ELISA “Train the Tutors/SMEs Seminars

1. ELISA “Train the Tutors/SMEs Seminars Giannikopoulou Vasiliki GRNET EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

2. Outline • ELISA project / Motivation • “Train the Tutors” Seminar • Learning procedure • Deployment scenario • Topics Covered • Evaluation and Results • “Train the SMEs” Seminar • Learning procedure • Deployment scenario • Training Content • Evaluation and Results EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

3. ELISA project • Training Methods • web-based learning has been chosen to train tutors and professionals in the South East Europe Area on the e-business field • combined use of multiple learning methodologies and tools - synchronous and asynchronous learning tools, Video-conference, web-casting, CD-ROMs and face-to-face learning • Training Concept • test of technology enhanced learning methodologies and tools involving tutors, students, observers, administrators and facilitators from 6 countries • technology enhanced courses have been delivered initially to 24 tutors and in a second phase to 120 SMEs from 4 countries. • Special importance has been given to the process, the group dynamics and the cultural differences of the involved partners. • the acceptance was quiet satisfactory and the observers from the local governments expressed their willingness to adopt the training model for future training activities for SMEs in their countries. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

4. Motivation • technology enhanced learning can be efficiently used by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and by governments who wish to create learning centers providing such training to local SMEs with reduced cost. • skills and knowledge need to be continually updated and refreshed to keep up with fast changing business environment • 23 million SMEs represent the 99% of the European Enterprises EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

5. Screenshot… …from a mobile phone …of thee-learning platform EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

6. Courses on the Platform • The ELISA e-learning platform consists of 6 different courses: • 1 course in English (“e-Business Training Content for SMEs in English”) - used as a template for the translation of the 4 following courses: • 4 courses addressed to the SMEs of the 4 beneficiary countries (Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and FYROM) • and 1 course especially addressed to the trained tutors (“Tutors’ Course in English”). This course included practical instructions on how to deliver the corresponding material to the SMEs in the next phase. ELISA final Conference in Vienna

7. Scheme of the learning procedure Workshop on Remote and Virtual Laboratory Applications in Engineering Education

8. “Train the Tutors”:Learning Procedure • This activity was realized via tele-tutoring. Its main focus was to create a taskforce of tutors that could later deliver the training material to professionals in SMEs in their country. • The seminars had 24 hours duration and the curriculum consisted of the training material, didactic guidelines and the functionality of the ELISA e-learning platform. • Videoconference through H.323 protocol and application sharing between 2 end-to-end hosts were the supporting technologies of the seminar. • Additionally, an extra e-learning course (addressed to the tutors especially containing practical instructions on how to deliver the corresponding material to the SMEs) has been created on the ELISA platform for supporting the courses. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

9. “Train the Tutors”:Deployment Scenario a) Before the seminar • A moderated forum took place aiming at getting to know each other, detect the expectations and the current level on informatics/ e-business/ e-learning of the tutors, and finally to identify what questions/problems should be discussed during the seminar. • Additionally, in some cases, a moderated chat took place shortly before the seminar for discussion on the unanswered questions. b) During the seminar • Some of the seminars were web-casted and video-recorded in order to be available as a VoD service for further use. c) After the seminar • A moderated forum took place to collect impressions of the seminar, evaluate what has been learned, clarify unanswered questions, submit suggestions for further seminars, collect and discuss questions/problems in the context of the SMEs’ training and see issues on individual deployment scenarios of the ELISA platform. Workshop on Remote and Virtual Laboratory Applications in Engineering Education

10. Screenshot from the webcasting EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

11. “Train the Tutors”:Topics covered • Presentation of the e-learning platform with practical exercises • Facts on the local digital economy • Basic principles on e-learning and e-teaching • Basic principles of the internet economy • Internet security issues • Legal issues • Presentation of the training content: • Section I: Basic IT Knowledge for Businesses • Section II: Introduction to e-Business • Section III: Entrepreneurship on the Internet ELISA final Conference in Vienna

12. “Train the Tutors”:Evaluation and Results Evaluation and Results The evaluation reflected the satisfaction of the tutors on the structure of the tele-seminar and their desire for more practical exercises on the platform as only half of them had previous experience with Moodle. Upon completion of the training the grand majority felt confident to integrate and use different modules of the platform. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

13. “Train the SMEs”:Learning Procedure Train the SMEs • This activity was realized as a face-to-face-event with online components within a NREN (National Research and Education Network) PC pool. Therefore, the main focus lied on content provision within the e-learning platform. • The seminars had 10 hours duration. The trained tutors in the previous phase delivered the entire training session to the selected SMEs. • These seminars aimed at developing the skills of professional in the 120 SMEs (30 per country) from the beneficiary countries on using the Internet and e-business practices in their daily operations. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

14. “Train the SMEs”:Deployment Scenario • Train the SMEs • a) Before the seminar • The participating employees got an account of the platform and the corresponding training course for seeking general information and for being acquainted with the learning material in order to be prepared for the training . Additionally they participated in a forum with questions regarding the learning material, and expectations of the training. Finally, there was a test on the previous knowledge of the participants (Computer, Internet, learning content) • b) During the seminar • Presentation of the ELISA platform with its pros and cons (especially for the communication between the participants) and collection and discussion of brought up questions within the forum. • c) After the seminar • Trainees participated to a moderated forum in order to give their impressions of the seminar, discuss questions/problems/ suggestions for further trainings and finally exchange experience. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008

15. “Train the SMEs”:Evaluation and Results • Second phase • This evaluation required feedback from the trainers (tutors) and the trainees (SMEs) as well. • The tutorsbenefited from the communication tools of the platform i)before the seminar to prepare participants for the training session and ii) after the seminar in order to enable participants to stay in contact with each other and with the tutors upon completion of the training. Overall, the tutors considered the seminar profitable for the training of the SMEs. • The vast majority of the participating SMEs (90%) has internet access and consider themselves as beginner computer users. They use the Internet mainly for exchanging emails and accessing websites. No one was familiar with e-business practices before the seminar but they stated that they are quite satisfied with the seminar and consider it profitable for their work and their future plans. EVITA kick-off meeting, Athens 08-09/12/2008