Learning & Skills
The use and potential of ICT for learning, education and training
DG EAC Lifelong Learning policies aim to harness the power of ICT to develop innovative education and training practices, improve access to lifelong learning and deal with the rise of the new (digital) skills and competences needed for current and future jobs, personal development, inclusion and citizenship. The current policy agenda also aims to stimulate creativity and innovation through the use of ICT.
To address unemployment and, in particular, youth unemployment (18.7% vs average 8.6% in the EU in April 2009) and ensure sustainable growth, the labour force's skills must be upgraded to match the needs of current and future high quality jobs in the knowledge economy. To achieve this, the quality of education and the take-up of lifelong learning must be increased.
Our research aims to gain a better understanding of:
- how to realise the potential of ICT applications for making learning more efficient, equitable and innovative;
- what skills will be needed to work in Europe; and
- what new ways to acquire these skills will be available.
Projects
Ongoing Projects
- OEREU: Open Educational Resources in Europe
The OEREU project will provide a critical assessment of OER initiatives and practices in Europe, develop sector-specific foresight scenarios to illustrate the benefits, carry out a representative survey on the use of OER, identify challenges across all sectors and, jointly with stakeholders, develop, discuss and propose recommendations for the further development and mainstreaming of OER in Europe. More…
- SCALE CCR: Up-Scaling Creative Classrooms in Europe
The SCALE CCR project aims to further define the concept of 'Creative Classrooms' (CCR) and to provide a better understanding of ICT-enabled innovation in Education and Training (E&T) that can be brought to scale, in a cost-effective way; the major focus will be on formal education settings, including informal ways of learning. More…
- COMPASS: The use of ICT for the assessment of Key Competences
The objectives of this study are to 1) Provide an overview on the ways in which ICT are and can be used for assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of key competences; 2) Reflect on the potential of ICT for assessing key competences; 3) Indicate implications and options for policy, with a view to guiding for policies related to the assessment and promotion of key competences. More...
- DIGCOMP: Digital Competence: Identification and European-wide validation of its key components for all levels of learners
The objectives of this study are to 1) Identify the key components of Digital Competence (DC) in terms of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be digitally competent; 2) Develop a DC framework/guidelines that can be validated at European level, taking into account relevant frameworks currently available 3) Propose a roadmap for the possible use and revision of a DC framework for all levels of learners. More...
- FutLearn: The Future of Learning: New Ways to Learn New Skills for Future Jobs
The foresight will provide a vision on the key components of an innovative and creative European KBS with a particular focus and role for learning enabled by ICT. More ..
- TeLLNet: Teacher's Lifelong Learning Network
The project TeLLNet is to study the eTwinning network (currently over 86 000 teachers) through visualisation techniques, Social Network Analysis (SNA) and prospective scenario building exercises. Using these techniques, the goals is to identify the main structures, actors, networks and Communities of practice that are effective in sharing practices, encouraging innovation and creativity at schools. IPTS will coordinate work package 4 on "future scenarios and exercises" (WP4). More information on the TeLLNet project website.
Completed Projects
- ICEAC: Creativity and Innovation in Education and Training in the EU Member States
The objective of this study is to provide a better understanding of how innovation and creativity are framed in the national and/or regional objectives and applied in practices of education at primary and secondary level. More ..
- Social Media and New Ways of Learning
- LEARNCOM: Pedagogical innovations in new ICT-facilitated learning communities
The aim of this study is to review and assess the new social and pedagogical approaches to learning that are emerging in new ICT-facilitated learning communities where learning is happening in a freely organised manner, bringing together learners, experts, and other parties. This study aims to find innovative pedagogical and organisational practices that support lifelong learning in different settings and foster innovation in the interaction of teachers, learners and organisations. More ...
- Learning 2.0: The Impact of Web 2.0 Innovations on Education and Training in Europe
The objective of this study is to assess the impact of web 2.0 trends on the field of learning and education in Europe and to see where Europe stands in terms of using web 2.0 innovations in the domain of learning. As the use of social computing applications enables different types of learning and teaching settings (formal, non-formal and informal), it is an important driver of innovation in learning. More ..
- NMSeL: Next steps in developing IS Services in the New Member States: eLearning
This research aimed to develop an assessment of the eLearning developments in each New Member State, the specific drivers and barriers, and derive the relevant conclusions in terms of policy and research at national and EU level. More ...
