utilising digital media. Another model will concentrate on creating products out of cultural contents. Both models will be tranferred to the net. Thus they will be available for cultural actors and the public.
The models will emerge through research, training and after that through concrete productions.
The artists will learn to use information technology in the marketing of their work and in creating marketable products out of their own work. New media like dvd, mobile multi-media services and net productions will provide a new means of income.
The project aims to solve these problems by improving the target group's marketing skills, technical competence in utilising digital media and by carrying out productions with the target groups. The intention is to make the public aware of the target groups' competence in order for the demand for their work to grow and for their income rate improve.
The project will develop a model of cultural marketing which will give tools especially in utilising digital media. Another model will concentrate on creating products out of cultural contents. Both models will be tranferred to the net. Thus they will be available for cultural actors and the public.
The models will emerge through research, training and after that through concrete productions.
The artists will learn to use information technology in the marketing of their work and in creating marketable products out of their own work. New media like dvd, mobile multi-media services and net productions will provide a new means of income.
Projets
Omatoimisuutta ja kilpailukykyä
28 Novembre 2002
The project will prepare SME personnel for new requirements by taking into account the integration of ageing persons and new workforce into working life.
The project aims to increase employee’s competence and participation in SMEs. The intention is to prevent the emergence of factors related to competence and attitudes which may lead to unemployment and finishing of business activity.
The aim is to coach with new methods employers and employees of existing work communities for the purpose of adapting to demands set by new contents of work and to possibilities of new local agreement ways and ways to establish a new income basis. The coaching will be implemented during working hours in groups of 5-7 persons or in natural work groups in the form of two-hour long sessions per group. One of the leaders will be from inside, one outside the workplace.
The themes of the programme will be drafted by the workplace; they will be complemented by practice sessions. This will provide employer/personal –based material which will be utilised later in the enterprise’s internal sessions. In total 13 h/group, 6 periods. The new products will include training material for SMEs and local cooperation partners, a training method (virtual), training programmes which will be suited to the different stages of the changes in the company culture. The project will provide an overall model by means of which it will be possible to implement personnel development models coordinated by SMEs.
The aim is to coach with new methods employers and employees of existing work communities for the purpose of adapting to demands set by new contents of work and to possibilities of new local agreement ways and ways to establish a new income basis. The coaching will be implemented during working hours in groups of 5-7 persons or in natural work groups in the form of two-hour long sessions per group. One of the leaders will be from inside, one outside the workplace.
The themes of the programme will be drafted by the workplace; they will be complemented by practice sessions. This will provide employer/personal –based material which will be utilised later in the enterprise’s internal sessions. In total 13 h/group, 6 periods. The new products will include training material for SMEs and local cooperation partners, a training method (virtual), training programmes which will be suited to the different stages of the changes in the company culture. The project will provide an overall model by means of which it will be possible to implement personnel development models coordinated by SMEs.
Projets
The Route of the Professional Shipyard Worker to ICT-skills
28 Novembre 2002
The aim of the project is to provide opportunities for employees and enterprises in the ship building sector to succeed in structural change.
A development partnership arises from the real needs of the employees and companies in the ship building sector. There is no similar partnership in Finland. Initiative to create the partnership has come from the employees of the company network in the Turku docks.
DP seeks solutions to the problems of its target groups: how to get young people interested in industrial professions, and at the same time, how to prevent the exclusion of ageing workers from working life, and finally, how to tranfer the know-how and skills to young people. The purpose of the DP is also to look for new cooperation models in the employment e.g. with the help of company personnel and international personnel.
Solution models will be created e.g. for maintenance of work ability and for replacement in order to adapt to the demands brought on by information society. The project also aims to increase international cooperaton and personnel exchange, to develop working communities with regard to equality and multi-culturalness and to seek preventive solutions to drug problems.
As a result, ageing employees will be able to continue working more healthy and with better work ability, young people will be able to apply for and learn the professions in the ship building field, enterprises and their personnel will cope better in the future changes of working life and volume of orders, working communities will become more tolerant and equal and the respect for the industry requiring manual skills will increase.
The project combines lifelong learning with professional advancement, well-being at work and maintenance of work ability. The project will also develop models of safe working and improves employees' information technology skills.
DP seeks solutions to the problems of its target groups: how to get young people interested in industrial professions, and at the same time, how to prevent the exclusion of ageing workers from working life, and finally, how to tranfer the know-how and skills to young people. The purpose of the DP is also to look for new cooperation models in the employment e.g. with the help of company personnel and international personnel.
