European Computer Driving Licence Web Training Project
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

The main purpose of the project was to develop a versatile, high-quality web training programme in basic computer knowledge, which could be used in teaching both in Finland and Russia.

Main activities

• Designing a web learning environment for the ECDL-training and composed the Russian distance learning web pages for the ECDL on the Internet, • Creation of Russian web material, including learning material and exercises, • Testing and developing learning material with the help pf Russian specialists • Training a web trainer and test supervisor for the ECDL certification. • Marketing of the degree programs at the Lieksa Adult Educaion Centre

Achievements

The project designed a web learning environment for the ECDL-training and composed the Russian distance learning web pages for the ECDL on the Internet. In accordance with the plan, the project also designed the Russian web material for a computer user's European Computer Driving License, which included the latest certification version, Syllabus 4.0, of the basic examination and all its seven components, learning material and exercises. The learning material was also readjusted for the needs of Russian immigrants in another version which can be used later in the education of immigrants and students living in Russian and studying Finnish. The learning material was tested and further developed with the help of 28 Russian specialists. The produced basic ECDL-certification was approved by the ECDL-foundation. The official Finnish web pages of the ECDL-certification (www.ecdl.fi) were added a link to the Russian web learning material of the Lieksa Adult Education Centre, http://aikoledu.pkky.fi/ecdlrus. The project also developed the Russian learning material for the ECDL Advanced Certification and its four components and translated the certification requirements of Syllabus 1.0 to Russian. The material development was implemented in cooperation with Russian specialists; the specialists of the Petrozavodsk Education Centre and the Petrozavodsk State University participated in the design and testing of the material. Examinations of the basic and advanced certifications were also translated to Russian. The examinations were tested, and the Russian examinations of the basic certification were sent to the Finnish Information Processing Association, where they were placed in a universal ECDL data bank, available for all Finnish test centres. The project trained a web trainer and test supervisor for the ECDL certification. Cooperation partnerships with Russian education institutes were actively created during the project. The education programmes of the Lieksa Adult Education Centre and the EDCL certification were presented and marketed in the Republic of Karelia and Finland. The developed material and the web learning environment were introduced in November 2004, when the first distance learning course in Russian was started at the Lieksa Adult Education Centre. Marketing managed to raise the interest of the Russians in the ECDL certification, and there were 34 applications and 30 participants for the first ECDL distance course.