- Digital skills and competence for new learning spaces
This work integrated results on new skills and competences needed for lifelong learning in future ICT-enabled learning spaces, where basic computer usage skills need to be complemented with advanced digital competence for responsible and critical usage of ICT in collaboration with others. Work has resulted in articles and a policy brief: 'Digital Competence for Lifelong Learning'
- ICT, learning and ageing society
Based on an expert workshop and desk research, this work aimed to study the triangle of ICT, learning and active ageing. The ageing society places many challenges for supporting lifelong learning of the older people, and ICT provides opportunities but also places new challenges for learning which may improve and sustain their quality of life. The work has resulted in EUR report 'Active Ageing and the Potential of ICT for Learning' and articles, such as 'Ageing Societies, Learning and ICT'.
- eLFUT or Future of Learning: Learning Spaces in 2020
The role of ICT for learning in Europe: this planned foresight study envisages to use the notion of "learning spaces" (as raised above) to develop and validate a new vision of learning in Europe that is ICT-enabled and that redefines the roles of all those involved in learning. It conceives learning as a social and community-based experience. The study will validate trends and drivers; present illustrative scenarios of learning spaces; and will identify drivers and bottlenecks for realizing learning spaces. More ...
Dissemination activities:
Scientific Publications:
- Interview with C. Redecker (IPTS) and P. A. Kirschner (Centre for Learning Sciences and Technologies at the Open University of the Netherlands). (2010) "Understanding the future of learning cannot be done in isolation" published in eLearning Papers 2010 - Special edition: Breaking down the silos (pp. 65-69).
- Ala-Mutka K, Gaspar P, Kismihok G, Suurna M, Vehovar V. (2010) Status and Developments of eLearning in the EU10 Member States: the cases of Estonia, Hungary and Slovenia. In: European Journal of Education 45 (3); 2010. p. 494-513.
- C. Redecker, Y. Punie. (2010). Learning 2.0 Promoting Innovation in Formal Education and Training in Europe. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Volume 6383, 2010, p. 308-323.
- Ferrari, A., Cachia, R. & Punie, Y. (2009) ICT as a driver for creative learning and innovative teaching, pp. 345-367 in MEASURING CREATIVITY. Proceedings for the conference “Can creativity be measured?” Brussels, May 28-29, 2009, Edited by Ernesto Villalba, EUR 24033 EN.
- Ala-Mutka, K., Punie, Y. & Ferrari, A. (2009). Review of Learning in Online Networks and Communities. In: Cress, U., Dimitrova, V. & Specht, M. (eds.): Learning in the Synergy of Multiple Disciplines, EC-TEL 2009, Lecture Notes of Computer Science, vol. 5794, pp. 350-364.
- Ala-Mutka, K. (2009). 'New Communities, New Spaces and New Ways for Learning'. Published in: Proceedings of EDEN 2009 Annual Conference: Innovation in Learning Communities, 10-13 June 2009, Gdansk, Poland.
- Ala-Mutka, K. & Punie, Y. (2009). 'Learning and innovation in new ICT-facilitated communities'. In: Proceedings of the 3rd ICDE World Conference on Open Learning and Distance Education including the 2009 EADTU Annual Conference, 7-10 June 2009, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
- Ala-Mutka, K. & Punie, Y. (2009). Active Ageing and ICT for Learning. In: Cabrera, M. & Malanowski, N. (eds). Information and Communication Technologies for Active Ageing. IOS Press, Amsterdam, Netherlands. pp. 128-149.
- Redecker, C., Ala-Mutka, K. & Punie, Y. (2008). 'Learning 2.0 - the Use of Social Computing to enhance Lifelong Learning' In: Proceedings of EADTU Annual Conference 2008: Lifelong learning in higher education: networked teaching and learning in a knowledge society, 18-19.9.2008, Poitiers, France.
- Ala-Mutka, K., Gaspar, P. & Jaksa, R. (2008). 'The Development of eServices in an Enlarged EU: The Case of eLearning'. In: Proceedings of EDEN 2008 Annual Conference: New Learning Cultures, 11-14 June, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Punie, Y. & Ala-Mutka, K. (2007). 'Future Learning Spaces: new ways of learning and new digital skills to learn' Nordic Journal of Digital Literacy (Digital Kompetanse), vol 2, no. 4, pp. 210-225.
- Ala-Mutka, K. (2007). Needs of Older Workers and Elderly People. In: Proceedings of eLearning Lisboa 2007 EU Conference: Delivering on the Lisbon Agenda, pp. 63-66.
