RUNNING OER MOOC COURSES BY EUROREGION SIRET-PRUT-NISTRU USING MOODLE PLATFORM

Abstract

Abstract

The paper entitled "Running OER Courses by Euroregion Siret-Prut-Nistru using moodle platform" is devoted to E-learning as a Regional Policy Tool. This paper tries to relate the innovative capacity of e-learning to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Regional Development Policies, and to identify and specify e-learning innovations that are directly relevant to the needs of rural SMEs and micro-businesses within the EU. This requires linking various different European policy arenas - Common Agricultural Policy, Information Society, Business polices, Educational Policy as well as Social and Regional policies - and research areas like e-learning, rural studies or small business research. E-learning providers are also confronted with considerable costs that impede the adaption process, such as: o Costs of producing software, multimedia content and managing learning platforms are substantial. A major issue is the often-limited recyclability of learning objects and learning scenarios; then if learner groups are small, return on investment may be insufficient. o Training of trainers: e-learning requires special pedagogical and technical skills (see the following section). Efficiency: Getting costs down is fundamental. Innovative e-learning includes new approaches to recycling content (content sharing) and learning scenarios. Modern computers are generally over-specified for the needs of most elearning applications. Servers do not require high performance machines. Many countries have schemes where older computers are recycled from industry and commerce to education (ATTWELL, 2004). One possible answer for access to hardware, which some interest, is the possible use of handheld devices, palmtop computers, PDAs and mobile telephones. Whilst many are sceptical due to the small screen size, other researchers have pointed to the intensive use of mobile telephones by young people for a wide range of applications (ibid). Open source software may be a further option. o Institutionalisation: Institutionalisation of e-learning is crucial. Integration into existing learning arrangements and the development of new institutional structures may both innovate ways to explore the potentials of e-learning. o Quality Management and Evaluation: Meeting user demands and offering quality is fundamental. Thus, innovative e-learning is about the development of quality standards, quality management and continuous evaluation.