The “ Opening Up Education ” action plan was presented by the European Commission, aiming to address digital problems in education, which prevent schools and universities from providing high-quality education and digital skills that will be required for 90% of jobs by 2020. In this context, the Commission launched the new website “Open Education Europa” (www.openeducationeuropa.eu), which will allow students, professionals and educational institutions to share free open educational resources.
The “Opening of Education” focuses on three main objectives. First, it seeks to create opportunities for organizations, educators and learners in order to innovate. Second, it aims at increased use of Open Educational Resources (Open Educational Resources, OER), ensuring that educational materials produced with public funding are available to everyone. Finally, it seeks to improve the infrastructure of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and connectivity in schools.
The need for an organized open digital education program is considered imperative, as this change must be shaped by educators and policymakers, and not as something that simply happens.
The heads of this initiative are jointly Ms. Androulla Vassiliou, commissioner responsible for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, and Ms. Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the Commission, responsible for the Digital Agenda.
“Educational landscape is changing significantly, from school to university and beyond: open education based on technology will soon be «necessary», not only «useful», for all ages. We must try harder to ensure that especially young people are equipped with the digital skills they need for their future. It is not enough for them to know how they can use an application or a program; we need young people who can create their own programs. The opening of education concerns the broadening of intellectual horizons through new learning methods, so that our citizens become more employable, creative, innovative and entrepreneurial” said Commissioner A. Vasileiou.
Vice President N. Kroes added: “My vision is for every classroom to have digital equipment by 2020. Education must be connected to real life, it cannot be a parallel world. Young people want to use digital technology in all aspects of life. They need digital skills to obtain employment. All our schools and universities, not just some of them, must reflect this reality.”
It is indicative that between 50% and 80% of students in EU countries never use digital textbooks, exercise software, broadcasts/video messages (podcast), simulations or educational games. For example, students in Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic are more likely to have Internet access at school (over 90%), at double the rate of Greece and Croatia (about 45%).
Additionally, in primary and secondary education, most teachers do not feel confident about their digital skills, and 70% want more training in the use of ICT. Universities are called to adapt their teaching methods to provide a blend of face-to-face teaching and electronic learning capabilities, such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) (massive open online courses) that allow individuals to access education anywhere, at any time, and via any device. This is considered necessary as the number of students in the EU continues to increase.
Initiatives linked to the “Opening of Education” will be funded with support from the Erasmus+ programme, the EU’s new programme for education, training, youth and sport, and Horizon 2020, the new research and innovation programme, as well as the EU structural funds. The total educational equipment that will be supported by Erasmus+ will be freely available to the public under “open licences”.
ekt.gr, with information from the European Commission
