ICTlogy

Observations:

A summary by Cristóbal Cobo:

1. The impact of ICT on education and training has not yet been as great as had been expected… the transformation of business and public services through ICT has not yet reached teaching and learning processes;
2. Embedding ICT in education and training systems require further changes across the technological, organisational, teaching and learning environments of classrooms, workplaces, and informal learning settings;
3. Although ICT has the potential to develop a “learning continuum” that would support lifelong learning and embrace formal, informal and workplace learning, this has not yet been realised;
4. Innovative content and services are urgently needed, for if educational systems are to provide the necessary knowledge, skills and competences for an innovation-friendly society, they must themselves be innovative […] Lifelong learning requires updating and recognition of knowledge, skills and competences at all educational levels. E-portfolios fit European policy on transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences;
5. One of ICT’s main strengths is its capacity to support informal learning. Self-learning and informal peer-learning are by far the two most important mechanisms for obtaining skills and competences;
6. New creative approaches, such as simulations, gaming, virtual reality and immersive environments, offer learning tools from early school years to specialised professional training. These provide many opportunities for innovative tool and content developers;
7. Although learning resources are often regarded as key intellectual property, more and more institutions are sharing digital learning resources over the internet (OER-digitised materials offered for educators, students and self-learners to use and re-use for teaching, learning and research).