ELearning for Vocational Teachers Across Europe
Coventry (UK), June 2011 - The purpose of iEducate - a project funded by the EU programme Leonardo da Vinci - is to educate vocational teachers in a range of eLearning methods, innovations, and technologies to better prepare them for a rapidly changing workplace and, hence, to connect them with a new generation of learners.
The project developed an eLearning course on Learning Technologies, a virtual teacher-training island in Second Life with virtual workshops and resources, an interactive web 2.0 Website, and live training courses. The project website also provides lots of resources to download, use, and develop further.
The idea is to achieve a reciprocal arrangement whereby vocational education and training professionals (VETPROS) in receipt of training or support are encouraged to provide ideas on how they have implemented technologies in their learning for use by others, thus forming a continuous cycle of exchange and transfer across Europe.
The partnership is made up of six partners from the UK, Sweden, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Germany and combines a wide range of complementary skills and expertise. These include expertise on technologies for learning and eLearning, access to vast numbers of VETPROS across Europe, research, evaluation, experience, and contacts to facilitate an effective dissemination and valorisation process.
Vocational teachers and trainers can also participate in thematic working groups to exchange ideas and experiences with European colleagues in the areas of
- self-employment and enterprise
- media, language, and communication
- culture and heritage
- ICT and disabilities
The eLearning course "Approaches to eLearning and Developing a Pedagogically Sound eLearning Course" developed within the project and offered from June 2011, with a duration of twelve weeks is open for registration on the iEducate project website.
This course is suitable for those with little or no knowledge in developing eLearning or those wishing to formalise their existing knowledge and gain an accreditation in the subject of eLearning.