Open Distance Learning
The Euro PhD on S.R.& C. combines a variety of integrated teaching activities that include the more traditional seminars, workshops and one-to-one discussions with supervisors, as well as the latest technological and multi-media tools that facilitate distance learning. The telematic applications of the programme are supported by EuroPACE. This partnership has enabled technical co-operation to develop over recent years and with their support a new multi-media laboratory and open distance learning/teaching room specifically for the training of Euro PhD students is currently being built at the University of Rome, "La Sapienza". This project started out in 1996 as a VirtUE project (developing a 'virtual university' in Europe) funded by the EU under the Trans-European Telecommunications Networks-ISDN. The Department of Psychology at "La Sapienza" also has laboratories for discourse interaction, social psychology, child observation, communication and language research and a video-recording laboratory with extensive videotape editing facilities and transcription equipment. All the Euro PhD students participate via the Internet in the development of a meta-analysis of Social Representations and Communication scientific literature. One of the aims of this project is to develop a comprehensive, fully researched bibliographic map encompassing all the scientific publications on the subject. The use of the Internet in the analysis enables all students to obtain direct access to the grid, developing their work in a co-operative and distance learning way. This data base is periodically updated after a quality filter control of the contribution of each student by the Scientific Co-ordinator. The grid analysis of the literature is organised at two levels and may be used for analysis of differing complexity. Looking ahead to the future, the second cycle of International Summer Schools from 2001-2003 inclusive, will focus on the area of communication under the general theme of "Communication: Media, Social Interactions and Social Representations", this area will use the Internet to study the Internet, pushing concepts of ODL and its uses further. Inter-disciplinary Multimedia Course on Social Representations and Communications The Executive Committee of the Euro PhD decided not to include the internet course offered by CIRADE "Interdisciplinarité et représentations sociales" in the training of the Euro PhD students. This is due to the fact that the course was judged too basic in its didactic/bibliographic material and also because it is given completely in French, while the language used for the Euro PhD is English. However, if Euro PhD students are interested they can participate individually at their own expense with the possibility that if their participation is positively assessed they may be awarded ECTS credits for Open Distant Learning.
C.I.R.A.D.E.
(Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche sur Apprentissage et
Dèveloppement en Education) at the University of Montreal in Canada
will be commencing an interdisciplinary multi-media course on Social
Representations and Communication in September 2000 for one year. Further details on the course will be made available later in the year including details of how to register.
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