The purpose of the project is to contribute to the better understanding of the use, need and condition of efficiency of multimedia learning material. At this purpose the partner consortium will carry out a series of activities devoted to the identification, assessment and preparation of the dissemination of examples of good practice in the use of educational software and multimedia.
Coimbra Group FIM - Psychologie
Fundesco Helsinki University of Technology
Linha Verde LRF
Scienter Senter/Cocon STE Université de Liège
The Coimbra Group - An Integrated Network of Traditional Universities (Belgium):
The Coimbra Group is an integrated network of traditional European universities which aims at advancing the concept of UNIVERSITAS through the creation of special academic and cultural ties, the improvement of facilities and the creation of privileged channels of information and exchange. The Coimbra Group has established Task forces, working groups and committees which study, develop and implement the Group's policy and projects in the specific areas of interest decided by the General assembly. Its areas of involvement are not merely European but global, encompassing Central European universities and with special attention to the strenghtening of links with institutions of Eastern Europe, CIS, the Mediterranean basin, Latin American and African countries.
COIMBRA GROUP COOPERATION
The Group is active in European Union projects, not only encourage traditional inter-university cooperation but also promote an exchange of knowledge and information about programmes at the European level. The Coimbra Group's structure has proved to be highly efficient and of considerable assistance to the participation of member universities in the ERASMUS programme, where they are among the most active. The Coimbra Group has been most effective in organising multilateral meetings at faculty level and arranging easy exchange of information and experience on many aspects of student and staff exchange, including housing, student advising and counselling, shared seminars, PhD courses, intensive programmes and EU information. Early meetings were instrumental in the creation of thematic networks later to be approved by the ERASMUS programme.
FIM - Psychologie (Germany):
FIM-Psychologie (development and testing of multimedia learning systems) is an institution of the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg (incorporated in the Institute of Psychology I of the Philosophical Faculty I), and has continuously been working on media-based learning and qualification systems since 1976.
The original responsibility was to develop a comprehensive multimedia learning system for the subject of psychology. Sine 1986 FIM-Psychologie has extensively been involved in European Research and Development Projects in the field of innovative learning technologies, at present it is among other things projects under the TAP, ADAPT, EMPLOYMENT, LEONARDO and SOCRATES programmes.
Since November 1993 FIM-Psychologie has been operating the 'FEN' (Free-Net Erlangen-Nürnberg-Fürth), the first regional citizens's network in Central Europe in close cooperation with the American pioneers in this field, since 1995 this project has been running under the heading of "Bayern Online".
FIM-Psychologie is in cooperation with and provides counselling for institutions and companies in the region of Erlangen-Nürnberg, in Bavaria, in the Federal Republic, in the EU and on an international level.
At present about 40 people are employed at FIM working as an interdisciplinary team, including 5 tele-workers.
Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Función Social de las Comunicaciones (FUNDESCO) (Spain):
Fundesco is a non-profit making institution , created by Telefónica de España S.A. in 1968 with the objective of studying and testing the impact of Information and Communications Technologies on society. Its Board of Trustees counts with representatives from the main private firms related to these technologies in Spain. Its main sponsor is Telefónica de España S.A.
Within the permanent line of activity carried out by Fundesco in the field of the information society, special interest is currently given to the issues concerning economy and freedom in an open society, and European and worldwide projection of Latin America.
Acting in the framework of national and international cooperation, specially with organizations and institutions of the European Union and Latin American countries, Fundesco tries for being a center for the study and research on informations technologies - observatory of present situation and future evolution addressing the social, political, economical, working, cultural and environmental aspects. The promotion and analysis of social applications through the development of pilot projects paying special attention to the impact of communications, the promotion of a social multidisciplinary prospective dialogue take part in the strategy applied by Fundesco in order to improve the people's quality of life, and to be a reference point for the training of high levels specialists and the dissemination of new skills. The foundation also carries out intersive publishing activities , which include database directories, seminar proceedings, studies, books, leaflets and working papers which channel all the information gathered within the fondation to the society. Its documentation and information center which includes about 10.000 volumes related to the fields of interest of the foundation is open to public use.
Helsinki University of Technology - Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli (Finland):
Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) is the largest and oldest university of technology in Finland. University has six faculties: Architecture, Civil engineering and Surveying, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering Process Engineering and Material Science. It has 12 degree programmes. Besides that, it has ten separate institutions.
Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli is a separate institution of HUT. Dipoli is one of the largest continuing education provides among universities in its field in Europe. Today the Institute employs some 90 staff members and engages nearly 2 000 visiting teachers per year. Currently 30 experts are working project basic in the area of open and distance learning, its methodology and technology.
