CORDIS Archive

Telematics for Libraries - Projects

DEDICATE

Updated: 22 NOV 99

Additional information is available from the DEDICATE website . (http://educate.lib.chalmers.se/DEDICATE/dedindex.html)

Action Line

Action line C: Library services for access to networked information resources

Call Topic(s)

Call Topic 12: Integrating library services with distance learning

Project description

DEDICATE aims to develop cost-effective distance education courses in information literacy. DEDICATE will extend the benefits arising from the prior EDUCATE project, and its subsequent products, to a number of test sites in Central and Eastern Europe, thereby enabling them to take advantage of technical innovations in training in information literacy. Network-based distance learning courses will be provided. Learner support will receive particular attention.

Technical approach

The EDUCATE project, which ended in May 1997, clearly showed that scientific, technical and medical users have a need for access to information resources and assistance in how to handle them. Such assistance has become more necessary than ever because of the complexity of widely varying IT options. As a result, the DEDICATE project set out to develop cost-effective distance education courses in information literacy (based on programs developed under the EDUCATE project) and programs for networked learner support allowing both asynchronous and synchronous communication modes. Support is also provided in the form of document supply.

Main elements of the overall project approach are:

• Distance education courses will be devised, demonstrated and tested at four library sites in technological universities in Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania and at the International Centre for Information Management, Systems and Services, in Torun, Poland.
• Training the Trainers - The distance education programs will be directed initially to training library staff in the access and use of information resources in a networked environment, with extension to scientists and engineers at later stages. The first group of application sites will be in the area of science and engineering.
• Demonstrator sites will act as catalysts for the development of user-education programmes within their respective countries. The DEDICATE courses will encourage co-operation in the field between libraries in western and eastern Europe.
• Web facilities will be fully used for training in information literacy, as well as in promoting easy access to courses. Care will be taken to adapt provision of resources to the networking possibilities of the sites and countries in question.

Key issues

Key issues include:

• Designing distance learning programs on information sources in physics, energy or chemistry, based on EDUCATE (Into Info) programs.
• Developing and testing networked learner support systems for the individual course participants and their teachers.
• Implementation and evaluation of the courses at the new sites.

Impact and expected results

The overall benefit will be that universities in Central and Eastern Europe will become familiar with the results of the EDUCATE project. They will gain experience in providing training for librarians and end users by means of distance education courses and increase their experience in information literacy.

Deliverables

The main deliverables of the project include the following, not all of which are for public release:

• Distance learning course design report
• Tests of EDUCATE and Learning Support software report and modifications
• Document delivery methods specification
• Implementation of distance learning course modules
• Evaluation plan and report
• Newsletters (in multiple languages)
• Annual and Final project reports.

Additional information is available from the contact below and from the project web site:
http://educate.lib.chalmers.se/DEDICATE/dedindex.html.

Coordinator

Other Partners