ICT supporting Lifelong Learning. The European perspective 26 June 2008, Brussels Elena Coello Head of Sector ICT in Lifelong Learning Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
Background Globalisation Demographic change, aging population Wide-spread availability of ICT Increased attention to senior citizens EU culture of inclusion Economic reasons Lifelong Learning appears as a great powerful tool to face this situation Improving access to ICT for older citizens has a paramount importance for active aging and independent living
EU policies Lisbon Strategy i2010, Riga Ministerial Conference 2006 EQUAL, FP7, ESF Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 Reinforce contribution made by Education and Training to the Lisbon objectives Support action Member States Greater coherence: integration of previous programmes Recognition of ICT s transversal nature: ICT present in every single sub-programme KA3 dedicated to ICT transversal issues
Lifelong Learning Programme: Structure Comenius School education Erasmus Higher education & advanced training Leonardo da Vinci Vocational education and training Transversal Programme Grundtvig Adult education 4 key activities Political development; Language learning; ICT; Dissemination of best practice Jean Monnet Programme 3 key activities Jean Monnet Action; European Institutions; European associations
Examples of projects digital competence for senior citizens Minerva else elearning for Seniors Grundtvig PuLLS Public Libraries in the Learning Society Grundtvig SEN-NET Seniors in Network elearning GG - Grandparents & Grandsons Last call of elearning Programme (2006) Focus on Dissemination and Exploitation
else elearning for Seniors (Minerva) www.el-se.org Aim: 2004-2007 Budget: 670,082 ; Grant: 440,345 Activities: To create elearning environments adapted to the needs of senior learners Design, setting up and evaluation of a tailored elearning system for the elderly: technical environment, organisational and support structures, pilot pre-testing, content development Outcomes and strong points: Implementation handbook. Web-site. Six web-based modules Pedagogical concept. Guidelines for authors. Use of Open Source Software Thorough consideration of target group s needs Strong didactical and methodological foundation Sustainable impact
SEN-NET- Seniors in Network (Grundtvig) http://sennet.felk.cvut.cz/ Aim: 2005-2007 Budget: 194,219 ; Grant: 133,792 Activities: To support education of seniors in ICT skills and to create network of educators Network for teachers and trainers for older people, interactive Virtual Centre for knowledge sharing, set of modules about required skills for educators Outcomes and strong points: State of the art report: useful comparative study about aging population in different contexts Methodological aspect: articulation of teaching programme in specific syllabus Usability tests of elearning support for the needs of adult ICT users recommendations for ICT industry about specific senior needs for ICT HW and SW
Future (or already present?) perspectives Elements of a vision for learning in the Knowledge-based Society Learner at the centre of the learning process Shift from teaching to learning Learning is conceived as a social process Collaborative knowledge creation learners are coproducers in the learning process Flexible, personalised Formal, non-formal, informal Guidance and interaction continue to be important Learning-by-doing becomes an important method of learning
ICT trends and drivers Infrastructure Broadband, wireless always-on Peer-to-peer file sharing Digital storage Services, Applications Gaming Social computing (web2.0) New Players Google, Yahoo, MySpace Changing role of users Participants and co-creators (Wikipedia) Social computing emerges as a potentially powerful tool to realise the vision
Social Computing or Web2.0 Range of digital applications that enable interaction, collaboration and sharing between users. Such digital applications include those for: Blogs Collaborative content: wikis Social gaming: Second Life Social networking: MySpace, Facebook Podcasting FLOSS Multimedia Social tagging: Deli.cio.us File sharing: Flickr, YouTube Supply and adoption After an exponential growth, not it starts to level off maturity? Users: between 30-50% of Internet users Consistence presence of silver surfers above 55
Social Computing or Web2.0 Potential impact of SC on lifelong learning Empowers learners to produce, publish, share, edit and co-create content Social computing changes the learning patters Potential to promote innovation in learning in Europe Opportunity for aging society Sharing and transferring knowledge Re-skilling Allowing effective Lifelong Learning
Social Computing or Web2.0 Some conclusions Unexpected and massive take-up cannot be ignored Innovative and participative learning approaches can improve the learning results and contribute to wider participation of people in society Challenge: To tackle the paradox of inclusion and new digital skills
The world s oldest blogger http://amis95.blogspot.com/ 340,000 hits for woman with fans in Alaska, Australia, China and Nigeria "My name is Amelia and I was born in Muxía (A Coruña - Spain) on December the 23rd of 1911. Today it's my birthday and my grandson, who is very stingy, gave me a blog. "Before I was often feeling down because I had nobody to talk to. ( ) This has completely changed my life. My health is not great but when I am on the blog I feel as if I am 15 years old "Internet has given me a new lease of life, but I don't see any old people's homes offering their residents internet,"
Further information and contact Results of ICT in Lifelong Learning in Europe: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/index_en.htm http://elearningeuropa.info Contact: EACEA-ICT-LLP@ec.europa.eu THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!