| The
Directorate-General XXII, Education Training and Youth, Sector of New Tecnologies , from
the European Commission will present the Netd@ays Europe
project, the world's largest demonstration of awareness-raising on the use of Internet and
NT for learning and teaching.
Monday, 21 June, 11.00-12.30, Room 2
Netd@ays
Europe Project: European Commission project, awareness-raising on the use of Internet for
learning and teaching.
- Loïc Bestard
European Commission- DG XXII - Education, Training and Youth- New Technologies
Belgium
A. CONTEXT
Preparing the European for the Information Society has become a priority. Education and
training will play a central role by equipping people with skills required to participate
fully and to develop the information society they want.
The different pilot experiments show that the new media, in particular the Internet, offer
real and additional educational value compared with other forms of transmission and
acquisition of knowledge: motivation and assimilation capacity increase and learners'
results improve.
In addition to the interactive nature and the greater potential for
"tailor-made" teaching, the new media, with the electronic networks like the
Internet, give wide access to sources of information and culture. If properly used, these
new new tools enrich the educational approach and are and effective arm in the fight to
improve learning at school.
Everything must be done to ensure that schools and training centres do not miss out on the
technological advances of the Information Society. It is in this context that European
Commission has adopted in 1996 the Action plan Learning in the Information Society whose
aim is to speed up the process and which proposes four main lines of action:
· Interconnection of schools at a Community level;
· Training all teachers and trainers in the use of new technology in teaching methods;
· Development and dissemination of teaching material of European interest;
· Informed those concerned about the educational opportunities by new technologies.
The Netd@ys Europe initiative is a central part of this Action plan. It was launched in
1997.
B. WHAT IS NETD@YS EUROPE ?
Developed in the Silicon Valley at the beginning of 1996, the original 'NetDay' concept
aimed at encouraging schools to get connected to the Internet by using groups of
volunteers from the local community to carry out the wiring.
Netd@ys Europe has followed a different path. It is a major awareness-raising campaign
with:
- One main objective : to familiarise
with the possibilities of new media (multimedia, visioconference or new audio-visual
facilities) for learning and teaching through spreading and exchanging experiences on
knowledge and discovery;
- One underlying principle : priority
is given to the educational contents of projects rather than to technology;
- One preferred means : partnership
between schools, training centers and other learning organisations, public authorities,
non-profit associations and enterprises.
I. Netd@ys Europe 1998:
an exceptional mobilisation of participants
The second edition of Netd@ys Europe has become the
world's largest demonstration of awareness-raising on the use of the Internet for Lifelong
Learning. The Netd@ys Europe 1998 has created a new kind of enthusiasm for partnerships
between educational professionals, public authorities and enterprises.
Around 35,000 schools have participated, in one way or another, in Netd@ys 1998 (15,000
schools in 1997). Furthermore, Netd@ys have allowed the implementation of regional plans
of equipment and connection to be accelerated to include almost 10,000 new schools in
Europe.
The Netd@ys philosophy is to stimulate grassroots initiatives and release creative energy,
to demonstrate the European how-know. It is the players in the field who have been given
the initiative to choose what actions to undertake and what subject to tackle.
Among the participants there are schools, museums, youth and cultural centres, vocational
training centres, cultural organisations, children's hospitals. The activities have made
it possible to work on new pedagogical contents and to create or enlarge networks between
schools.
The success of Netd@ys Europe lies in their integration in a framework of strategic and
policy actions at national and European level. This gives to the operation a significant
impact, thanks to the support of Ministries of Education and the sponsorship of a large
number of enterprises.
II. A vast diversity of
themes and activities
The most popular themes are those dealing with
current issues, and which have been prepared in co-operation with museums,
telecommunication companies, publishing houses and cultural organisations: Biology,
Astronomy, Philosophy, Arts, Economics, fight against racism and violence in schools,
solidarity with hospitalised children, the handicapped.
Different kinds of activities have been organised: Open Doors Days, creation of multimedia
newsletters, documentary researches, radio and television reports, discussion forums,
multimedia contests, educational on-line plays etc.
