The E-Learner

1^st August 2000

Published by © European Consortium for the Learning Organisation.

All rights reserved.

Welcome to the tenth edition of The E-Learner, ECLO's electronic newsletter for members.

As always, we welcome contributions from members, as it is impossible to keep on top of the wealth of information on the World Wide Web on topics of interest to you all.

For your ongoing reference The E-Learner will be archived in the members' zone of our web site.

Editor: Brian Taylor

By way of introduction I thought I would offer members a profile of my own background in order that you can understand where I am coming from.

In 1990 I took the opportunity to re-shape my future in a world that seemed to offer more challenges and opportunities than ever before. Focusing more on my cerebral skills and ingenuity, I decided to take affirmative action.

In 1995 I embarked on a journey to change the rest of my life. First I enrolled on a Master of Science course in Industrial Logistics, to sharpen my ‘technical’ skills; secondly I registered for the Adult Education Teacher Training Certificate/ NVQ Assessor Certificate.

In 1996 events began to advance rapidly, have gained the Caterpillar Prize for ‘Best Overall Performance’ on the MSc and completed successfully my initial Teacher Training.

The latter was subsequently advanced to a Certificate in Education, followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education and Professional Development. I am currently studying to complete my dissertation for the M.A, on the theme Course Design Strategies for Improving the Quality of Student Learning, by September 2000.

Becoming a Lifelong Learner

Since qualifying, at the age of 29, as a Chartered Engineer I had received little ‘formal’ further education or training from any ‘external’ Institution. When asked by the University of Central England (UCE), as part of my MSc dissertation, to produce new and innovative learning materials and methodologies for adult learner, in their place of work, I leapt at the chance. By separating the ‘Learning’ process from ‘Education or Training; which usually involved some form of accreditation process, it became clear that most individuals have an innate ability to learn, but few take the time out to ‘qualified’. In children of course, we have a ‘captive’ audience.

Historically, Education was an ‘exclusive’ occupation for the privileged few; a means of defining social structures. Today, Education has become ‘inclusive’ and demands a different approach, in order to cope with the complexity of diverse and disparate needs, of an ever increasing population of lifelong learners.

Enter the Information Society and new Technologies

Considering the above scenario, in isolation Education may have faltered on the new paradigm, but for the advent of new communication technologies, such as the Internet and more particularly Broadband ATM sites, which enables us to realise such radical changes. Education like the rest of society must move from the traditional ‘Supply Push’ model more towards a customer focused ‘Demand Pull’ scenario.

Where to next?

E.C.L.O. 2001 Conference - May 16 to 18, 2001 - Lisbon, Portugal

Following an initial study into the potential for sponsorship and influenced by feedback from members at Munich, the board has agreed that the next E.C.L.O. conference will be held in Lisbon, Portugal. It will be co-hosted by Pedro das Neves and his partners at Global Change Consultores

The board has heard repeatedly that they do not involve the members enough in E.C.L.O. activities, on the other hand when they do, the response is less than enthusiastic. Now is your chance to fix this. The board would welcome active participation from the members in any of the following ways:-

• Attract new exciting speakers you may have come across at other conferences (or at least tell about them and let us attract them).
• Participate in the conference committee and influence the format, content, theme and structure of the conference
• Screen abstracts to ensure only the highest quality speakers are accepted
• Run a workshop before, during or after the conference (Tim Andrews has already offered anyone else?)
• If you cannot contribute any time, your ideas, suggestions, areas for improvement are most welcome. Send them by email to any board member or Brigitte

Members Update

Welcome to Ben Neild from the Marchmont Observatory, University of Exeter
A detailed introduction to the Marchmont Project will appear in the next edition of The Learner.

Ulrich Schweiker is the latest member to demonstrate his long term commitment to E.C.L.O. by converting to a 3 year Gold membership.
If you want to have 3 year membership for the price of two and enrol at the cheapest rate possible for our conference, then a Gold membership is for you! Contact the E.C.L.O. office for details.

Book Watch – Best Books for Managers of Change

Meet HAROLD

To English speakers Harold is not a particularly sexy name, for those of you familiar with the TV series Steptoe & Son; Harold was the wrinkle old father with no teeth. But to our Italian friends Harold is met with great affection. HAROLD means Habits ARousing for Organisational Learning Development and is the brainchild of Sud Sistemi Srl., who have embarked on the journey to become a Learning Organisation – a long and never ending journey, as they found out.

For your agenda

Learning Portals 2000 - 30^th August - 1^st September 2000, The Holiday Inn, Victoria, London

(Get a 100£ or 6000 BEF reduction if you register before August 11 - voucher available from the E.C.L.O. office)

A Daily Dose of Learning

You can browse back numbers on > http://www.ukhrd.com/tjsitefiles/ukhrd/homeukhr.html

Thanks to one of our Sponsors at the Munich Conference, Deutsche Telekom; many members are proud owners of a 6 DM Telefonkarte (Telephone Card). Unfortunately, many, myself included, did not get the opportunity to use it for its original purpose. Suggestions please, for the next issue:

Clues:

1. To open ‘locked’ doors.
2. To stop the table from rocking.
3. To scratch various parts of one’s body, to contain an itch.
4. To impress German Visitors.
5. To use with a camera, if the shutter is broken, but you need to be quick!
6. To use as a ruler (for straight lines of less than 81 mm)
7. Add to list…………….
8. ………………………..
9. ………………………..

Final Thought

My daughter asked one day, "What are you doing theses days Dad?"  To which I replied, "I’m trying to be famous" "Oh!" she said, with a feeling of excited curiosity, "How do you do that?" "By the company I keep", I replied. to which my daughter replied: 'Thank you for being such good and ‘famous’ company.

Summer Break!

" To form business contacts through informal social meetings" - Collins Concise Dictionary "

Be involved, it's YOUR network!

The E-Learner is published by the

European Consortium for the Learning Organisation

Venelle des Lauriers 8, Wavre, B-1300 Belgium

Tel/Fax: + 32 10 24 1600

http://www.eclo.org<