Project summary:
- This project fully supports the
e-learning initiative of the European Commission, encouraging language
teachers and trainers to make full use of the new media and information
and communication technologies (ICT) and the new media for learning
scenarios which may be independent of place and time. There is a
general and specific need to familiarize language teachers and trainers
with the use of ICT and to show them how to use these to their best
advantage in different vocational training situations. Research
conducted by the International Certificate Conference (ICC) for
the European Commission, the experience of different members of
this consortium in related work have shown quite clearly that there
is an urgent need to develop the new literacies (scientific, digital,
practical, linguistic and cultural) if vocational language teachers
and trainers are to take full advantage of the possibilities offered
by virtual learning environments. A major shift of paradigm in the
cultures of learning is called for in current publications and surveys
on this subject, (see "The impact of new information technologies
and internet on the teaching of foreign languages and on the role
of teachers of a foreign language", a report commissioned by
the Directorate General of Education and Culture in 2003).
To increase competence in the new
literacies for language teachers and trainers, this project will
enable them to use virtual learning environments with ease in a
variety of language learning contexts (in DE, EN, PL, SV, NO, BG,
OT-Russian planned) and for a wide range of vocational sectors embedded
in a variety of cultural backgrounds. It will illustrate clearly
how to deploy newly developed e-learning environments, providing
activities to practise all four language skills, with special focus
on oral communication. A set of teaching/learning scenarios and
exemplary materials, models of good practice in modular form, will
illustrate a principled approach to the use of the new media and
to various methodological approaches (concepts), showing how to
apply quality criteria to the planning, implementation and evaluation
of learning programs for specific vocational purposes.
In addition, the materials produced and the templates for establishing
quality criteria, will contribute to the increasing pool of documentation
of good practice throughout the Union, which can be emulated by
training and educational establishments throughout Europe. The use
of the new media in vocationally oriented language learning (VOLL)
can contribute significantly to the efficiency of learning in this
area.
The project itself will illustrate
how partner institutions can collaborate and network using virtual
environments and contribute to a pool of resources which may be
called upon by other colleagues working in the specific linguistic/
vocational area in Europe, and it will motivate private enterprises
(incl. SMEs) to implement language tuition for their staffs on a
regular basis.
The specific aspect of innovation
which this project offers is a new Virtual Learning Environment
displaying three
integrated areas in the field of language education :
1. Teacher training modules: The
full integration of ICT and the new media in different vocational
language teaching, learning scenarios and cultures (new technical
and methodological focus on oral communication skills and access
for PC and Apple MacIntosh (!) users).
2. Model language learning modules:
Various methodological and didactic innovations for the language
teachers and learners (e.g. an electronic vocational language learning
portfolio to be integrated into EUROPASS) and
3. a special VLE area with links
to other models of good practice displaying vocational language
teacher training and vocational language learning by 2007 (see also
reference list).
Process-oriented and external evaluation
of the project will secure all measures of quality issues and the
possibility of adapting the project results to other vocational
sectors.
The results of the project as well
as the different products (VLE content, manual and CD-ROM) will
be disseminated throughout Europe (see valorisation/dissemination
strategies).
The project will co-operate and
collaborate with other (EU) projects and partner institutions in
the field throughout Europe.
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