III. Numerous enterprise
sponsorships
The principle of private-public partnership has
convinced numerous enterprises from different sectors to get involved in Netd@ys at an
early stage, on the invitation of the European Commission.
The enterprises have sponsored local projects (grant, donation of hardware or software,
secondment of personnel) and organised promotional activities for the projects during the
Netd@ys ( Internet Site, enterprise newsletters…).
IV. A large media
coverage
The priority given to information and communication
during the preparation of Netd@ys 1998 has proved to be judicious on the basis of
different communication supports such as postcards with the Netd@ys logo, flyers, posters,
brochures, a video clip.
More than 200 press agencies have reported the events at national level or at regional and
local level. Netd@ys 1998 have also taken advantage of a complete radio/TV coverage.
V. Netd@ys Europe open to the wide world
Lots of organisations from third countries have been attracted by the European approach,
which privileges contents and teachers' training. On that occasion, links have been
created with schools from all over the world : for instance, United States, Canada, Japan,
Israel, etc.
C. WHAT IS NEW IN NETD@YS EUROPE 1999 ?
Netd@ys 99 will consolidate results of the
experiences of 97 and 98. The challenge is to keep the operation as open as possible
(Netd@ys spirit is alive!) whilst keeping it manageable with clear objectives and
maximising the multiplier effect through networking and a targeted media campaign.
Conclusions from the Netd@ys 98 experience confirm that teacher training is a key factor
towards the ideal use of new media for learning (in the case of 40% of the projects,
intensive training sessions for teachers were organised).
Netd@ys 99 will focus on the changing role of teachers and trainers and youth workers.
The 99 initiative will as well be organised in a limited number of theme categories :
citizenship, solidarity with isolated and disadvantaged groups, sciences, arts,
environment, employment/unemployment, European cultural identity and diversity.
The Netd@ys Europe 99 operation is supported by national co-ordinators from Ministries of
Education. A consortium led by Helsinki City Education Department has been contracted to
support the European Commission in managing the sponsorship relationships as well as
communication and animation activities.
Netd@ys Europe 99 is open to all organisations wishing to raise awareness on and exchange
experiences of the ground in the use of new media for knowledge and discovery.
Netd@ys is also a means to promote partnerships in the field of education, vocational
training and culture between learning organisations in its broad sense, public
institutions, non-profit associations and enterprises.
Project initiators can be schools (primary, secondary and vocational schools),
universities and other organisations with an educational role such as cultural
organisations (museums, operas, theatres, cinemas..) public libraries, local authorities,
non-profit organisations and youth centres. Cybergirls are particularly encouraged to
participate in Netd@ys Europe 99.
Netd@ys Europe projects can, for example: develop and present new educational concepts
using online media; create and exchange training and learning material on the Internet;
create new electronic networks or extend existing networks and public access (libraries,
cybercentres, for example); involve awareness-raising activities, such as open-doors; etc.
Projects can be local, regional or national but they must have a European dimension
through involving different partners (public organisations, schools and enterprises) from
at least three different countries.
A project must fulfil the following criteria: online and interactive, media, pedagogical
value and European added-value, diffusion and multiplier effect.
The opportunity to participate in Netd@ys does not depend on financial support from the
Commission. Project proposals can be submitted any time before 13 November.
Netd@ys Projects will be registered with the European Commission as official 'Netd@ys 99'
Projects and receive various supporting materials; they will also be registered on the
Netd@ys Europe web site.
The award of the official Netd@ys Europe 99 label can help project promoters and leaders
in various ways as Netd@ys has become a well-known initiative since it started in 1997.
With a call for proposals, the European Commission invites all those interested in
promoting the use of new technologies for educational purposes to show what can be done to
improve learning and teaching in the Information Society. The operation culminates in a
showcase week, Netd@ys Europe, during which numerous on line- and off line-events take
place (educational web site inaugurations and celebrations, competitions, chats,
video-conferences, courses, open door days, publication of web magazines...).
www.netdays99.org
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