- Ala-Mutka, K. & Punie, Y. (2007). 'Ageing Societies, Learning and ICT. In: Boonen, A. & van Petegem, W. (eds.) European Networking and Learning for the Future. The EuroPACE approach, Garant, Antwerp. Also published in eLearning Papers, no 6, November 2007.
- Punie, Y. (2007). "Learning Spaces: an ICT-enabled model of future learning in the knowledge-based society." European Journal of Education,Vol. 42, No. 2.
IPTS reports:
Selection of presentations (see project pages for a complete list):
In addition to the above mentioned publications, results from IPTS - IS unit eLearning activities have been presented, among others, at the following events:
- 2011: International Forum on Educational Technologies: New ways of learning and educational innovation with ICT, Sao Paolo, 10-12 May 2011. IPTS participated with a presentation on "Educational transformation in a digital world: Challenges for the future of learning in Europe".
- 2010: EC-TEL 2010 Conference, 28 September - 1 October in Barcelona. IPTS participated with a presentation on Learning 2.0: Promoting Innovation in Formal Education and Training in Europe
- 2010: Conference on Self-regulated Learning in Technology Enhanced Learning Environments: Problems and Promises, STELLAR NoE, 1 October 2010, University of Barcelona. IPTS presented the Results from expert consultations on the future of learning.
- 2010: Forum on Models of ICT Integration in Education, 16-18 March 2010 in Madrid. IPTS had a key note on "New Learning for a New Society: Challenges and Opportunities for Europe" presenting results from its work on Learning 2.0, Creativity and Innovation in E&T and preliminary results from the ongoing foresight on the future of learning.
- 2010: eTwinning Conference 2010: Celebrating 5 years!, 5-7 February in Seville, Spain. IPTS ran 2 workshops with teachers on the future of learning, was involved in presenting the results from the joint IPTS-EUN survey with teachers from Europe on creativity and also moderated the closing plenary on the future of learning in Europe and on how eTwinning will contribute to it?
- 2009: Create. Innovate. Grow - Closing Conference of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, 16-17 December in Stockholm, Sweden. IPTS participated in "Workshop 2: Culture for a new creative generation" with a presentation on "Creativity in schools in Europe – A survey of teachers" presenting the preliminary results of a teachers survey on creativity in schools conducted in coordination with European Schoolnet.
- 2009: Online Educa Conference, 3-4 December in Berlin, Germany. IPTS gave presentations on New Ways of Learning with Social Computing, ICT for Learning, Innovation and Creativity: A research perspective and The impact of Social Computing on Learning: Challenges and Opportunities for Europe.
- 2008: Online Educa Berlin Conference, 3-5 December 2008, Berlin, Germany. IPTS gave a presentation on its resarch on Learning 2.0 in Europe: Learning2.0 – impact of web2.0 innovations on Education and Training.
- 2008: EFQUEL Forum on Quality and Innovation in Learning, 15-17 June in Oeiras, Portugal. IPTS made three presentations at this conference, one on 'Challenges for Quality with User-generated Content' (here), one to initiate a session on Learning 2.0 (here) and one on the future of learning (here). In addition, IPTS participated in the final conference panel session "Towards an integrated approach to quality and innovation in Learning".
- 2008: EDEN 2008 Annual Conference, 11-14 June, in Lisbon, Portugal. See Conference website. IPTS made two presentations at this conference, one on 'Opportunities and Challenges of Social Computing for Learning and Innovation' (here), and another on 'eLearning in the EU10' (here).
- 2007: EDEN Annual Conference on New Learning 2.0 held in Naples, Italy on 13-17 June. IPTS presentation on 'A Vision for Future Learning with ICT and Web2.0' (here).
- 2006. EU eLearning Conference, ESPOO (Helsinki), 3-5 July; organised by the European Commission (DG EAC and DG INFSO) in collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli at Helsinki University of Technology, under the auspices of the Finnish EU Presidency, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Finland.
- 2005. Helios Workshop on "eLearning –new Learning": Scenarios and perspectives, Brussels, 16 December 2005.
- 2005. Futures of Learning Seminar, New Learning Paradigms, Paris, 25-26 November 2005, organised by the European Institute of Education and Social Policy, with the support of the Fundaçào Calouste Gulbenkian, the Scottish Executive, the French group Futuribles, the International Futures Forum, the Ecole Supérieur de Commerce de Paris, the Association française des Administrateurs d´Education and the Université de Paris-Dauphine, as well as with the cooperation of OECD.
- 2005. EU eLearning conference "Towards a Learning Society", Brussels, 19-20 May 2005.
Related Links:
For info on Education and Training in Europe see also: