Further Education & Training

Scope - Objectives

Education & Training Division (ETD) was established in 2001, its main objectives are to train teachers, special groups and public sector executives in the use of ICTs , the promotion of innovative methods and technologies for further education, training and certification, and the development of the required supporting mechanisms and Information Systems.

Structure - Organisation

ETD is based at the C.T.I. facilities on the University of Patras Campus, as well as in Athens in the Ambelokipous Branch. Its staff of 30 includes University Professors, researchers, senior managers, computer engineers, teachers with extensive experience in using ICTs and teacher trainers. It is also supported by scientific experts and consultants on issues concerning the design and evaluation of educational programmes. Professor Charalampos Zagouras is the director of the Sector.

The Division’s Activities

The activities of the Further Education and Training Sector focus on:

The design, development and promotion of the use of innovative technologies for education and life-long learning,
Organisation and development of programs for further education and training of teachers and trainers, on a national level,on basic skills and especially the use and integrated application of ICT in teaching practice
The design and development of automated certification systems and software for assessing knowledge and skills,
The design and development of language certification systems
The development of Information Systems for the coordination and management of large-scale education & training programmes
The development of modern educational software tools, open learning environments, and in general the production and utilization technologies, e-learning in training and teaching practice and beyond
Research, design and pilot applications of new e-learning and blended learning methodologies, aiming at the inclusion and access for all in life-long learning, especially of sensitive social groups,
Basic and applied research, in innovative collaborative systems, to assist decision-making arguments

ETD for ICT teacher training

On a national level, ETD has a key role in the study, organization and implementation of state programmes which primarily concern the further education (Training) of teachers and public executives in Information and Communication Technologies. TEK serves as the technical and scientific advisor to the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs for the training of school teachers of all grades and specializations within our compulsory education system, on two levels:

To train 85.000 teachers in the use of ICTs and to certify their acquired ICT skills by use of an automated software system and to train and certify a further 35.000 teachers on Basic Computer Skills for Education (2002-2005 and 2005-2008 respectively, Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs),
The use of ICT in teaching practice, with training 15.000 and later 27.500 teachers (PE60-70, PE02, PE03, PE04) (2005–2008, Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs).
To train 400 and later 760 trainers on the above projects.
To train 120 trainers teaching IT and training 3.200 computer teacher on cutting edge technologies.

At a European level, the Further Education and Training Sector actively participates in several European projects (FP7-ICT, eContent, Socrates, Comenius, Grundtvig, Leonardo Da Vinci, Languages, and LLP-ICT). Current areas of interest are directed mainly towards the Education and Training 2010 programme, the European Qualifications Framework, the New Technologies policy areas, and the relevant areas of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013.

Information systems, software and other computing resources in ETD

The Education and Training Division has a strong design and software development expertise, and has developed specialized tools with the original scope of innovative research prototypes.

ETD Projects co-funded by Eu and the Greek Public (2002 – 2011)

Training Teachers in utilizing ICTs in Education
"B-level Teacher Training", Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, 2007 – 2013, http://b-epipedo2.cti.gr/

The project aims to provide training to Greek Primary and Secondary school teachers in order to acquire basic ICT skills. The teacher training programmes are followed by a certification process based on the curriculum and content of the training courses.

Creating a System for Electronic Testing for KPG and Platform Tele-training for the examiners' distance training
"Education and life-long training", invitation 79, 298773

The project has developed the following categories

A complete electronic e-test for KPG, fully operational, powered by tests for 6 natural languages (generated by other cooperating scientific institutions). The system covers the entire life cycle of production and use, from patients and assessors in examination e-tests centers, and is applied as a pilot project in selected examination centers.
Custom asynchronous education platform for the education, training and language certification of examiners for KPG with built-in material of seminars conducted by distance, for the education of thr English language examinations and the overall management / organization of their respective educational processes learner's classes.

Training of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in acquiring Basic ICT Skills for educational purposes
"B-level Teacher Training", Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, 2005 – 2008, www.cti.gr/epimorfosi/

The project concerns trainingteachers of Mathematics, Physics and Literature, Primary School and Kindergarten teachers (teaching fields that accumulate the highest number of teachers in Greece), in a) the fundamental principles of utilizing ICTs in the teaching process, b) the acquisition of specific skills in using educational material and IT tools according to the subject being taught, . The objective is to train 400 trainers and 15000 teachers (cascade training).

Training of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in acquiring Basic ICT Skills for educational purpose
Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, (2005 – 2008) and IST business programme, (2002 – 2008), http://epimorfosi.cti.gr

It is the extension of the training project implemented through the programme, with the same content, but with adjustments to enhance facilitation. The project is country-wide, offered through the 58 Education Directorates, and it concerns the training of 85.000 and 35000 school teachers of all specializations.

Implementation of Foreign Language Programmes in Primary Education – Subproject 2: "Development and Maintenance of an IIMS for the administration and monitoring of financial and statistical data of the programme"
Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs 5/3/2007 – 31/8/2008 and 2007 – 2013

In this project ETD has undertaken the design and implementation of an Integrated Information Management System, the development of related subsystems and applications, the production of comprehensive guidelines for the system and processes involved, and the development of a user support system . ETD also provides training, support and maintenance services.

