WHICH ARE THE NEEDS:•Improvement of science teaching / learning, by exploring the possibilities offered by recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies.

•Create an advanced learning environment, using advanced ICT to connect informal learning strategies and formal curricular activities in science education

•Evolution from the wired to virtual wireless learning environments to support the integration of everyday “free-choice” activities with the formal science curriculum map.

•Shift from the teacher-directed learning and the dissemination of knowledge, to learner-centred curricula that promote the development of lifelong learners

•CONNECT FP5 and FP6. From learning with outdoor “everyday” activities (LAB OF TOMORROW FP5) to informal virtual and authentic learning (CONNECT FP6)

CONNECT

WHAT WE DO:

Activities1. Promote collaboration among researchers and practitioners

2. Increased co-operation between scientists of different fields

3. Promote the adoption of new approaches in science teaching / learning

4. Promote take-up of results – sustainability and impact

Research issues (Technological and Pedagogical)

1. Develop the new learning environment (software / hardware).

2. Design new learning activities incorporating various skills

3. Develop ICT tools supporting new learning / teaching approaches

4. Assess the educational potential in different educational settings

5. Evaluate proposed approach and identify critical success factors

CONNECT

WHY WE DO IT:•Develop innovative approaches to science teaching / learning

•Design an innovative method that crosscuts the boundaries between schools, science museums, research centers and science thematic parks and involve students and teachers in extended episodes of playful learning.

•Establish a new virtual learning community

•Bridge the gap between formal and informal learning

•Explore the integration of physical and computational media for the design of interactive learning environments to support learning about complex scientific phenomena

CONNECT

Main expected results and impact•Develop the Virtual Science Thematic Park an attractive learning environment allowing for ubiquitous access to educational and scientific resources

•New learning methods reforming students to independent learners

•Impact upon the fields of instructional technology, educational systems design and museum education. Contribution to standards ( e.g extensible-3D, ISO/IEC FCD 19775:200x )

• European added value and impact : A partnership that brings up together real cross-disciplinary know-how.  

CONNECT

WHO WE ARE*: 1. Institute of Communications and Computer Systems -MFOL

Laboratory (Coordinator-GR)

2. Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (DE)

3. INTRASOFT International S.A (BE)

4. University of Duisburg-COLLIDE Research Group (DE)

5. Vaxjo University -CeLeKT Research Group (SE)

6. University of Education, Ludvisburg (DE)

7. University of Birmingham – Educational Technology Department (UK)

8. Ellinogermaniki Agogi –Research and Development Department (GR)

9. HEUREKA – The Finnish Science Centre (FI)

10. @BRISTOL (UK)

11. Evgenides Foundation (GR)

CONNECT

12. European Collaborative for Science Industry and Technology Exhibition (BE)

13. Institute for Learning Innovation (USA)

14. LEGO – Educational Division (DK)

15. Weizmann Institute of Science (IL)

16. Q-PLAN Quality Consultants (GR)

17. Ministry of Education (Portugal) – Department of Evaluation and Prospective Analysis (PT)

18. University of Minho (PT)

CONTACT: CONNECT and LAB of TOMORROW project coordinator-

Prof N.K UZUNOGLU- Institute of Communications and Computer Systems (ICCS)

E-mail:nuzu@cc.ece.ntua.gr