1 st European eLearning Forum for Education Conference 22-23 November 2004, Brussels

1. 1st European eLearning Forum for Education Conference22-23 November 2004, Brussels Work of the European Commission on the use of ICT in education and training Maruja Gutierrez Diaz DG Education and Culture

2. A brief overview of European policy in the field of ICT for education since Lisbon • Main actions and processes • Some snaphsots of evolution • Conclusions and perspectives

3. A vision for Europe:education to make it true • For Europe to become the most dynamic and advanced knowledge-based society in the world, with more and better jobs, and increased social cohesion • Education in Europe must also become the most advanced and dynamic education in the world realising the lifelong learning ideal • eLearning is seen as a lever for change to the knowledge society and as a lifelong learning enabler

4. eLearning in the EU:three policy development contexts • eEurope / eLearning • An urgent action to build up the knowledge society foundations, with better co-ordination of EU actions • Education & Training 2010 • A shared work programme for adaptating European education and training systems to the knowledge society • Framework Programmes for Research • A long-standing support to the use of ICT in education

5. eLearning:three implementation contexts • eEurope / eLearning • Fix short term objectives; benchmark progress; ensure fast deployment of infrastructure and basic services [EU level action] • Education & Training 2010 • Facilitate and foster stakeholders participation; identify common concerns; share good policies and practices [MS level action];preparation of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013 • Research Programmes • Support and stimulate research on the use of new technologies to enhance education and on the required tools and infrastructures

6. eEurope / eLearning and related programmes • Identifying priority objectives and benchmarks to measure their achievement • Improving communication and synergy between the diverse EU programmes and instruments • Establishing eLearning as a priority in all the relevant ones: eContent, eTEN, ESF - European Social Fund, ERFD - European Regional Development Fund • Fostering information and communication amongst all stakeholders: government, industry, society, academy

7. eLearning in eEurope • eEurope 2002:a call for action • Nearly 100% of schools connected in Europe • From 25 to 17 pupils per connected PC • eEurope+: anticipating enlargementA different kind of challenge • eEurope 2005: One of three key priorities • eGovernment+eHealth+eLearning: bringing about the knowledge society

8. Benchmarking eEurope 2002Increasing connectivity

9. SIBIS:Increasing digital literacy

10. Education & Training 2010A shared work programme • Three core objectives: • Enhancing quality • Increasing accessibility • Connecting to society • A new working method: open coordination • Agreed indicators and benchmarking • Periodical reporting • A new approach to action • Integrated lifelong learning programme 2007-2013

11. Education and Training 2010Success hinges on urgent reforms - 1 ‘Education and Training 2010’ Joint interim report of Council and Commission * • Rates of early school leavers still too high • In 2002 almost 20% 18-24 yrs had only lower secondary education • Too few women in scientific and technological fields • Still 2-4 times more men than women in science • Completion of upper secondary education could be better • In 2002 only 76% of 22 yrs old completed upper 2nd school * COM (2003) 685 final, Official Journal 30 April 2004 2004/C 104/1

12. Education and Training 2010Success hinges on urgent reforms - 2 ‘Education and Training 2010’ Joint interim report of Council and Commission * • Young people failing to acquire key competences • Nearly 20% of young people don’t have key competencies • Shortage of qualified teachers and trainers is looming • 27% primary & 37% secondary teachers are more than 50 yrs old • Too few adults participating in lifelong learning • In 2002 participation rate was only 8.5% * COM (2003) 685 final, Official Journal 30 April 2004 2004/C 104/1

13. eLearning in Education & Training 2010 • An ICT working group: • Member States,education stakeholders such as EVTA, relevant organisations such as OECD, IEA • Four policy recommendations: • Embed ICT policies and strategies into long term educational objectives • Ensure new support services for education • Empower educational actors and train them for the management of change • Develop research, establish new indicators and provide access to results

14. eLearning in the futureLifelong Learning (LLL) programme

15. The eLearning initiative • The first education initiative following Lisbon • Four action lines • Infrastructure and equipment • Training at all levels • Quality contents and services • European networking and co-operation • Four years: 2000-2003 • 27,2 million € • 65 pilot projects and 7 strategic studies

16. The eLearning Action Plan:action through partnership TheeLearning Action Plan helpsco-ordinate community actions concerned with e-learning, mobilising the educational and cultural communities, as well as the economic and social players in Europe Partnerships between Commission’s services acting in the eLearning area: Employment; Information Society; Enterprise; Eurostat Fostering public-private partnerships: eLIG, the eLearning Industry Group

17. FacilitatingexchangesThe eLearning Portal elearningeuropa.info

18. The eLearning Programme Four areas of action: • Promoting digital literacy 10% budget • European Virtual Campuses 30% budget • eTwinning of European schools 45% budget • Transversal actions7,5% budget 44 Million Euro for three years (2004-2006)

19. eLearning in the Framework Programmes for Research • A long standing support, started 15 years ago with DELTA and ESPRIT • A substantial investment in applying new technologies to education, from CSL to GRID computing (only the 5th FP under the IST programme invested 140 Meuro) • A first attempt to improved cooperation: the Task Force for Educational Multimedia Software in 1977 • A focus on technical issues, and on socioeconomic research; need to strengthen pedagogical aspects

20. eLearning evolution:a deep change Integration of ICT in education has moved • From research to practice • From awareness to take-up • From pilot projects to mainstreaming • From technological to cultural barriers But it still calls for political leadership

21. E-Learning readiness index

22. eLearning evolution:still a long way to go • Lack of a common understanding of basic concepts: e-learning, digital literacy, • Lack of comparable and timely data, of relevant output indicators and of adequate monitoring tools • Lack of sufficient pedagogical research on the learning results of e-learning • Investment in ICT has reached significant levels – yet, there is no clear evidence of a satisfactory ROI Is the integration of ICT attaining its objectives ?

23. eLearning policy:need for an integrated approach Between different learning levels: Lifelong learning eLearning as a transversal issue, as a thread linking different levels of learning and different types of learners Between research and practice Fostering technological, pedagogical, socio-economic and, in particular, user-oriented, learning-oriented research Between supply and demand Building a solid demand, creating fair conditions for supply Standards, interoperability, IPR & DRM, multilingual issues Fostering public-private partnerships

24. eLearning perspectives:a reason to continue Better and wider use of e-learning should contribute to increased: • Empowerment: people, institutions, companies • Equity: personal, social, geographical • Productivity: personal, social, economic • Creativity: innovation, imagination, change

25. Thank you for your attention ! e-mail : maruja.gutierrez-diaz@cec.eu.int