Computer Teacher Training
Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, "Computer Teacher Training Projects", Subproject-1, 1/1/2008 – 31/12/2008, http://edu19-20.cti.gr

Aiming to upgrade the educational process in computer courses, the project designed and implemented, nationwide, education programs for 120 Teaching Computer trainers and 3200 IT instructors, training to update their knowledge in the latest technologies and deepening on the teaching of computing and pedagogical use ICT. The project implemented compound 8 academic institutions coordinated by the CTI.

European,research and applied, competitive projects of ETD

DICODE: Mastering Data-Intensive Collaboration and Decision Making
European Commission, FP7-ICT, 2010–2013, http://dicode-project.eu/

The Dicode aims to facilitate and strengthen the cooperation and decision-making processes in complex environments characterized by accumulation of data. For this purpose, the project applies and extends the most modern techniques and technologies for the targeted search, analysis and collectivist consideration of huge ammount data. The solution provided by Dicode, based on the potential synergy reasoning of man and computer, will orchestrate a set of interoperation services. The validation of results will be implemented through three cases of use. The services developed will be available as open source licenses.

SLOT: Sectorial Learning Outcomes Transparency
European Commission, Lifelong Learning programme - LdV, 2010-2012, https://sites.google.com/site/leonardodavincislot/home

TheProject's goal is to propose a methodological framework for defining learning outcomes, to support transparency and qualifications comparability between different systems. Moreover, for a uniform application of ECVET in Europe, SLOT focuses on identifying learning outcomes for EU, and their correlation with skills and qualifications in accordance with the provisions of the EQF. Key action is to transfer knowledge and best practices from the Spanish National Institute of Qualifications.

REVIT: Revitalizing Small Remote Schools for LifeLong Distance e-Learning
LifeLong Learning Programme - Key Activity 3: ICT, 2009 – 2011, http://revit.cti.gr/

The project is aimed at children and adults, professionals and not, interested either to be trained in fields relevant to their professional obligations and needs or just to get familiar with using ICT to meet their daily needs. To achieve these objectives courses have been designed based on real needs in remote areas, according to the needs expressed by the residents themselves, such as Cyclades (Greece), Fornetka (Poland), Kula (Bulgaria) and Palaichori (Cyprus) utilizing the most advanced tools for synchronous and asynchronous distance learning, based on technologies Web 2.0

TICTC: Teachers’ ICT Competences. Α way to effective learning for children with hearing difficulties
Comenius 2.1, 2006–2009, http://tictc.cti.gr/

The aim is to equip teachers with ICT competences that improve the teaching process which leads students with hearing difficulties to raise their motivation to learn and to acquire learning skills that are necessary in the information and knowledge based society. Main outputs comprise a course description, study materials planned for distance learning and an advice book on how to use ICT in the core subjects. The project is carried out in cooperation with schools, centers for children with hearing difficulties, centers for teacher training.

INTERCOM: Un programme d'apprentissage pour la promotion de l'intercomprehension en Europe
Lingua 2, 2006–2009, http://www.intercomprehension.eu/

Development of a teaching approach based on InterComprehention method and a supportive online environment for learning German, Portuguese, Bulgarian and Greek. Interactive online activities, aimed at adults, have been produced, guiding the student from beginner to A2 level and can apply to both structured / institutional environments (school, university, KEK) and for independent learning

"ELTE": European Language Teaching Exchange
Grundtvig 2, 2006–2007

Exchange of know-how and methods for adult teaching of foreign languages. Among the studied methods: Method of Activation of Individual and Group Potential, Tandem – Learning, Multiform Method, European Language Portfolio, the Web-based environment "Xenios".

"OBELFA": Open Blended eLearning for Adults
Grundtvig 1, 2005–2007, www.obelfa.eu, http://obelfa.cti.gr

The aim of the project was to propose a blended learning methodology targeted to adults from fragile social groups and to pilot test and evaluate this methodology in the 8 participating countries. Final products include a series of 50 blended courses available via the Moodle platform and a “Cookbook” for the development and facilitation of blended courses. The pilot application in Greece was carried out by TEK in collaboration with the 2nd Opportunity School and the 10th Technical Vocational School of Patras using learning objects developed according to the SCORM standard.

GRUNDTVIG COURSES
LifeLong Learning Programme – Comenius / Grundtvig Sectoral Programmes – Mobility – Action: In-service Training, 2009 – 2012, http://tek-courses.cti.gr/

Training courses for teachers of primary, secondary and lifelong education in the countries participating in the LLP (except Greece). The training courses have a duration of 30 hours and aim to strengthen and shield the knowledge and skills of teachers for proper utilization and integration of new technologies' teaching practice methods: e-tutoring, open educational resources, tools Web 2.0. The involvement of teachers in training subsidized by LLP. There have already beem held three training courses attended by 23 teachers from 11 countries.