Clara Pérez-Molina

Examples of distance learning projects in the European Community

The innovation brought by the introduction of new technologies in our modern society has also started to appear in education. The biggest efforts come from the institutions involved in distance education, partly due to the characteristics of the educational system they represent. In order to improve the technology development there are a large number of projects being developed inside the European Union. This paper discusses the current situation of distance learning and the technological resources available including e-mail, video conferencing, Internet and the World Wide Web and virtual teaching-learning environment. Some of the European Projects including new technologies in distance learning are also discussed.

An experience in UNED on building up a Virtual Campus

The paper describes how the DEMOS project (funded by the European Commission, 4th Framework Programme 1996) will be implanted at UNED. The proposal was born as an initiative of UNED as part of its plan to cover the needs of new distance learning applications to be used in the current and future telecommunication networks. DEMOS intends to design and develop a distributed learning environment for distance education scenarios shaping a Virtual Campus, where co-operation among teachers, learners, tutors and experts is supported in a very flexible way. It is focused on the development of multimedia applications for education over heterogeneous telematics environments. The applications may be adapted to the different kinds of users and the different infrastructures available to facilitate the demonstration and exploitation phases.

Competencias, Formación y Empleo. Análisis de Necesidades en un Programa de Master en Ingeniería

The aim of this paper is to complement the training of the graduates in system and automatic engineering leading to employment. A descriptive methodology based on empirical observation, document analysis and questionnaires, using quantitative and qualitative data were used. A need analysis was done on them, the specific skills were identified and specific courses were set up to develop them in a Master program. The results show the need of improving the curriculum for training and employment of engineers in the following skills: technical and specific skills, command of their area or discipline; analytic thought; ability to use computer tools; ability to write and speak in foreign languages; technical abilities and result orientation (concentration and abstraction, quality and orientation skills) and international capabilities. In conclusion the need to develop a number of key skills through postgraduate training of engineering graduates was highlighted.

Competency-based learning management systems: Practices using remote laboratories to improve the use of the subjects and get required competences

In the study of technical matters the realization of practices keep a relevant importance to improve the use of the subjects since allows to students to carry out processes, measures, experiments, etc. Moreover, students in Master degree level require a high level of specialization which helps them to get required competences. With this research work on competency-based learning management systems we are determining users needs as well as technological applications in order to get to students the required competences, specifically the case of the use of remote laboratories to improve the academic progress in different subjects.