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The results from the previous GR2 learning partnership "New confidence
in e-learning" brought to light that the drop out rate was fairly
high, the image of the demands required for studies in learning surroundings
was often diffuse and needed technical skills not qualified enough. What
could not be solved were the reasons behind these outcomes. It is a vital
question to try to find solutions to these problems. The decision makers,
teachers and tutors of the educational institutes involved in this project
should benefit from sharing and exchanging experiences and thus learn
more about the reasons behind these problems concerning the use of the
new media - Information Technologies and e-learning.
We know that
e-learning supplements the range of learning opportunities and that it
will meet the need of many for whom conventional education is inappropriate
or unavailable - i.e. people living in rural areas and disabled people.
Another advantage of e-learning is that it will lead to a better exchange
and network both locally and throughout Europe and therefore should be
integrated more strongly within education.
How should the marketing of e-learning be carried out to meet the actual
need of the clients?
How can we convince learners/students of e-learning?
We think
that first it is necessary to find out more about the stage of development
and readiness and skills of the staff within our own institutions regarding
e-learning and then we can jointly look for new ways to implement and
establish e-learning into our conventional learning environments.
This learning
partnership will focus on
a) the tutors/teachers and staff of educational institutes as well as
on the companies dedicated to further education.
Some of our institutes are situated in rural areas and for them the integration
of e-learning will be of particular importance because of the spatial
distance.
If we can motivate them to methodically apply e-learning to their lessons
and to provide a learning infra-structure, it will considerably increase
the acceptance of learners/students regarding e-learning.
b) the educational institutions which provide the learning environment.
They have to provide the infra-structure so that e-learning courses can
develop and anxiety and uncertainty will be removed. Examples of good
practices of institutions in Europe will point out that e-learning can
add value to the learning experiences.
They have to take care that the experiences of the first project in constructing
online collaborative learning structures will be integrated in the conceptions
of the follow-up projects.
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