2. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers.Introduction.Timsoft, VLE - eLearn TS.Training Program.Online Course.Materials.Conferences.Peer Mentoring Activities.eLearning Community.Educational Projects.Conclusions Carmen Holotescu University Politehnica of Timisoara, Romania Timsoft Ltd, Romania http://www.timsoft.ro

3. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +eLearning Definition +eLearning means the use of multimedia technologies and Internet  quality materials, simulations  online resources  collaboration, sharing, communities

4. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Current situation - Europe +“eLearning: Designing tomorrow’s education” initiative – CE, 24 May 2000 +eLearning Europa +http://www.elearningeuropa.infohttp://www.elearningeuropa.info +Many schools and universities offer online modules for their courses, online courses, or even degrees online; 75% companies use eLearning in their training programs +eLearning Programme 2004-2006: “Promotion of digital literacy, creation of European virtual campuses, e-Twinning of schools in Europe and promotion of teacher training and transversal actions for the promotion of e-learning in Europe ”

5. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Current situation - Romania +eLearning Romanian Projects – universities, schools, firms http://www.timsoft.ro/resurse.shtml +Online courses can be accreditated only by the Open Distance Learning ( ODL ) Commission of the Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, which has recently elaborated the minimal rules for the use of eLearning in ODL programmes +“New training programs should prepare and support teachers and trainers in shifting from being providers and delivers of subject matter content to moderators and facilitators of learning within student-centered approaching to learning.”

6. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers Timsoft experience in eLearning +Timsoft Ltd – http://www.timsoft.ro - is an active actor in eLearning: http://www.timsoft.ro +developed VLE eLearn TS, with variants in Romanian and English; flexible, secure, based on open technologies: Perl, mySQL +offers online courses – IT, Management, Councelling, eTraining +hosts Romanian eLearning Community; eJournal +organizes international online workshops – partner e-Learning Centre UK – http://www.e- learningcentre.co.uk +Partner in Educational Projects

7. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +eLearn TS Authoring system - An authoring component used by the space administrators in creation and edition of the materials. Registration system - The database with the participants specific information. A content delivery function - The content may be in the form of text, images, sounds, animations. A navigation model - Syllabus, members list, links. Synchronous tools - Chat-room allows the members to communicate in real time between them and with the instructors; Live Chat. Asynchronous tools - e-mail and conferences ( web-forums). The conferences constitute the central part of the environment. Security system - A component for controlling the access to the virtual environment. VLE was recently extended with an authoring tool based on XML for tutorials, evaluation tests

8. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Training program +Training Program for eTrainers +Online Course – runs on a regular basis, offered also in 2 Phare Projects +Peer Mentoring Activities +Online Community +Participants: teachers from schools and universities, and trainers from firms +The program is aimed at training the participants to carry out: online courses and online events, such as online workshops and RT meetings, giving them knowledge and experience in online communication and collaboration. +Skills for eTutors listed by recognized International organizations as Institute of IT Training in UK or International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction in USA

9. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Online Course Model (1): +Learning process = Student centered process – Constructivist approach +Applied Adult Education Principles: self-directedness and an active learner role, as well as solution-centered activities +Adapted to Learning Styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic +eLearning Methodologies: PBL, Study Cases, Group Projects +Materials: static and dynamic parts; experts are invited +Conferences: asynchronous discussions – quality: reflection, searching, validation, more active members +Ongoing Evaluation +Participants: course Co-authors +Empowerment Evaluation Participating in an online training program allows new facilitators, themselves nontraditional students, to learn experientially under the same conditions as their future students. Training provides an opportunity for facilitators to learn about online learning, but also provides a model for best practices.

10. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Online Course Model (2): +Trainees and Instructor = Learning Community –clearly stated objectives, a set of guiding principles –subtle, experienced, enthusiastic instructor –motivated, interested participants –integrate content with discussions –informal sharing – tacit knowledge –metaphors for linking the participants –good virtual environment.

11. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers Materials New materials: eLearning Standards and LOS, RSS and Weblogs

12. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers Conferences

13. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Peer mentoring activities +an experienced teacher is assigned – a mentor. Throughout a few weeks, the mentor and mentee discuss teaching strategies, and observe each other’s online class for new ideas and feedback. +eLearning Community +http://www.timsoft.ro/comunitate.shtmlhttp://www.timsoft.ro/comunitate.shtml Purposes: to share experience and to start new projects; to become a community of practice +Over 500 members: teachers, students, trainers, developers +Activities in virtual space: +Discussions ( Conferences ) on eLearning topics, new eventsConferences +Online Resources +Week Link +Guests – interviews published in the eLearning eJournal +International Online Workshops – together with e-Learning Centre UK – http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk +Online Communities +eLearning Methodologies +eLearning eJournal

14. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers.Project 1: Career Orientation and Counseling – http://www.ceduconsult.ro.CEDU – project coordinator.Involved over 150 persons from 3 counties and Bucharest: schools, firms, Labours agencies, education managers, ministries.eCollaboration: each group has its own virtual space.Partners Group – work on studies for tailoring schools offer to market needs, competencies based curriculum.Counseling Group – studies, materials for 5 online courses, activities for site.“My Career” Clubs Group – teachers from schools discuss clubs activities,. participate in online courses.Moderators were trained.Advantages in managing and monitoring the project

15. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers.Project2: eLearning for Managers – http://www.timsoft.to/phare in the county of Cluj.Online courses delivered by university teachers and HR specialists.Virtual environment for the project team.Facilitators Training.7 Online courses tailored on the specific needs of the firms

16. The 6th International Conference on Technical Informatics - CONTI2004 - Education and e-learning, Timisoara, Romania, May, 27-28 Developing a Program for Training the eTrainers +Conclusions +The trainees learn about eLearning, the online course itself being a model for best practices +The program assures a continuous learning and improving experience +Extended in european projects - the SUPERCOMET II European project – 20 countries +Thank you!