1. A Distributed Multicultural Network for Teaching Information Society: Cultural Diversity Aspects
Kerstin V. Siakas
Alexander Technological Educational Institution of Thessaloniki, Department of Informatics
This work is carried out as part of the
NETIS (Network For Teaching the Information Society)
project, sponsored by the Leonardo daVinci Programme .
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein

2. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Agenda
Aims & Objectives
Challenges - the NETIS approach
Cultural Diversity
Greek Educational Culture
NETIS in Greece
Conclusions & Further work
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

3. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Aims & Objectives
This paper
Analyses the NETIS Approach with regard to the actions required of the EU member states
Reports on the Greek experiences from
the collaborative development of the Network for Teaching the Information Society (NETIS)
teaching the NETIS project in the department of Informatics at ATEI Thessaloniki
Emphasizes the importance of taking the existing cultural particularities into consideration in order to adapt to local environments
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

4. Particularities and differences
National ICT environment
National Information Society adoption levels
Institutional regulations
Disciplines (students from informatics & social sciences)
Language
Attitudes and values
Operational issues, such as numbers of students that will participate in the Information Society course in the different countries
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

5. Continuous improvement
The main aims of the project are to contribute to the emerging EU requirements of promoting an inclusive information society by developing a life-long open networked technology-based teaching-and- learning environment
The NETIS approach combines classroom experience and research evidence aiming for continuous improvement
Experiences, both from students and from educators are evaluated and reported
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

6. Today’s challenges: Lisbon Objectives
In today’s rapidly changing and
highly competitive global environment,
governments, organisations and citizens face more challenges than ever
These challenges are closely related to the Lisbon objectives, launched in 2000, of evolving Europe to “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge- based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion” are closely related to the Information Society (IS)
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

7. Society attributes to education and training
The Education Council (2001)
“the development of the individual, who can thus realise his or her full potential and live a good life”
“the development of society, in particular by fostering democracy, reducing the disparities and inequities among individuals and groups and promoting cultural diversity”
“the development of the economy, by ensuring that the skills of the labour force correspond to the economic and technological evolution”
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

8. Today’s challenges: the Bologna Process
In addition to
political cooperation on the future objectives of education and training systems in Europe,
developments in ICT,
the globalisation
the objectives of the Bologna Process have also set new demands on education, requiring a new paradigm of educational systems and pedagogic processes
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

9. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (1)
Promote the European dimension of the joint development of Higher Education (HE) curricula:
The interdisciplinary, intercultural online course provides a European education experience and promotes the dimension of joint development of HE curricula
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

10. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (2)
Capitalise on the potential of the Internet, multimedia and virtual lifelong learning environments:
The Open Source teaching-and-learning platform Moodle, is used to allow asynchronous user-centred lifelong learning possibilities
The platform will be available for download, use and eventual further development after the end of the project
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

11. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (3)
Encourage the development of high-quality digital teaching and learning materials to ensure the quality of resources available online:
The digital teaching and learning materials in English, Greek and Hungarian are enriched with learning objectives, squeezes and self-assessment possibilities to motivate learners for active involvement and increase learning effectiveness
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

12. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (4)
Support the development and adaptation of innovative teaching that incorporates the use of technologies:
The NETIS approach comprise blended learning by integrating different degrees of technology based learning with traditional education for facilitating political and cultural divergence as well as different learning preferences
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

13. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (5)
Take advantage of the communication potential offered by ICT to foster European awareness:
Digital libraries and electronic online European information and statistics are actively used for the performance of the tasks aiming to increase awareness of European and Information Society issues
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

14. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (6)
Support virtual forums for cooperation and exchange of information:
Both project members and students use virtual ICTs for cooperation and exchange of Information.
In addition they are encouraged to use social networking tools included in Wiki 2.0, such as blogs and chats, for knowledge transfer
(see e.g. and
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

15. The NETIS approach conforming to EU requirements (7)
Monitor and analyse the process of integration and the use of ICT in teaching:
The use of ICT in teaching is monitored partly by the Moodle teaching-and-learning environment
The results are analysed together with metric data from other sources, such as number of s, blog- posts etc.
Council Resolution of 13 July 2001 on eLearning, Official Journal C 204 of available at
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

16. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Cultural Diversity
Two views:
The internet creates converge values and managing and operating ICT in a global context is largely the same as managing and operating ICT in a domestic localized context
There are differences depending on cultural aspects, different business and legal environments, different languages and varying technology availability
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

17. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
What is culture?
A shared system of meanings
that guides
How world is perceived
How self is experienced
How life itself is organised
that dictates
what groups of people pay attention to
Individuals of a group share patterns that enable them to see the same things in the same way
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

18. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Culture
Culture is a collection of shared characteristics caused by similar background
similar socialisation practices
educational procedures, and
life experiences
“Culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another”
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

19. Three levels of human mental programming
Inherited and learned
Specific to individuals
Personality
Learned from social environment
Specific to groups
Culture
Biological
Universal
Human Nature
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20. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Culture
Two different views:
The anthropological view considers that culture is static and the fundamental values are inherited from generation to generation and change only slowly
The sociological view considers that different values in society interact with changing economic and political conditions, and thus the culture is believed to be dynamic and evolving by culture negotiation/formation through intercultural interactions, multiple cultures perspective and multilevel cultural dynamics
In both views the underlying basic values are considered to remain unchanged
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

21. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Culture and learning
Recent research indicates that
Culture creates the context for social interaction and shapes the processes by which new knowledge is created, legitimated and distributed
Communication, knowledge sharing and learning are profoundly influenced by cultural values of individual stakeholders
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

22. Greek educational culture (Geert Hofstede)
In Greece education traditionally is about learning how to do things opposed to learning how to learn
Education is teacher centred, praising the excellence of teacher. Students depend on teachers, who initiate communication in class, and are seen as gurus who transfer personal wisdom. Self-efficacy is low rated by students, who seek structured learning situations and right answers supposed to be known by teacher. Students expect to be told what to do, individual initiatives are discouraged and they do not speak up in class or large groups.
Motivation factors are security and fear of failure. Task preferences are those with clear instructions and sure outcomes.
The diploma provides social acceptance and honour to the holder and to his/her in-group and is considered to provide entry to higher status groups
Students’ performance is important and good students expect to be rewarded
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

23. NETIS in Greece Autumn Semester 2007 - 2008
2h contact time in laboratory class per week – 13 weeks
Approx. 1 hour power point presentation by teacher / students
1 hour discussion in class room
In the beginning
Students were very reluctant to the new way of teaching/learning
They felt enormous insecure about what was expected from them
After a few classes and having repeatable explained the new way of working the students made their choices of way they wanted to participate in the course
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

24. NETIS Teaching in Greece Autumn Semester 2007-2008
Blended Learning
Clear learning goals and expectations on learners were announced in the beginning of the semester
Traditional teaching/learning (1 hour theory presentation by educator per week with final exams in the end of the semester)
Active learning (1-2 students produce in total 7 papers (chosen from a list including 7 groupings and totally 35 subjects) written according to conference requirements; present the papers and take part in discussions).
Research (preparation of an Information Society subject to be included in the textbook of NETIS
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

25. NETIS Teaching in Greece Autumn Semester 2007-2008
Enrolled students: 143
Participation in theory classes is optional: weekly students
Traditional teaching/learning – traditional teaching with exams
Students read the learning material (books, notes etc) and give a final exam in end of semester. If they fail they have a second chance
Active learning – 7 assignments
11 groups (7 groups with 1 student, 4 groups with 2 students) -15 student
Research – full chapter for text book
5 abstracts accepted in end of November (1 drop out)
4 final chapters written in English under the supervision of lecturer
Outcome and Impressions:
Frequent meetings with students
Some students wrote first in the Greek Language
Difficulties
English language
How to write scientifically
Professionalism / ethics (sources, references)
Time-tables (Big pressure put on students to finalize during Christmas holiday because laboratory exams start immediately afterwards)
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

26. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Conclusions
The educational system in Greece does not embrace open- ended teaching methods, in particularly not on pre-university level.
The transition from the traditional pedagogic environment towards more participative, active and open-ended learning situations based on adaptive project-based learning and collaborative activities, with exercises supporting reflective thinking, problem-solving skills and productivity entail a fundamental cultural change
The results from the NETIS approach was encouraging
The students liked the new way of working
The students considered that they learned more than by traditional approaches
The new possibilities were interesting & challenging for teacher
The workload of the teacher was increased considerable
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

27. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Further work
The Informatics and Society course at the department of Informatics at ATEI Thessaloniki
is included in the department curriculum
will continue to be taught with the NETIS learning material in the future
the pedagogic approach will continuously be improved to meet student needs – emphasis on flexibility
A student centred approach is adopted
Student requirements and learning outcomes are balanced
Knowledge sharing and reflective thinking are highlighted
Student satisfaction of course are continuously measured t
The course is adapted to student needs
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May

28. Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May
Thank you…
Kerstin V. Siakas,
ATEI of Thessaloniki, Dept. of Informatics
Networked Learning Conference 2008, Halkidiki 5-7 May