Solution models will be created e.g. for maintenance of work ability and for replacement in order to adapt to the demands brought on by information society. The project also aims to increase international cooperaton and personnel exchange, to develop working communities with regard to equality and multi-culturalness and to seek preventive solutions to drug problems.
As a result, ageing employees will be able to continue working more healthy and with better work ability, young people will be able to apply for and learn the professions in the ship building field, enterprises and their personnel will cope better in the future changes of working life and volume of orders, working communities will become more tolerant and equal and the respect for the industry requiring manual skills will increase.
The project combines lifelong learning with professional advancement, well-being at work and maintenance of work ability. The project will also develop models of safe working and improves employees' information technology skills.
Projets
Building Bridges in the Multicultural European Classroom
28 Novembre 2002
It is a project on intercultural education and (via) multimedia.
The project´s objectives are:
- to enable schools, teachers, pupils to develop intercultural methods to improve knowledge, understanding, and tolerance in and between multilingual and multicultural young people.
- to enable three different area/schools to use multimedia as a catapult for a better future for socially disadvantaged groups, immigrants, gypsies,
- to enable young immigrants to increase self-esteem by acquiring an extended multimedia curriculum,
The target group is formed by young people ranging 14-24 years.
First year activities will focus on a group of 45 pupils who will be educated as peer teachers both for multimedia and intercultural competencies. The second year the group will grow to approximately 100 of pupils and the third year will focus at the institutional level. Multimedia is seen as a means towards intercultural education and a goal in itself.
Multimedia centres in each of the schools involved is the framework for many aspects of the process as well as for the 3 multimedia-end products planned.The project intends also to set-up a web site, meetingpoint, teachers-conferences, homepage containing products as well as a process-CDrom.
The countries involved in the project are DK, ES and SV.
- to enable schools, teachers, pupils to develop intercultural methods to improve knowledge, understanding, and tolerance in and between multilingual and multicultural young people.
- to enable three different area/schools to use multimedia as a catapult for a better future for socially disadvantaged groups, immigrants, gypsies,
- to enable young immigrants to increase self-esteem by acquiring an extended multimedia curriculum,
The target group is formed by young people ranging 14-24 years.
First year activities will focus on a group of 45 pupils who will be educated as peer teachers both for multimedia and intercultural competencies. The second year the group will grow to approximately 100 of pupils and the third year will focus at the institutional level. Multimedia is seen as a means towards intercultural education and a goal in itself.
Multimedia centres in each of the schools involved is the framework for many aspects of the process as well as for the 3 multimedia-end products planned.The project intends also to set-up a web site, meetingpoint, teachers-conferences, homepage containing products as well as a process-CDrom.
The countries involved in the project are DK, ES and SV.
Projets
European Master's Degree through In-Service Training on European and Global Dimension in Education
28 Novembre 2002
The project sets to provide an integrated curriculum for an MA degree for teachers and staff.
The course is supposed to provide teachers with the required skills for the integration of the European dimension into the overall pedagogical policy plan of the school, into the curriculum (independently of their subject) and into the initial and in-service training of teachers.
The MA will enable teachers to become highly qualified Comenius promoters who will be able to involve themselves in the promotion, evaluation and dissemination of the pedagogical results and outcomes of Comenius projects.
The first year will be devoted to the elaboration of the first three modules of the course. These modules will be implemented and evaluated during the second year, and other modules will be developed. The third year will then focus on dissemination and evaluation of the work.
The target group consists of teachers in general, but, more particularly, teachers who have a special interest and even experience in European collaboration. The outcome of the project will be a jointly developed MA curriculum accredited by ATEE and recognised by partner institutions.
The course will be delivered as a series of modules focusing on different areas of the European dimension, as well as providing the necessary information and skills to undertake cooperative work.
The MA will enable teachers to become highly qualified Comenius promoters who will be able to involve themselves in the promotion, evaluation and dissemination of the pedagogical results and outcomes of Comenius projects.
The first year will be devoted to the elaboration of the first three modules of the course. These modules will be implemented and evaluated during the second year, and other modules will be developed. The third year will then focus on dissemination and evaluation of the work.
The target group consists of teachers in general, but, more particularly, teachers who have a special interest and even experience in European collaboration. The outcome of the project will be a jointly developed MA curriculum accredited by ATEE and recognised by partner institutions.
The course will be delivered as a series of modules focusing on different areas of the European dimension, as well as providing the necessary information and skills to undertake cooperative work.
