European Commission DG Education and Culture 1 L e a r n i n g The eLearning Programme e Seminar Networking eLearning practitioners Brussels 19th April

1European Commission

DG Education and Culture

L e a r n i n g

The eLearning Programme

ee

Seminar Networking eLearning practitionersBrussels 19th April 2004

Patricia De SmetMultimedia for Education, Training and Culture

DG Education and CultureEuropean Commission



The political vision

Towards a Knowledge Society

Europe should become, by 2010, ….

European CouncilLisbon March 2000

“the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion”



The political vision

The eLearning Action Plan

e-learning is:

“the use of new multimedia technologies and the Internet to improve the quality of learning by facilitating access to resources and services as well as remote exchanges and collaboration.”

eLearning Action Plan March 2001

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eLearning Programme (2004-2006)

• 4 Action Lines

Promoting digital literacy European virtual campuses e-Twinning of schools in Europe and

promotion of teacher training Transversal actions



1st Action Line: Promoting Digital Literacy


DG Education and Culture1st Action Line: Promoting Digital Literacy

Action in this field must cover both conceptual and practical issues.

Digital literacy is one of the essential skills and competencies needed to take an active part in the knowledge society and the new media culture.

Digital literacy also relates to media literacy and social competence, as they have in common objectives such as active citizenship and the responsible use of ICT.



Identification and dissemination of good practice in the promotion of digital literacy• Access to learning

• Different cognitive and didactic approaches

• Addressing needs of disadvantaged groups

• Engaging and motivating approaches

Awareness actions via European networks Supporting actions carried out by European networks, associations, public authorities, etc.



Call for proposals 2004

•Total funding for 2004: 1 600 000 Euro

•Expected average size of projects is 150 000 €

•EC financing: between 50 - 80% of eligible costs



2nd Action Line: European Virtual campuses


DG Education and Culture2nd Action Line: European Virtual Campuses

Objective:Providing an "eLearning dimension" to European initiatives in the field of Higher Education, contributing to the creation of a European Area of Higher Education.

Projects may address three specific objectives:

•Development of existing instruments•Transnational virtual campuses•European e-learning models for Higher Education



Development of existing instruments:

• virtual mobility as a complement and reinforcement for physical mobility (virtual ERASMUS);

• recognition and validation schemes (based on ECTS);

• information and guidance services, and any other synergies between virtual and traditional models.



Transnational virtual campuses:

• Strategic projects

• Recognition and validation schemes (based on ECTS)

• Cooperation models for e-learning

• Large‑scale experiments of virtual mobility in addition to physical mobility

• Development of innovative dual mode curricula.



European e-learning models for Higher Education

• models for cooperation between European HE institutions (as well as PPP models);

• the development of learning support services as well as for training teachers, trainers and otherpersonnel in the pedagogical use of e‑learning;

• the development of a better understanding oforganisational change and possible risks associated with implementing e-learning in HE



Call 2004

• 4.800.000 €

• 50 to 80% funding

• 500.000€ average EC funding

2nd Action Line: European Virtual Campus



3rd Action Line: e-Twinning of schools in Europeand promotion of teacher training


DG Education and Culture3rd Action Line: e-Twinning of schools

Objective:

Stimulate European schools to build pedagogical partnerships with schools elsewhere in Europe, fostering language learning and intercultural dialogue:

- facilitate schools twinning via the Internet- promote teachers’ training in the pedagogical use of ICT

The action will address primary and secondary schools.



e-twinning support network

pedagogical support and guidance, identification and analysis of existing initiatives,...

e-Twinning Site : an Internet hub for facilitating e-twinning

Promotion and communication actions: publications, press releases, launching and closing events, competitions and awards,...



Support network : General approach

convention between the Commission and Member States.

They will be built on one of the existing models for Community programmes.

Call for proposals 2004 :

oTotal funding for 2004: 4 950 000 Euro

oSubventions are granted following the submission of specific proposals by Member States.



e-Twinning Sitean Internet hub for facilitating e-twinning

• targeted at schools and teachers

• user friendly and service oriented

• multilingual

• relying on the collaboration with the national support network

• providing European added value

• based on existing websites



Portal main features

General information about the e-twinning action

o promotion, information on participation, general advice for succeeding at e-twinning, contacts for support , ..

General information about schools in Europe

Toolso user friendly registration , partner search tool , project library and

gallery , teacher meeting rooms and forums, ..

Resources and services:o examples of projects themes and free materials, links to resource

repositories and to relevant national sites, Helpdesk, expert pedafogical advice,..

3rd Action Line: e-Twinning of schools



Call for tenders 2004

Indicative total amount: 1,950,000 €

Expected publication date: May



4th Action Line: Transversal Actions


DG Education and Culture4th Action Line: Transversal Actions

Objectives:

-promotion of e-learning in Europe, building on the monitoring of the eLearning Action Plan.

-dissemination, promotion and transfer of good and innovative practices and results from the projects and programmes. - reinforcement of cooperation between the various actors involved, in particular by fostering public-private partnerships.



Background

eLearning Action Plan

• ICT group for Objectives Report: good practice case studiesand improvements to indicators

• The eLearning Portal launched (www.elearningeuropa.info)

• Meeting on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), held with the European Investment Bank, CEDEFOP and the eLearning Industry Group

• Studies on e-learning in iVET & in SMEs and state of the e-learning market

• Benchmarking carried out under eEurope

• Liaison with Commission services: Information Society, Enterprise,Research, Employment and social affairs, Regions, etc, also withCEDEFOP and EURYDICE.




Actions:

• Active monitoring of the eLearning Action Plan

• Clustering of projects; support for exchange of experience,

networking and any other possible synergies

• Maintenance of an eLearning Portal

• Awareness and information actions via European networks

• Design and development of monitoring, analysis and

forecasting tools for e-learning in Europe, in co-operation

with Eurostat and the European Investment Bank




Call 2004

• 1.300.000 €

• 50 to 80% funding

• 200.000€ average EC funding

4 th Action Line: Transversal Actions



Answers to questions from the floor

• SMEs are eligible partners in the Programme, but should ideally include education providers in their consortium

Documents

European Commission DG Education and Culture 1 L e a r n i n g The eLearning Programme e Seminar Networking eLearning practitioners Brussels 19th April