Objective
The aim of TOPILOT is to develop a low-cost multimedia open distance learning service for young people in the community of occupational travellers, such as circus, fairground and bargee workers, for whom school and college terms are too rigid, particularly in the mobile summer period. The project will set up a mobile school-based telematics network using multimedia learning equipment geared to primary school and vocational training levels. The equipment with mobile GSM will be available to travelling learners whose results will be acted on by school tutors. Costs will be kept low by cheap narrow-band tutor/learner communication.
The TOPILOT-project aims to develop a low-cost multimedia service for open distance learning, targeted at children and young adults in the community of occupational travellers (circus, fairground and bargee families). This community has a clear need for a service of this type, since existing educational structures are too rigid to offer an adequate solution to the consequences of their mobility. Existing winter schools offer education in the off season, but there is no continuity during the travelling season.
The TOPILOT-project will set up a mobile telematics network, centred around 15 winter schools in the UK, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Tutors at these schools - in close collaboration with universities and research centres - will develop 4 interactive multimedia learning packages, consisting of pre-school and primary school basic skills on the one hand, and vocational training on the other. During the travelling season, these learning packages will be available on CD-i in the learners' travelling home, together with a mobile modem. Via the telematics network, the learners' results are automatically sent to the schools, where tutors will monitor, evaluate and manage the individual learning process of each learner. This telematics model meets the low-cost criterion, since it uses only cheap narrow-band communication between tutor and learner, with the broad-band multimedia information available on optical disc at the learners' home. Moreover, the use of CD-i as broadband data carrier guarantees a low usability threshold.
The TOPILOT-model will be demonstrated during two three-month periods by 3 tutors at each of the 15 winter schools, who will each be assisting 20 families. During this phase, learners as well as their parents will be closely involved in the learning process.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
1040 Brussels
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.