Projets
Pienyritysten johtamisjärjestelmän kehittäminen
28 Novembre 2002
The starting point of the project is to prevent exclusion of SMEs and their personnel from working life in the structural change brought on by information society.
The problems in the transfer of information between the main and sub-contractor have an effect on the labour market as well; the networking of enterprises will improve the functioning of the labour market.
The aim is to develop training and operational models which prevent exclusion of ageing employees and increase the capacity of personnel to adapt to the demands of information society. The project aims to improve networking of enterprises, flow of information and the taking into account of personnel and the quality of work.
The intention is to concentrate on improving the transfer of information between the main contractor and the subcontractor and on increasing cooperation between SMEs. In the development of managing systems it is essential to ensure well-being at work and the maintenance of work ability and the provision of training possibilities.
The immediate results of the project will include the following: creation of new jobs, securing existing jobs, improvement of productivity and competitiveness of SMEs and improvement of participation and competence of personnel.
The development of managing systems of SMEs will be implemented through provision of training, provision of individual consultation for SMEs, study trips abroad and meetings between enterprises. During the project the participants have a possibility to obtain a certificate of work manager.
The participating SMEs and other parties can utilise the models created during the project in their own work and to mainstream them further.
The aim is to develop training and operational models which prevent exclusion of ageing employees and increase the capacity of personnel to adapt to the demands of information society. The project aims to improve networking of enterprises, flow of information and the taking into account of personnel and the quality of work.
The intention is to concentrate on improving the transfer of information between the main contractor and the subcontractor and on increasing cooperation between SMEs. In the development of managing systems it is essential to ensure well-being at work and the maintenance of work ability and the provision of training possibilities.
The immediate results of the project will include the following: creation of new jobs, securing existing jobs, improvement of productivity and competitiveness of SMEs and improvement of participation and competence of personnel.
The development of managing systems of SMEs will be implemented through provision of training, provision of individual consultation for SMEs, study trips abroad and meetings between enterprises. During the project the participants have a possibility to obtain a certificate of work manager.
The participating SMEs and other parties can utilise the models created during the project in their own work and to mainstream them further.
Articles
Le soutien à la création et au développement d’entreprise - l'approche française
07 Novembre 2002
Le Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale mène, depuis cinq ans, une politique volontariste visant à développer l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication dans l’enseignement scolaire et supérieur.
Les objectifs sont de deux ordres:
1. La maîtrise par l’élève et l’étudiant d’un environnement technique dans lequel ces technologies sont de plus en plus présentes ;
2. La diversification des formes d’enseignement et d’apprentissage en liaison avec les réformes engagées dans le système éducatif.
Loi sur l'innovation et la recherche de juillet 1999
Elle permet d’offrir aux fonctionnaires civils des services publics la possibilité d’exercer leurs compétences auprès d’entreprises françaises, en création ou en développement, du secteur du multimédia éducatif.
Incubateur national « Belle de Mai » dédié au multimédia éducatif et culturel
Créé en 2000, suite à l’appel à projets « Incubation et capital amorçage des entreprises technologiques », l’Incubateur d’entreprises de produits et services multimédias éducatifs et culturels « Belle de Mai », situé à Marseille, apporte un soutien aux créateurs d’entreprises dans ce secteur.
Le fonds d'amorçage C-Source
Mis en place en 2000, le fonds d’amorçage C-Source d’un montant prévisionnel de l'ordre de 100 MF (15,25 M d’euros) dont le quart d'apport de l'État, associe organismes publics (principalement l’INRIA, l’ENSET Cachan et la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations) et investisseurs privés. Il permet de soutenir les jeunes entreprises du secteur du multimédia, notamment éducatif, par la prise de participations.
Les documents suivants vous permettront de mieux découvrir l'approche française en matière d'e-learning:
Pour tous les chapitres, des liens hyper-textes sur les mots-clés vous permettront d’aller plus loin que ce bilan volontairement succinct.
Les objectifs sont de deux ordres:
1. La maîtrise par l’élève et l’étudiant d’un environnement technique dans lequel ces technologies sont de plus en plus présentes ;
2. La diversification des formes d’enseignement et d’apprentissage en liaison avec les réformes engagées dans le système éducatif.
Loi sur l'innovation et la recherche de juillet 1999
Elle permet d’offrir aux fonctionnaires civils des services publics la possibilité d’exercer leurs compétences auprès d’entreprises françaises, en création ou en développement, du secteur du multimédia éducatif.
