Information and Communications Technologies

The promotion of ICT for learning is a priority of the ‘transversal’ part of the EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme, which supports action on general issues in education. It is also integral to the Comenius, Erasmus, Grundtvig and Leonardo sub-programmes.

There has been substantial progress in the use of ICT in education and training in Europe in recent years. However, it has not yet had as significant an impact as expected.

Effective integration of ICT into education must go beyond replacing, streamlining or accelerating current practices. It should help to create new and more effective ways of operating and support teaching and organisational innovation. ICT is now embedded in our social and economic fabric; it should be similarly integral to education and training.

Actions are not about developing technology itself, but about its use to enhance learning environments and experiences. This includes areas such as the use of simulations, discovery learning, attracting drop-outs back to education, enabling learning outside school environments and bridging the 'digital divide' between those with access to technologies and skills, and those without.

Activities

The focus is on:

• Projects to encourage innovation and creativity in learning and teaching and to boost the use of new ICT tools and trends, particularly for groups at risk of exclusion, such as early school leavers, ethnic minorities and elderly people;

• Networks to promote greater linking up and connectivity between learning communities and creativity and innovation.

Priorities are set annually and initiatives are open to any organisation working in those fields.

Documents

• The use of ICT to support innovation and lifelong learning for all - A report on progress [864 KB] (Commission Staff Working Document) (9/10/2008)
• Compendium of Good Practice Cases of e-Learning [876 KB]