Training teachers on how to use ICT and e-learning tools to improve the quality of didactics is the aim of the international project launched by the Ministry of Education of Romania on e-learning in secondary schools. CSI-Piemonte is one of the partners of the project, together with the Polytechnics of Bucharest (project coordinator), the Gheorge Asachi Technical University of Iasi and Pythia International.
The project activities carried out during the first year will be presented in a public event on 20th October in Iasi. A research carried out on 1,000 teachers in 153 schools highlighted the good diffusion of IT infrastructures in Romanian institutes (more than 80% of the schools has an IT laboratory and Internet access) and the preparation of the teachers: 70% has good ICT and Web 2.0 skills. However the same research identified the lack of knowledge on didactic methodologies in e-learning mode that can be applied to teaching and that are useful to make it easier to effectively stimulate students.
The project is funded by the European Social Fund for a total of around €3 million, and it will be implemented over 30 months. The project activities will presently focus on the setting up of 5 training courses, to be issued to some 2,000 teachers from January onwards, both in class rooms and on line. CSI-Piemonte is developing three basic on line courses that will be part of the certification process for the teachers: e-learning platform (Moodle platform), mobile learning, and computer assisted training. Moreover, CSI-Piemonte is also developing two update courses on edutainment and digital storytelling for didactical purposes.
The design also takes cue from interesting experiences selected through an in depth benchmarking on 150 international projects carried out by CSI-Piemonte, that is also defining the on line environment to be used to issue the courses, as well as carrying out usability tests directly with the final users.
To find out more on how the project will improve the quality of didactics in secondary schools in Romania, please visit the portal www.eprof.ro