Incubateur national « Belle de Mai » dédié au multimédia éducatif et culturel
Créé en 2000, suite à l’appel à projets « Incubation et capital amorçage des entreprises technologiques », l’Incubateur d’entreprises de produits et services multimédias éducatifs et culturels « Belle de Mai », situé à Marseille, apporte un soutien aux créateurs d’entreprises dans ce secteur.
Le fonds d'amorçage C-Source
Mis en place en 2000, le fonds d’amorçage C-Source d’un montant prévisionnel de l'ordre de 100 MF (15,25 M d’euros) dont le quart d'apport de l'État, associe organismes publics (principalement l’INRIA, l’ENSET Cachan et la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations) et investisseurs privés. Il permet de soutenir les jeunes entreprises du secteur du multimédia, notamment éducatif, par la prise de participations.
Les documents suivants vous permettront de mieux découvrir l'approche française en matière d'e-learning:
La brochure que vous avez en main est en ligne à l’adresse www.EducNet.
1. Les technologies de l’information et de la communication dans les nouveaux programmes du primaire et du secondaire
2. Le développement des infrastructures pour les technologies de l’information et de la communication dans l’enseignement scolaire et supérieur
3. La formation des personnels d’enseignement et d’encadrement
4. La production et la mise à disposition de ressources et services numériques
5. Le développement de l’offre française d’enseignement supérieur ouvert et à distance
6. L’effort de recherche
7. Le soutien à la création et au développement d’entreprise
8. Les partenariats
9. L’ouverture à l’international
10. L’information et la communication
Pour tous les chapitres, des liens hyper-textes sur les mots-clés vous permettront d’aller plus loin que ce bilan volontairement succinct.
Projets
La Selva coopera
27 Novembre 2002
To improve adaptability in SME's and in workers of the region of La Selva through the use of the ICTs.
The cooperation strategy is nowadays essential to front the globalization of economy, specially for the SME's, whose possibilities to survive depend on the ability to cooperate not to compete with others in the same sector or in complementary sectors. The same is for the territory, whose competitiveness will depend on the ability of economic and social agents to cooperate. Aware of these problems we propose with this project to promote cooperation among the different agents of the region in order to find at the local and regional level as well as in the european level the right relationships to cooperate efficiently looking for new opportunities for the region and specially for their inhabitants.
The chief activities will be: cooperation to improve innovation, using of Ntics, new ways of management and work organization among SME's and their workers and to strenghen business associations and to develop NYE, access to training and the sustainable development of the region.
One of the most important characteristics of the region of La Selva is the existence of SME's that during the last years have become the economic foundation of the region. They represent more of 80% of the total and more of 70% of workers.
The business world of the region presents a bundle of structural problems. Among them are: the small size of businesses, lack of international activities, a low technological level and lack of financing. In La Selva exists a low development of business'cooperation in comparison with other regions and specially referred to SME's.
In front of this we have a labour market with a low level of activity, a high level of women unemployed, that is the double of the men'one; an excessive level of seasonal and rotation employment due to tourism sector and low level of education of the total labour force.
All these factors show us a region with a business and productive structure quite breakable that depends on SME's with rare capacity for adapting to changes because of their low level of incoporating the new technologiesto their processes, a limited acces to training and human resources with low qualifications.
This kind of labour market requires a serie of actions in which all the economic and social agents compromised themselves in order to look for solutions to the problems that affect and will continue affecting an important population sector and the competitiveness of the region.
The chief activities will be: cooperation to improve innovation, using of Ntics, new ways of management and work organization among SME's and their workers and to strenghen business associations and to develop NYE, access to training and the sustainable development of the region.
One of the most important characteristics of the region of La Selva is the existence of SME's that during the last years have become the economic foundation of the region. They represent more of 80% of the total and more of 70% of workers.
The business world of the region presents a bundle of structural problems. Among them are: the small size of businesses, lack of international activities, a low technological level and lack of financing. In La Selva exists a low development of business'cooperation in comparison with other regions and specially referred to SME's.
In front of this we have a labour market with a low level of activity, a high level of women unemployed, that is the double of the men'one; an excessive level of seasonal and rotation employment due to tourism sector and low level of education of the total labour force.
All these factors show us a region with a business and productive structure quite breakable that depends on SME's with rare capacity for adapting to changes because of their low level of incoporating the new technologiesto their processes, a limited acces to training and human resources with low qualifications.
This kind of labour market requires a serie of actions in which all the economic and social agents compromised themselves in order to look for solutions to the problems that affect and will continue affecting an important population sector and the competitiveness of the region.
