The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning,...

The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28

Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers

Introduction

Timsoft, VLE - eLearnTS

Training Program

Online Course

Materials

Conferences

Peer Mentoring Activities

eLearning Community

Educational Projects

Conclusions

Carmen Holotescu

University Politehnica of Timisoara, Romania

Timsoft Ltd, Romaniahttp://www.timsoft.ro



eLearning Definition eLearning means the use of multimedia technologies and

Internet

quality materials, simulations

online resources

collaboration, sharing,

communities



Current situation - Europe

“eLearning: Designing tomorrow’s education” initiative – CE, 24 May 2000

eLearning Europa http://www.elearningeuropa.info

Many schools and universities offer online modules for their courses, online courses, or even degrees online; 75% companies use eLearning in their training programs

eLearning Programme 2004-2006: “Promotion of digital literacy, creation of European virtual campuses, e-Twinning of schools in Europe and promotion of teacher training and transversal actions for the promotion of e-learning in Europe ”



Current situation - Romania

eLearning Romanian Projects – universities, schools, firms• http://www.timsoft.ro/resurse.shtml

Online courses can be accreditated only by the Open Distance Learning ( ODL ) Commission of the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, which has recently elaborated the minimal rules for the use of eLearning in ODL programmes

“New training programs should prepare and support teachers and trainers in shifting from being providers and delivers of subject matter content to moderators and facilitators of learning within student-centered approaching to learning.”



Timsoft experience in eLearning

Timsoft Ltd – http://www.timsoft.ro - is an active actor in eLearning: developed VLE eLearnTS , with variants in Romanian and

English; flexible, secure, based on open technologies: Perl, mySQL

offers online courses – IT, Management, Councelling, eTraining

hosts Romanian eLearning Community; eJournal organizes international online workshops – partner

e-Learning Centre UK – http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk

Partner in Educational Projects



eLearnTS

• Authoring system - An authoring component used by the space administrators in creation and edition of the materials.

• Registration system - The database with the participants specific information.

• A content delivery function - The content may be in the form of text, images, sounds, animations.

• A navigation model - Syllabus, members list, links.

• Synchronous tools - Chat-room allows the members to communicate in real time between them and with the instructors; Live Chat .

• Asynchronous tools - e-mail and conferences ( web-forums). The conferences constitute the central part of the environment.

• Security system - A component for controlling the access to the virtual environment.

• VLE was recently extended with an authoring tool based on XML for tutorials, evaluation tests



Training program

Training Program for eTrainers Online Course – runs on a regular basis, offered also in 2 Phare

Projects Peer Mentoring Activities Online Community

Participants: teachers from schools and universities, and trainers from firms

The program is aimed at training the participants to carry out:• online courses and • online events, such as online workshops and RT meetings, giving them knowledge and experience in online communication

and collaboration. Skills for eTutors listed by recognized International organizations as

Institute of IT Training in UK or International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction in USA



Online Course Model (1):

Learning process = Student centered process – Constructivist approach Applied Adult Education Principles: self-directedness and an active

learner role, as well as solution-centered activities Adapted to Learning Styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic eLearning Methodologies: PBL, Study Cases, Group Projects Materials: static and dynamic parts; experts are invited Conferences: asynchronous discussions – quality: reflection, searching,

validation, more active members Ongoing Evaluation Participants: course Co-authors Empowerment Evaluation

• Participating in an online training program allows new facilitators, themselves nontraditional students, to learn experientially under the

same conditions as their future students.• Training provides an opportunity for facilitators to learn about online

learning, but also provides a model for best practices.



Online Course Model (2):

Trainees and Instructor = Learning Community– clearly stated objectives, a set of guiding principles

– subtle, experienced, enthusiastic instructor

– motivated, interested participants

– integrate content with discussions

– informal sharing – tacit knowledge

– metaphors for linking the participants

– good virtual environment.



Materials

New materials: eLearning Standards and LOS, RSS and Weblogs



Conferences



Peer mentoring activities an experienced teacher is assigned – a mentor. Throughout a few weeks,

the mentor and mentee discuss teaching strategies, and observe each other’s online class for new ideas and feedback.

eLearning Community http://www.timsoft.ro/comunitate.shtml

• Purposes: to share experience and to start new projects; to become a community of practice

Over 500 members: teachers, students, trainers, developers Activities in virtual space:

Discussions ( Conferences ) on eLearning topics, new events Online Resources Week Link Guests – interviews published in the eLearning eJournal

International Online Workshops – together with e-Learning Centre UK – http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk Online Communities eLearning Methodologies

eLearning eJournal



Project 1: Career Orientation and Counseling –

http://www.ceduconsult.ro

CEDU – project coordinator

Involved over 150 persons from 3 counties and Bucharest: schools, firms,

Labours agencies, education managers, ministries

eCollaboration: each group has its own virtual space

Partners Group – work on studies for tailoring schools offer to market needs,

competencies based curriculum

Counseling Group – studies, materials for 5 online courses, activities for site

“My Career” Clubs Group – teachers from schools discuss clubs activities,

participate in online courses

Moderators were trained

Advantages in managing and monitoring the project



Project2: eLearning for

Managers – http://www.timsoft.to/phare

in the county of Cluj

Online courses delivered by

university teachers and HR

specialists

Virtual environment for the

project team

Facilitators Training

7 Online courses tailored on the

specific needs of the firms



Conclusions

The trainees learn about eLearning, the online course itself being a model for best practices

The program assures a continuous learning and improving experience

Extended in european projects - the SUPERCOMET II European project – 20 countries

Thank you!

The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning,...

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