Distance Learning and Local Development

I enclose the following information about a relevant initiative organized by the National Research Council of Italy. This is a very interesting event for its implications for e-learning and distance learning. The tool presented during this event could provide critical contributions for the organization of training and education initiatives to be held in "distant" contexts, for the creation of sound links between territories and research centres and for the diffusion of innovation for rural entrepreneurs, farmers and other local agents who usually are taken apart from the main information flows because operating in the so-called "marginal" areas. In brief I believe that this tool could be an interesting contribution to support local development.

_____________________________-

On Dec. 1st 2008 at 10.30 a.m. it will be held a seminar titled:

“Moodle: an opportunity for distant learning from Research Institutes"

Abstract

Moodle (acronym of Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a web open source platform for e-learning, also named Course Management System, developed to support teachers and extensionists to create and manage on-line courses with wide possibilities of interactive links between teachers and students. Through this tool, it is possible to organize training courses, seminars, distribution of documents, etc. without the simultaneous presence, in the same place, of teachers and students. The software adopted has modular features and for this reason results extremely flexible for specific course organization needs.

The modules teachers may adopt are:

• lessons with multiple questions;
• participants' forum to discuss courses' topics;
• chat for an exchange of opinions and explanations between teachers and students ;
• examinations' modules to evaluate students' progresses;
• blogs;
• Glossary;
• videoconferences;
• Wiki to create new training documents resulting from the cooperation between teachers and students.

This kind of service is presented at the following web site: http://moodle.mlib.cnr.it.