Articles
A Virtual Laboratory for the e-Learning Training of Teachers and Trainers<br> <font color= "#888888">
15 Janvier 2003
The European Commission’s elearning Action Plan has identified the potential of elearning and set ambitious targets. However, as the plan itself acknowledges, and a series of reports confirm, there are major barriers to be overcome if this potential is to be realised. Foremost amongst these are the training of teachers and trainers in the pedagogy and application of elearning and the evaluation of the effectiveness of elearning and elearning materials. Evaluative reports have further pointed to the gap between policy and practice.
The initial focus for the iLAB (internet LABoratory) is based on a well-developed constructivist approach to knowledge development and sharing. This is focused on communication, discourse and dialogue leading to shared meanings and the generation of explicit knowledge from tacit knowledge and understandings. The project is also developed around the concept of communities of practice and builds on previous research and projects in activity theory and knowledge creation whilst the software tools build on the Semantic Web developments of the W3C and the MIT.
The project aims to develop dialogical methodologies and partnerships to promote practice-based policy and a collaborative-based query and mutual learning between different sectors and cultures in order to find common European pathways to the implementation of elearning. iLAB is intended as an exemplar and case study in the use of elearning and ICT for European collaboration. It builds on previous attempts to develop ICT based networks by introducing at its centre a dialogical methodology based on activity and participation rather than just Web based information provision.
The major result of the project will be:
· the development of a sustainable and scaleable European virtual laboratory and network of participants in European countries for teachers and trainers in the use of ICT in education and training. The laboratory will bring together experts, policy makers and practitioners from different sectors of education and training.
· the development of recommendations for national policy makers and guidelines for teacher training institutions in two key problem areas associated with the implementation of the elearning action plan – the training of teachers and trainers in pedagogies for the use of ICT, and the evaluation of elearning and elearning materials.
· an innovative methodology using advanced XML based ICT tools and will itself serve as an exemplar for collaborative ICT based learning in Europe.
The methodology of the project demands the active involvement of a broad target group including: trainers of teachers and trainers in elearning; managers and strategic developers in teacher training institutions; policy makers and planners at national, regional and European level; researchers in elearning; curriculum and materials developers; experts in evaluation. These will be drawn from school-based education, vocational education and training, adult and continuing education and university and higher-level education.
The target groups will benefit from both the process and outcomes of the project. The process of dialogical query will be part of the continuing professional development of the target groups (enhancing participation and sustainability of the iLAB). The process will also enable an exchange between those involved in policy making and implementation of elearning policies leading to mutual learning and a sharing of meanings. The outcomes will provide on the one hand policies to enhance the development of elearning and overcome barriers; on the other hand it will lead to the organic development of pilot and practice based projects for implementing elearning practice.
The project will ultimately be of benefit to learners in the form of more effective and efficient practice in elearning and the development of richer learning environments through new curricula and new evaluation tools for elearning.
The European added value lies in the development of an exemplary and innovative virtual laboratory for the implementation of the elearning action Plan. The project has an organic multiplier effect based on activity leading to the sustainable development of powerful new trans-national networks and practice. In order to achieve such ambitious goals the project has developed an extremely innovative methodology underpinned by previous research and pilot activities. The main innovations consist of the methodology and didactic and pedagogic approach to problem formulation and solving and the elearning technologies to be employed by the project. The project will utilise XML web based tools for a Semantic Web between the partners allowing annotation and querying and dialogue based on multi media. The tools themselves will provide a powerful elearning environment for the extended project partner network.
The project is designed as a collaborative European approach promoting activity based exchange and mutual learning, whilst respecting different cultures and sectoral differences and uses innovative elearning methodologies for developing elearning policy and practice.
The project will investigate the questions concerning the use of ICT in teacher training at European, National, Institutional and Practitioner level through the use of an interactive web site employing both CMC (discussion), XML (organisation and design), and multimedia (video case studies). The web site will be a large-scale online experiment wherein the contributions of the participants will form the basis for the development of the outcomes as well as being an outcome in itself, an investigation and evaluation of the effectiveness of trans-European collaboration.
Part of the core focus for this project is the tools being developed for computer mediated communication supported knowledge development. Given that the key aim of iLAB is to develop knowledge through sharing of ideas and meanings, we believe that there is the need to exchange a far wider range of materials. The web site will form the locus for a community of practice for teacher training professionals and institutions. The video case studies will provide an online resource both for professional debate and discussion as well as resources for teacher training development.
The central focus of the project is based around improving the quality of teaching, training and learning in Europe remains the professionalisation of teachers and trainers through collaboration.
