A major aim for the European Union is to establish a learning society. The European Commission recognises that information and communications technologies must a key role and that new ways of working must evolve with speed. In the UK the National Grid For Learning has been launched in 1998 to provide access to resources, expertise and collaboration for learning for all sectors and ages. Although this GridŐs lines cannot connect power stations, the British nationŐs strategy is to establish a learning society in which the key power workers will be teachers and teacher trainers (educators). The European Commission and national governments in Europe, America and Asia have also recognised the key role of teacher training to ensure effective use of new information and communications technologies and retraining for employment and to set the style and culture for a learning society. This keynote lecture will examine the ways in which learning, teaching and teacher education are developing over the Internet and the broader band technologies. Illustrations will be provided from work led by Niki Davis and informed through research and collaboration with colleagues around the world and across disciplines and sectors. For example the Virtual study centres and courses within the Telematics for Teacher Training project and collaborative development and research with commercial companies. This is not simply an issue for teacher education today. It is a taste of what is to come in the next millenniumŐs learning society: if we are lucky. The keynote will also uncover issues such as access, training, competitive services, and economics. These require strategic action to ensure healthy growth of educational services and communities across geographical and sectorial boundaries, without which much of the investment will have been wasted.
Niki Davis is Professor of Educational Telematics in the University of Exeter School of Education, where she directs The Telematics Centre and higher degree programmes in ICT in education. She has an international reputation for development, research and consulting in the effective use of telecommunications, including professional development noted in the Government's paper 'Excellence in schools'. Niki leads major initiatives in ICT in teacher training which are deploying the Internet and video conferences in courses across Europe and further afield. She has published widely, edits the major international journal in the field, a member of two IFIP working groups and is international Vice President of the Society for IT in Teacher Education in the USA.
|
|