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09 February 2012
web-based learning, Strategy, innovation
Directory

EC Public consultation with a view to a European Accessibility Act

28 December 2011

The Commission is reflecting on the development of a European Accessibility Act containing measures to improve the accessibility of goods and services in the European market. This consultation is part of the preparatory data collection that will underpin the assessment of the impact of the measures.

Accessibility, policy-making, Strategy, disability
Directory

Digital Agenda Progress Report 2011

28 December 2011

The annual report provides an overview of progress on the actions of the Digital Agenda for Europe, updating the list of completed actions since the Digital Agenda Scoreboard in May 2011, and outlining the work ahead. This document is part of the efforts of the European Commission on the implementation and governance of the Digital Agenda, further to other activities in 2011 including the Digital Agenda Scoreboard, the Digital Agenda Assembly, and the Digital Agenda Going Local.

The overall aim of the Digital Agenda is to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a digital single market based on fast and ultra fast internet and interoperable applications. The Digital Agenda is a key component of the Europe 2020 strategy to provide growth and jobs in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

 

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Progress on individual actions

Digital Agenda, policy-making, Strategy
Articles

Using ICT and electronic music to reduce school drop out in Europe

23 April 2010
In Europe, too many young people leave school prematurely without those basic skills that an active involvement in the knowledge society requires and that are necessary to shift into the labor market. The core aim of the EU funded E-Motion project is to reduce the school drop out rate with a particular emphasis on young people who are at risk of social exclusion (migrants, ethnic minorities, poor socio-economic backgrounds).
The approach chosen to achieve this objective is to use innovative techniques to modify the way in which learning is delivered to this group, particularly through the use of electronic music, making the school curriculum appear more relevant to those students who have dropped out or at risk of doing so. If we change the way knowledge and competence are transferred with an innovative use of ICT, this will surely cause some interest in children with difficulties to learn.

The use of ICT in E-Motion is not an end in itself, but a tool to transform learning and teaching processes using novel ways alongside more traditional methods. The project aims to apply an experimental approach using ICT, particularly electronic music and informatics. An understanding of sound technologies contributes towards understanding important physics concepts such as acoustics and wave technologies, and the creation process of electronic music also requires elements of mathematics, physics and informatics. With this innovative approach the project intends to improve young people’s level of competence in core curriculum subjects such as maths and foreign languages.

The Lisbon Strategy identified the need to tackle the number of young people who leave school and attempt to enter the labor market with few or no qualifications. Many of these teenagers end up becoming part of the “NEET Group” (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The strategy set specific targets to ensure that young people are suitably qualified to enable a smooth transition from education to employment, targets which many Member States are currently failing to meet
youth, school drop out, risk groups, ICT in education, didactics, methodology, Strategy, computer-based educational tools
Articles

Informal learning and the use of Web 2.0 within SME training strategies

24 November 2008
Small and medium sized companies (SMEs) have particular needs in facing the challenges of their daily operations; about 10% of them quote lack of skills as a barrier to growth, highlighting the link between training and sustainability. In order to keep their competencies updated, staff from SMEs need access to appropriate educational opportunities and new technologies, particularly eLearning, which by using Web 2.0 applications enhance knowledge sharing, cultural interchange and networking.
Learning by using Web 2.0 (eLearning 2.0) is based on tools that combine ease of creation of content with web delivery. In eLearning 2.0 the driver is the worker, as the content can be created by the users, individually or together. Using the familiar tools of Web 2.0 (such as wikis, social networking, bookmarks, blogs, etc) everyone can be a learner-teacher, as the barriers to ICT based training are removed. With its clear focus on community, eLearning 2.0 is ideal for SMEs, as it supports natural informal learning by simplifying the tasks involved in working and learning in groups.

Communities of practice (CoPs) can also become a powerful way for SMEs to innovate and develop new capabilities, as they consist of voluntary members who share similar challenges, interact regularly, can learn from and with each other and would like to improve their ability to address the challenges they face.

In this paper we first summarise the current training needs and learning methods used in SMEs, outlining the features of Web 2.0 that may be utilised to fulfil these needs. Then we discuss if Communities of Practice are a suitable environment for informal learning within SMEs. Finally we offer an example of how informal learning and CoPs can efficiently improve skills within SMEs.
Small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, eLearning programme, Web 2.0, community, Strategy, Informal learning, Skills, COP