FutureLearning — the successful next development of the eFit initiative
Austria , 2007 to 2010
Compendium: Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Background
The large-scale project Future Learning includes: eContent and mid-term IT-services for complete education, social software and Web 2.0 at schools, new equipment, new initiatives (sub-laptops, mobile telephones for learning, PDAs, iPods), teacher training (e-learning didactic-courses, online academies, eBuddy/eTutor concepts, real-time platforms, eGovernment content for teachers, participating in EPICT and others), equipment guidelines and equipment initiatives for all schools, educational offers for adult learners and employed persons, reduction of barriers for specific target groups, quality projects in schools and integrative IT-use (Quality initiative and education standards), arts and creative projects (together with art institutes like the Ars Electronica Center Linz).
The motivation of the initiative
The Internet is losing its pure “publication” function because of newly developed portals and is becoming interactive. The web is changing within a very short period of time not only in a technical way but also in all areas of application and especially in using the net. With the next steps of “social software” and “Web 2.0” the Internet is changing to a distributed net. In contrast to other mass media it is very easy in a “web by users for users” not only to be a recipient but also to be an author and sender of messages to an infinite number of users.
Participants
Schools, service providers, public-private partnerships with IT- and IT-training companies.
Aims and targets
Objectives of the initiative
“FutureLearning” intends to open up a connection for all pupils, students and teachers to a web-driven communication and learning tool (this could be defined as Mobile Computing Interface) and to adjust the learning possibilities to reasonable learning and school environments.
Three objectives:
- New methods of learning and eLearning.
- Creativity and learning.
- Mobile computer interface for all students.
Target group
Pupils and school students from 6 to 19; adult learners; teachers and special target groups (isolated children and children in hospitals — project IICC, migration pupils, mentally and physically disabled pupils).
Strategy and actions
Level of implementation
National programme in Austria
Methods applied to reach the objective (technological and/or pedagogical)
Networking and e-partnership programmes (twinning concepts for teachers and schools); the “eLearning Cluster” (eLC) and “eLearning im Schulalltag” (eLSA) networks consist of about 300 schools. Regional initiatives outside big cities. FutureLearning Competence Centres (FLCC) with learning platforms and eContent planned in 2008; an example is the successful “edu-moodle” initiative to which 400 schools belong.
Monitoring and evaluation
Implementation
- Some money for the schools coming together and taking part in the networks (about €3 000 per year).
- Four conferences and cluster meetings for different projects and target groups within a year.
- Cooperation of education eLearning server institutions in provinces.
Funding/Cost effectiveness
Budget
€15m over 4 years.
Sustainability/Transferability
Outcomes/impacts
Achievements
Specific results
- 300 eLearning schools (40% of secondary schools);
- 450 schools using (edu-)moodle and other platforms;
- Education standards with eLearning components;
- eContent material for 35 subjects, e-schoolbooks of school book publishers.
Success factors
Impacts
eLearning initiatives are “subculture — mainstream” programmes for advanced schools, teachers and students; eLearning in these schools means “everyday learning”;
“sub-culture” means there is not a big response from the political level and from public media.
Lessons learnt
After 150 different projects in the eFit area, consolidation of projects has been launched. All IT/e-learning initiatives are now close to new learning processes and pedagogical mainstream projects and school quality initiatives. Networking of schools and organisational development of lesson management is more important than eLearning offers; “eEducation” in Austria
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