David Hough introduces LISTED: Library Integrated System for Telematics-based Education
It is becoming recognised throughout the developed world that, as the application of technology impacts on our working lives, the knowledge and ability to understand and use that technology is a requirement for all people, throughout their working lives. Lifelong Learning is now more than an ideal, it is a necessity. Access to learning can no longer be restricted to the relatively few places available in traditional learning establishments.
"We stand on the brink of a new age. Familiar certainties and old ways of doing things are disappearing. Jobs are changing and with them the skills needed for the world of tomorrow. In our hearts we know we have no choice but to prepare for this new age, in which the key to success will be the education, knowledge and skills of our people". (David Blunkett, UK Secretary of State for Education and Employment - DfEE publication `The Learning Age' February 1998)
Fortunately the same technology which is creating the demand for on-going learning, is also being applied to the learning process. Technology-based training, using the flexibility of audio, video, computer-based, and internet delivered learning packages is a reality. The term Open Learning is used as a very simple, general expression, for styles of learning which put the student in control of the process, and which remove traditional educational and administrative barriers. Open learning, in all its forms, provides the individual user with control over his/her own time, pace and place of learning.
"Learning must be made convenient and welcoming, whether it takes place at work, at home, in shopping centres, schools,libraries, museums or elsewhere" - DfEE publication `The Learning Age' February 1998.
Public libraries, with their traditional core function of helping individuals to fulfill their information and learning needs, are ideally placed to offer access to Open Learning.
Project LISTED is a European Commission project, part funded under the Telematics Applications Programme (Libraries sector). The project started in April 1996 and was planned for completion in July 1998. Project LISTED involves partners from five EC countries, shown in Figure 1, and was designed to develop the use of the latest technology to help to meet the needs of adult independent learners in public libraries. The project has been extended to cover a period of Central and East European involvement; final completion of the CEE phase will be in summer 1999. Two new library-based test sites are being developed, in Hungary, for this purpose.
Figure 1: The LISTED Team |
The work of the project has involved the development of distance learning test-sites in six public libraries. These test-sites, in the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and the UK are equipped to enable library users to sample leaning by `TELEMATICS'. The project built on earlier work carried out mainly under the EC PLAIL project ( Public Library Adult Independent Learners ) and the UK Government's `Open for Learning' project.
The means of access to information on learning materials, and to on-line courseware, in all test-sites, is via multimedia workstations, connected to the INTERNET. A World Wide Web facility, and materials catalogue, has been specially developed for project LISTED. This is called the Extended Interactive Catalogue (EIC)
The roles of the different parties which could eventually be included in the Listed set-up is illustrated below in Figure 2. It would be possible for access to be extended beyond the library, for example from home or from a company, either via the library or directly to the Extended Interactive Catalogue (EIC). By using the EIC, Open Learning packages and their location are identified, and arrangements made for loan. In some cases the material will be available for direct use on-line. In the future it will be possible for information and materials to be added to the EIC remotely, other than just from the libraries, by the authors, publishers or distributors.
Figure 2: The LISTED Set-up |
Central to the operation of the service is the means to access information and course material remotely from any public library. For the purpose of project LISTED, six public library test sites have been used. These are all equipped with computer workstations, linked to the EIC via the World Wide Web.
Functions of the EIC are:
Providing and retrieving information to and from the EIC is presently restricted to interaction between test sites and the web interface. Simply by freeing up access to the web address and passwords it will be possible to extend inputs and outputs to any location.
Further information on the project in general, details of partners and test sites, availability of reports, and actual report summaries are available at: http://www.itpoint.org.uk/listed.html
If you have any comments on this article, please contact the editors (exploit-editor@ukoln.ac.uk).
David Hough has been involved on a freelance basis, in the development and management of project LISTED since the idea was first being considered by the EC back in 1995. For three years prior to 1995 David was employed by the British Association for Open Learning (BAOL) to manage the UK Government funded 'Open Learning in Public Libraries' programme. This programme was highly successful, and led to the creation of more than 90 Open Learning centres in British public libraries. Before working for BAOL David had spent 20 years with the Manpower Services Commission ( UK Employment Department ) where his career path ranged from trainer, to training centre management, to Regional Development Officer with special responsibility for Open and Flexible Learning. The mix of expertise, gained over 25 years, and covering: training, open learning, the development of new library-based services, and project management, has led to freelance work with Training and Enterprise Councils, Library Services, UK Government and the European Commission. David would welcome any enquiries about becoming involved in further development activities. |
For
citation purposes:
David Hough, "Project
LISTED," Exploit Interactive, issue 1, 10 April 1999
URL: <http://www.exploit-lib.org/issue1/listed/>