European and Latin American Consortium for IST Enhanced Continued Education in Environmental Management And Planning.

ELAC is a project funded by the European Union with partners from England, Spain, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico and Denmark.

The projects main activities focuses on implementing an information society based mechanism that will enable the development of a innovative multi linguistic virtual learning environment, which will make it possible to examine appropriate, innovative and different learning approaches and methods.

The ELAC project will draw from the experience of five other projects including VO@NET, EQUEL and ELAC and will in that regard function as a showcase to demonstrate how IST (Information Society Technology) based approaches within universities in a multi cultural environment and within a multi disciplinary field can expand and broaden the quality and access to education within the context of university programmes and life long learning.

An important part of the ELAC project is to identify innovative pedagogical koncepts and approaches to e-learning and apply these within the context of the project. This means conducting tests of the conceps to identify problems and obstacles of a learning oriented, pedagogical and cultural character. This shall at the same time contribute to the development and revision of existing learning approaches and methods.

The project aims to use IST as a catalyst for change and for problem development and action orientated modes and methods of learning. It also directs towards further development of curricula and methods within Environmental planning and Management, while cultural differences are taken into account, the participating countries problematic areas, and especially the social and financial circumstances within the two regions (SUDESCA, VISCA and VO@NET).

The activities in the project can shortly be summarized as followed:
- Input for design of virtual learning environments in the shape of e-learning labs with pedagogic competencies, learning and design of virtual learning environments.
- Creation of learning environment, which needs to facilitate pedagogical and educational development of scientists and educators in the use of virtual learning environments

Within the ELAC-project there is a need to develop a methodological and theoretical frame that contains the understanding of technological, educational, and pedagogical development. At the same time this framework has to be regardful to cultural differences, accession to learning, and pedagogy.

The role of Aalborg University is multidiciplary and innovative teaching, using the expertise in learning approaches through Dept. of Communication and the e-Learning Lab.

You can find the reports in the e-Learning Lab Publication Series.