Minerva - Quest for Learning Project (QFL)

Project Summary

The 'Quest for Learning' project is European Union (EU) funded through the Minerva funding stream.  The aims of the Minerva Action are:  to promote understanding among teachers, learners, decision-makers and the public at large of the implications of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for education, as well as the critical and responsible use of ICT for educational purposes; to ensure that pedagogical considerations are given proper weight in the development of ICT and multimedia - based educational products and services, and to promote access to improved methods and educational resources as well as to results and best practices in this field.  For more information on Minerva and other EU funding streams visit www.socleoyouth.be

The QFL project supports the Minerva action by developing a range of on-line resources related to learning and employability, for people with disabilities.  Products currently being developed by the project include: an e-learning module on study skills for students with disabilities, an e-learning module on disability awareness and inclusive education for teaching staff, a virtual support network for graduates with disabilities, guidelines for teaching staff on ODL practices and the support needs of students with disabilities in ODL environments.

The project is for two years with an end date of 10 October 2005.  It is a trans-national project with partners in Estonia, France, Portugal, England and Ireland.  The project has a total budget of 276,092 euro with 75% being supported by the EU Minerva programme. 

Project Partners:

QFL Project aims:

• To encourage students with disabilities, in Higher Education to develop life long learning skills and increase their capacity to take control of their own learning.
• To encourage teaching staff in Higher Education institutions to apply accessible curricula design principals, to the development to courses and course material.
• To improve the knowledge base about open and flexible learning systems and the learning / teaching process in an electronic environment (namely, the teacher, the course objectives, the course content, the range of methods, and the needs of the learner in the environment of the ODL teaching / learning process)
• To improve access to employment opportunities for graduates with disabilities

QFL Project objectives:

• To design and build a web - site with the following content:
• An e-learning module on study and learning skills (aimed at third level students with disabilities)
• An e-learning module on disability awareness and inclusive education (aimed at teaching staff in third level institutions)
• Guidelines for teaching staff on designing and developing ODL course materials.
• A peer support network for graduates with disabilities to provide support and advice on employment issues, (i.e. chat rooms for students and graduates with disabilities, video presentations, information banks on disability issues)
• A schedule of presentations by keynote employers on employment topics, followed by interactive questions and answers.
• QFL project information
• Links to other relevant web-sites.

QFL Target Group:

The main beneficiary group will be students with disabilities who have just commenced third level courses and graduates who are about to make the transition into employment.  Another beneficiary group will be participating staff in third level institutions who are involved in the design, delivery or dissemination of the project.

QFL Outcomes:

An Inclusive Learning website for students and graduates across four European countries that can be included in induction and orientation courses for new students in a cost effective manner.  It will facilitate students to learn independently at their own pace.  The website will include formal learning modules, interactive chat-rooms, peer support, scheduled presentations, information on frequently asked questions etc.  The learning modules will be designed to deal with the lack of face to face communication with a tutor simulating the characteristics of interpersonal communication and replacing the inter-subjectivity of the classroom or lecture.(Hoey 1999)

An open learning course, course materials and learning methods for learning self-managed learning skills.  These will have been designed to meet the challenges of ODL outlined in previous research, (Empowering Practice. a guide to the use of Information Technology and Open, Distance Learning for and by disabled students in the learning society, Socrates 1999).  The learning course will be translated into French, Estonian and Portuguese and can be made available to all students with disabilities on all third level courses to improve their learning capacity.

Published Guidelines of Best Practice for teaching staff who want to design ODL course materials based on the sound pedagogic principles and inclusive learning principles will be available on the website in English, French, Estonian and Portuguese.

An information resource for graduates with disability seeking guidance on dealing with employment access issues such as, how to disclose a disability, preparing for interviews, grants and adaptations available.  Graduates can access this information where and when they need it.

A scheduled programme of presentations from employers on a range of HR and employment topics will be available involving at least two major employers across five countries.  These will include the Public Administration sector and the private sector.  Topics can include issues such as Disclosure of Disability, what to expect from induction and career development.

A network of employed graduates with disabilities will provide supports to new graduates with disabilities on dealing with the barriers faced by students with disabilities.

Students and graduates will be using the website to gain information and advice at a time and pace to suit them.  During the pilot students with disabilities in UCC, DIT, TARTU, Handisup, PORTO and University Plymouth will log onto the website and become actively involved in its development.

This website will be linked to Grad Ireland a national database in Ireland of graduates who are seeking employment and career development.  In addition it will be linked to the Aisling foundation for employment opportunity contacts.

Dissemination: 

The website will be available to students and graduates of partner organisations. The module on disability awareness and inclusive education, the module on study and learning skills, and the employment information will be translated into Estonian, French and Portuguese to ensure students and teaching staff in those countries can avail of these resources. 

The action research approach will enable a body of knowledge to be developed in relation to the application of ODL methods in a range of formal and informal learning situations.  The result of this action research will be published on completion of the project.  Guidelines for teaching staff will be produced on designing ODL courses inclusive to all students

The dissemination plan will include such elements as:

• A profile of the project at a general level for press release for national and local media.
• A profile of the project on the Website.
• A project log will be posted on the website throughout the project by the co-ordinator to highlight progress made against objectives and equally importantly an outline of the difficulties for which the partners had to find solutions and how they went about finding them.  It is vital that key learning about the development of the project is captured.  It is envisaged that this learning will be shared with other organisations developing ODL methodologies and published in the Guide for Teaching staff on creating Accessible ODL Curricula
• Translation of the project and website into French, Estonian
• Trans-national meetings will include presentations to key organisations at a local level
• National seminars will take place using video linkages.
• A major international conference will take place during the final stages of the project
• The Learning Platform will be available to the AHEAD Network of 48 Third Level colleges throughout country.   This includes Disability Officers in NUI Universities and Access Officers in Institutes of Technology.
• Links will be explored with other European networks such as higher education networks throughout Europe through contacts of partner organisations.  These networks include Skill in the UK, which has a membership of all higher educational institutions in the UK.  The European Platform for Vocational Rehabilitation is a trans-national network in vocational rehabilitation and links could be made with it through presentations at their seminars and website links.

Each Partner will draft a dissemination plan for their own country which incorporates links with:

• Higher Institutions
• Disability agencies
• Employer groups
• Media

Involvement of UCC

In particular UCC's involvement entails collaboration with FAS Net College on the area of research into best practice and development of study skills schematic for e Learning modules

For more information:

Contact:

Tel: 021-4902985
Email: bmaccarthy@ucc.ie

Website: http://www.questforlearning.org