On March 8th, EASPD hosted the Spring Knowledge Café to launch their newly updated e-learning platform, the Knowledge Hub.
E-learning is the fastest growing market in the education industry. One of the reasons behind this is the increase of the digital use for education and learning. Opportunities for training and learning are key to staff retention in the social sector today. E-learning comes as a great tool to enable staff upskilling and professional development. Statistics show that E-Learning can be completed within about 40% to 60% less time than traditional learning.
It also provides learners with more fun, convenient, and engaging ways to learn. E-learning tools are a great option for education and training as they offer more accessible options. Online training courses can be undertaken at any time and participants can set their own schedule when it comes to taking the training course. Presenting EASPD’s approach to e-Learning was the key objective of this Knowledge Café!
Sasha Leone, EASPD E-Learning Officer, presented the newly updated EASPD online learning platform: the Knowledge Hub, where we put learners first. The platform contains two main sections: one section hosting online training courses and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), and another section, the e-Library, gathering resources, such as studies, reports, and policy papers, developed in collaboration with EASPD, and relevant to the social and disability sector.
Ondrej Botek, Professor at the University of Trnava (Slovakia), shared his experience of creating a training course about inclusive education in collaboration with partners, and using it to teach students. Introducing the online course created as part of the Improving Assistance in Inclusive Educational Setting project, Pr. Botek explained the different possible uses of the course. The training course contains five thematic modules each including diverse videos, PowerPoint presentations and quizzes. Pr. Botek recognised it is an easy and quick way for his students to develop knowledge and enhance competences which they will be able to use at work.
While combined forms of teaching can be considered more beneficial, the Knowledge Hub gives teachers the possibility to act as such on the platform and be in touch with students when they have questions, as well as assess their work.
