WHICH ARE THE NEEDS:

1. CONNECT • WHICH ARE THE NEEDS: • Improvement of science teaching / learning, by exploring the possibilities offered by recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies. • Create an advanced learning environment, using advanced ICT to connect informal learning strategies and formal curricular activities in science education • Evolution from the wired to virtual wireless learning environments to support the integration of everyday “free-choice” activities with the formal science curriculum map. • Shift from the teacher-directed learning and the dissemination of knowledge, to learner-centred curricula that promote the development of lifelong learners • CONNECT FP5 and FP6. From learning with outdoor “everyday” activities (LAB OF TOMORROW FP5) to informal virtual and authentic learning (CONNECT FP6)

2. CONNECT • WHAT WE DO: • Activities • Promote collaboration among researchers and practitioners • Increased co-operation between scientists of different fields • Promote the adoption of new approaches in science teaching / learning • Promote take-up of results – sustainability and impact • Research issues (Technological and Pedagogical) • Develop the new learning environment (software / hardware). • Design new learning activities incorporating various skills • Develop ICT tools supporting new learning / teaching approaches • Assess the educational potential in different educational settings • Evaluate proposed approach and identify critical success factors

3. CONNECT • WHY WE DO IT: • Develop innovative approaches to science teaching / learning • Design an innovative method that crosscuts the boundaries between schools, science museums, research centers and science thematic parks and involve students and teachers in extended episodes of playful learning. • Establish a new virtual learning community • Bridge the gap between formal and informal learning • Explore the integration of physical and computational media for the design of interactive learning environments to support learning about complex scientific phenomena

4. CONNECT • Main expected results and impact • Develop the Virtual Science Thematic Park an attractive learning environment allowing for ubiquitous access to educational and scientific resources • New learning methods reforming students to independent learners • Impact upon the fields of instructional technology, educational systems design and museum education.Contribution to standards ( e.g extensible-3D, ISO/IEC FCD 19775:200x ) • European added value and impact : A partnership that brings up together real cross-disciplinary know-how.

5. CONNECT • WHO WE ARE*: • Institute of Communications and Computer Systems -MFOL Laboratory (Coordinator-GR) • Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (DE) • INTRASOFT International S.A(BE) • University of Duisburg-COLLIDE Research Group (DE) • Vaxjo University -CeLeKT Research Group (SE) • University of Education, Ludvisburg (DE) • University of Birmingham – Educational Technology Department (UK) • Ellinogermaniki Agogi –Research and Development Department (GR) • HEUREKA – The Finnish Science Centre (FI) • @BRISTOL (UK) • Evgenides Foundation (GR)

6. European Collaborative for Science Industry and Technology Exhibition (BE) • Institute for Learning Innovation (USA) • LEGO – Educational Division (DK) • Weizmann Institute of Science (IL) • Q-PLAN Quality Consultants (GR) • Ministry of Education (Portugal) – Department of Evaluation and Prospective Analysis (PT) • University of Minho (PT) • CONTACT: CONNECT and LAB of TOMORROW project coordinator- • Prof N.K UZUNOGLU- Institute of Communications and Computer Systems (ICCS) • E-mail:nuzu@cc.ece.ntua.gr