For further information about the project or joining a focus group contact: Philip Crompton, Institute of Education, University of Stirling, United Kingdom. Tel: +44(1786)467615
This project does not as yet have a public web site.
pc4@stir.ac.uk
The initial focus for the iLAB (internet LABoratory) is based on a well-developed constructivist approach to knowledge development and sharing. This is focused on communication, discourse and dialogue leading to shared meanings and the generation of explicit knowledge from tacit knowledge and understandings. The project is also developed around the concept of communities of practice and builds on previous research and projects in activity theory and knowledge creation whilst the software tools build on the Semantic Web developments of the W3C and the MIT.
The project aims to develop dialogical methodologies and partnerships to promote practice-based policy and a collaborative-based query and mutual learning between different sectors and cultures in order to find common European pathways to the implementation of elearning. iLAB is intended as an exemplar and case study in the use of elearning and ICT for European collaboration. It builds on previous attempts to develop ICT based networks by introducing at its centre a dialogical methodology based on activity and participation rather than just Web based information provision.
The major result of the project will be:
· the development of a sustainable and scaleable European virtual laboratory and network of participants in European countries for teachers and trainers in the use of ICT in education and training. The laboratory will bring together experts, policy makers and practitioners from different sectors of education and training.
· the development of recommendations for national policy makers and guidelines for teacher training institutions in two key problem areas associated with the implementation of the elearning action plan – the training of teachers and trainers in pedagogies for the use of ICT, and the evaluation of elearning and elearning materials.
· an innovative methodology using advanced XML based ICT tools and will itself serve as an exemplar for collaborative ICT based learning in Europe.
The methodology of the project demands the active involvement of a broad target group including: trainers of teachers and trainers in elearning; managers and strategic developers in teacher training institutions; policy makers and planners at national, regional and European level; researchers in elearning; curriculum and materials developers; experts in evaluation. These will be drawn from school-based education, vocational education and training, adult and continuing education and university and higher-level education.
The target groups will benefit from both the process and outcomes of the project. The process of dialogical query will be part of the continuing professional development of the target groups (enhancing participation and sustainability of the iLAB). The process will also enable an exchange between those involved in policy making and implementation of elearning policies leading to mutual learning and a sharing of meanings. The outcomes will provide on the one hand policies to enhance the development of elearning and overcome barriers; on the other hand it will lead to the organic development of pilot and practice based projects for implementing elearning practice.
The project will ultimately be of benefit to learners in the form of more effective and efficient practice in elearning and the development of richer learning environments through new curricula and new evaluation tools for elearning.
The European added value lies in the development of an exemplary and innovative virtual laboratory for the implementation of the elearning action Plan. The project has an organic multiplier effect based on activity leading to the sustainable development of powerful new trans-national networks and practice. In order to achieve such ambitious goals the project has developed an extremely innovative methodology underpinned by previous research and pilot activities. The main innovations consist of the methodology and didactic and pedagogic approach to problem formulation and solving and the elearning technologies to be employed by the project. The project will utilise XML web based tools for a Semantic Web between the partners allowing annotation and querying and dialogue based on multi media. The tools themselves will provide a powerful elearning environment for the extended project partner network.
The project is designed as a collaborative European approach promoting activity based exchange and mutual learning, whilst respecting different cultures and sectoral differences and uses innovative elearning methodologies for developing elearning policy and practice.
The project will investigate the questions concerning the use of ICT in teacher training at European, National, Institutional and Practitioner level through the use of an interactive web site employing both CMC (discussion), XML (organisation and design), and multimedia (video case studies). The web site will be a large-scale online experiment wherein the contributions of the participants will form the basis for the development of the outcomes as well as being an outcome in itself, an investigation and evaluation of the effectiveness of trans-European collaboration.
Part of the core focus for this project is the tools being developed for computer mediated communication supported knowledge development. Given that the key aim of iLAB is to develop knowledge through sharing of ideas and meanings, we believe that there is the need to exchange a far wider range of materials. The web site will form the locus for a community of practice for teacher training professionals and institutions. The video case studies will provide an online resource both for professional debate and discussion as well as resources for teacher training development.
The central focus of the project is based around improving the quality of teaching, training and learning in Europe remains the professionalisation of teachers and trainers through collaboration.
For further information about the project or joining a focus group contact: Philip Crompton, Institute of Education, University of Stirling, United Kingdom. Tel: +44(1786)467615
This project does not as yet have a public web site.
pc4@stir.ac.uk