ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ECOLE CONTACT SEMINAR AND THEMATIC CONFERENCE: ROME, 6-9 MARCH 2003

Announcement of the ECOLE Contact Seminar and thematic conference: Rome, 6-9 march 2003.

The ECOLE Network aims at:

- making available web-based content for CSCL-projects
- e-learning courses for teachers’ professional development
- information on new ICT-tools and electronic learning environments.

The thematic area
the Educational use of ICT with the focus on innovation in education.

The overall objective
to make available content for collaborative learning projects and for teacher education
the creation of a learning community of teachers and pupils within compulsory education.

Main sub-theme
Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and €-learning.

Target groups that can benefit from the ECOLE activity comprise all teachers of compulsory education and also future COMENIUS teachers.

The main activities
to develop from collecting COMENIUS best practice projects, leading to innovating teacher training (both virtual and in presence) and offering online supporting services in order to disseminate information and interactive resources to teachers involved in Collaborative projects.

Main outcomes
to encompass newly produced educational materials for enhancing Collaborative Learning in European schools, €-learning experiences, and advisory services for online collaboration among schools.

The ECOLE Contact Seminar:

In connection with the second ECOLE conference, a Contact seminar for Comenius1 projects is organised.
The event will be an opportunity to...
... debate and discuss with peers relevant issues in the field of teacher training,
... familiarise oneself with best practices and projects based on Collaborative Learning and Educational use of ICT,
... take part in workshops for the implementation/follow-up of Computer Supported Collaborative Learning projects,
... find partners for the development of collaborative projects,
... attend presentations which contextualize and give a deep insight into both the technical and human challenges these
practices entail,
... share experiences and exchange views with partners from other countries,
... get acquainted with the latest developments in the field of interactive resources for teachers involved in CSCL projects.

There will be two parallel programmes, one of the conference and one of the contact seminar, but partly overlapping. Ongoing school partnerships share expertise and experiences related to the educational use of ICT.
At the same time schools searching for partners are supported to set up school partnerships, mainly for school development projects

Programme of the Contact seminar

Costs of the seminar
EUR 650,00. Participants are supposed to come on Wednesday the 5th evening and leaving on Sunday the 9th lunchtime. The fee includes meals, printed materials and hotel booking from March 5th, 2003 to March 9th, 2003 (4 nights)
The conference venue is in Rome – Hotel Pisana Palace ****.
For further info please visit the website: www.ecolenet.nl/2003
or contact directly the Official Secretariat ADRIA CONGREX:
Cristina Vizzini: c.vizzini@adriacongrex.it

Funding for the seminar
Participants can apply for preparatory visits with their National Socrates Agency. The grant may cover seminar fee (which include accomodation, subsistence and local transport) and travel costs. Usually the grant is paid directly from the National Agency to Adria Congrex.

Registration can be directly mailed to the Official Secretariat ADRIA CONGREX:
Cristina Vizzini c.vizzini@adriacongrex.it

WEDNESDAY, 05/03/2003
12.00 – 18.00   Arrival of the participants.
18.00 – 19.30   Registration of participants. Informal meeting.
20.00                Dinner

THURSDAY, 06/03/2003
07.00 – 09.00      Breakfast
09.00 – 10.00      Introduction of participants
10.00 – 12.00      Presentation of Comenius action 1by the Italian National Agency Representatives.
                            How to prepare a good proposal. Tips and Deadlines.
12.00 – 14.00      Lunch
17.00 – 19.30      Attending conference sessions (See conference Programme).
19:30 – 20.00      Welcome Cocktail
20.00                  Dinner

FRIDAY, 07/03/2003
07.00 – 09.00   Breakfast
09.00 – 11:00   Attending conference sessions (See conference Programme).
11.00 – 11.30   Coffee break
11.30 – 13:00   Attending conference sessions (See conference Programme).
13.00 – 14.30   Lunch
14.30 – 16.30   Working groups session. Working out projects.
16.30 – 17.00   Coffee break
17.00 – 18.00   Working groups session. Working out projects.
18.00 – 20.00   Spare time

SATURDAY, 08/03/2003
07.00 – 09.00   Breakfast
09.00 – 11.00   Attending conference sessions (See conference Programme).
11.00 – 11.30      Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00   Working groups: finalising projects & filling in application forms.
13.00 – 14.30   Lunch
14.30 – 16.30   Presentation of the projects. Evaluation of the seminar
16.30 – 17.00      Coffee break
16.30 – 20.30   Spare time
20.30 - Farewell dinner

SUNDAY, 09/03/2003
07.00 – 09.00    Breakfast
09.00- 11.00   Attending conference sessions (See conference Programme).
11.00 – 11.30      Coffee break
11.30 – 13.00   Working groups: finalising projects & filling in application forms.
13.00 – 14.30   Lunch (on request)