Linha Verde (Portugal):
Since 86, Linha Verde has been facing the needs of the technological, organisational and human integration of the Portuguese economy into the new transnational European space during the transition period after it jointed the EEC. In close co-operation with the public, private and co-operative sectors, Linha Verde have implemented and articulated a network of organisations and development agents, at national and European level, in the areas of training, information, multimedia technologies and telecommunications.
Within the three functional areas: Transnational co-operation and socio-economical development; Production Technology Transfer; and Research and development of new training scenarios, a multidisciplinary team speaking Portuguese, French, English, Spanish and Italian with specific know-how in the areas of economy, sociology, marketing, human resources, legal aspects, engineering and pedagogic, is running project development and technological areas, at national and European level.
LRF (Greece):
It is concerned with transmitting knowledge and information to promote an increased awareness of cultural, educational, environmental and of important social issues, as well as to create new and more rewarding opportunities for the young, always in close collaboration with the public administration. The LRF gives high priority to educational technology in various fields, such as the production of educational software and the application of multimedia, in Education, in teacher's training etc. Its ultimate scope is to contribute to each and every worthwhile attempt, in order to ensure better and more effective educational practices in both a Greek and international context.
National Council for Educational Technology (UK):
The National Council for Educational Technology (NCET) is a government-funded registered charity. Its role is to:
Much of its work is done in association with other national and local organisations, and with schools, colleges, universities and public-sector bodies throughout the UK.
- identify the relevance of new technologies to education
- evaluate the potential of new technologies to enhance learning and to raise standards
- promote, enhance and support the effective use of information technology across all sectors of education.
ORAVEP (Project Coordinator) (France):
ORAVEP is a private organisation, public and private funded, independent from any operator or publisher, which provides to the professionals facilities, resources and services like :
ORAVEP realises surveys, gives advice and assistance to the French government and to several regions (French ministry of labour and vocational training, ministry of education and research for the preparation and participation to European projects, etc.).
- information about multimedia resources and distance learning systems. ORAVEP has developed a database describing 5000 multimedia learning material. ORAVEP publishes repertories, market surveys and a letter specialised in open and distance learning field,
- animation of this sector at a national level (between publishers, resources centres, training organisations, buyers). ORAVEP organises documentation packages, training sessions etc.
- expertise, technology and strategic watch.
ORAVEP is an association whose members represent public organisations (such as INA., CNDP, Centre INFFO and ministries of Education, labour training and work).
Scienter (Italy):
SCIENTER is a non-profit research centre and service provider organisation, active in the field of education and training innovation.
SCIENTER develops research projects at regional, national, and European level in the following areas: training needs analysis; design and development of open and flexible learning systems; organisational learning design and implementation; training of trainers for the use of new methodologies and innovative tools; research and selection of learning materials; market analysis in education and training, particularly concerning the use of multimedia and ODL.
SENTER/COCON (Netherlands):
COCON is a private organisation serving public- and private clients. Since its start in 1986 it provided consultancy on the use of Information- and Learning Technology (ILT) in education and training. Activities included:
COCON, based in the Netherlands, operates on regional, national and international level, has participated in many ILT related projects and is co-founder of GeniusNet, a Knowledge Network about ILT.
- development and application of multimedia within in the educational process
- development and application of ILT in Open-, Distance- and Flexibel Learning
- the use of World Wide Web for education and training
- organisation of ILT related change in education- and training institutes
- information brokerage on the use of ILT
Service of Technology of Education (STE) (Belgium):
Within Liège University, the Service of Technology of Education (STE) studies links between learning and informational, communicational and educational technologies.
STE includes about 20 researchers, 15 teachers and 10 technicians/secretaries who are engaged in 4 activities: research, consultancy, projects assessment and education/training.
Generally, these activities happen in Europe on a large scale. The STE collaborates with public and private partners as part of such programs as DELTA, FORCE, EUROTECNET, EUROFORM, PETRA, VALUE and more recently, the fourth EC framework program (notably TELEMATIC APPLICATIONS). At the present time, our main preoccupations are multimedia, interactivity, telematic, « new computer networks of information sharing», open and distance learning, and the effects these new tools have on the organisation and the quality of learning. Education/training, for that matter, concerns the following fields : office automation, programming, computer assisted publication and presentation, interactive multimedia communication, health and environment... (every year, about 200 persons are trained)
COIMBRA Group |
FIM - Psychologie |
FUNDESCO |
Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) |
LINHA VERDE, estudos e projectos, LDA |
LAMBRAKIS Research Foundation |
National Council for Educational Technology |
ORAVEP - OBSERVATOIRE DES RESSOURCES POUR LA FORMATION |
SCIENTER |
STE Ulg |
SENTER |