Review of R&D in technologies for education and training
The European Commission, DG XIII, has published its review of Research and Development in Technologies for Education and Training: 1994-1998. The report describes the work of 86 research and technological development projects in the area of Education and Training. It is now over a decade ago since The European Commission started the first systematic research on telematics for education and training in 1988. The Developing European Learning through Technology Advance programme was established in 1988 and at this time the work was focused on the research and development of teaching and learning. However, it soon became clear that research was needed on which telecommunication services and technologies could be effectively used or adopted for the Education and Training sector. With that background in mind the report takes the reader to the current phase of Commission supported projects within the Telematics Application Programme. The progress and achievements of these 86 programmes are discussed in the context of emerging global and European trends in educational technologies. More than 700 organisations have participated in the 86 projects funded so far. These organisations come from 12 member states and five EFTA countries. More than one-third of project partners is small or medium-sized private enterprises and the Commission has contributed over ECU 100 million towards the total cost of these projects. The report finally concentrates on new projects and future directions within the field of research and technical development. A new phase of research projects is introduced and the most likely future themes and key actions research in the Fifth Framework Programme over the period 1998-2002 are described.