User Aspects of Learning with Information and Communiations Technologies (USALICT)

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C00.0029

Key words (English)

Information and telecommunication technologies; user aspects- e-learning; web based learning; evaluation

Research programs (English)

COST-Action 269 - User Aspects of Information and Communications Technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Hochschule für Technik Rapperswil Institut für Internet-Technologien und -Anwendungen

Partners and International Organizations (English)

A, B, DK, FIN, F, IRL, I, NL, N, RO, SI, E, S, CH, GB

Abstract (English)

The COST Action 269 deals with user aspects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). It helps to systematically assemble and analyse European research in ICT usage areas like capabilities, intelligent home, mobility, communities or E-learning. The Swiss Group of COST Action 269 focuses on user aspects in e-learning or more precisely on the 'Evaluation of Web Based Learning Processes (WeBLeaP)'. E-learning is mainly driven by technology. Didactical aspects and consumer needs are often underestimated and economical aspects are rather ignored. WeBLeap started from the point 'the problem is learning and not technology'. The goal was to develop evaluation methodologies, which outline the learning process with focus on the needs and capabilities of users (students, teachers and producers) taking also into account the economical aspects of Web Based Learning (WBL). In the first project phase (2000/01), a basic evaluation model was set up and tested. Based on these results the evaluation model was improved. It became clear that in many situations 'blended e-learning' would be much more efficient than 'pure e-learning'. In the second project phase (2002) we planned to evaluate additional WBL courses. However, no other Swiss partners wanted to have their e-learning programs evaluated by WeBLeaP. This is due to the general reshaping of Internet activities and to political reasons. Therefore we changed our focus on qualitative analysis and exploited our evaluation experience by setting up a Swiss WBL courses database. In the last project phase (2003/04) we extended the evaluation model based on our qualitative work and set up a database with information about Swiss WBL courses. This database gives an excellent overview on the status of Swiss WBL Projects and on their activities and methods in respect to evaluation. We got entries in the database from one third of the approximately 150 course operators contacted. The final results of the WeBLeaP Project are · a set of guidelines for users (students, teachers, companies and producers) of WBL-Systems as well as for scientists and education politicians · a platform for the collection, comparison and evaluation of Swiss WBL courses. We are evaluating possibilities to continue the operation of the WBL-courses platform.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C00.0029