Konstantina N. Polymeropoulou, postgraduate student in Cultural Organizations Management Achilles D....

Konstantina N. Polymeropoulou, postgraduate student in Cultural

Organizations Management

Achilles D. Kameas, Assistant Professor

Hellenic Open University

Using the TIPS platform to train Greek cultural mediators

Introduction

In the frame of the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue" (year 2008), the cultural mediators are indicated as the most important players in facilitating the adaptation and adoption of immigrants by the hosting society.

2 SALL Conference, Patras

Cultural mediators

“Cultural mediators are involved in all services for immigrants, refugees and human traffic victims. These include welcoming services, as well as education, health, insurance, job seeking, and other services. Cultural mediators require valuable, updated training especially applicable in everyday work-related activities.”


Role and traits of cultural mediatorsThey act as facilitators aiming to enhance the

communication and to establish a common understanding between the immigrants / refugees and the public bodies of the hosting country

They have a significant position and can be helpful in many important fields such as health, education, employment, legal rights etc

They support foreign citizens and their families, providing them with information and professional consultancy in order to adapt better and even become integrated in the hosting country.

They have communication skills and are very good listeners

They have knowledge both of the native and the host countries (culture, laws, traditions…)


Educating cultural mediators: need for a non traditional approach

The need to develop a non - traditional approach to enhancing cultural mediators’ education has risen because of the requirement to constantly provide information and support to the immigrants, overcoming constraints of time and space.


The TIPS projectCo-financed by the EU Leonardo da Vinci

ProgrammeDuration: 2 years , from 01/11/2007 to

31/10/2009Developed a blended T-learning methodology

by integrating a triple technology platform consisting of

e-learning (Internet), M-learning (PDA & Smartphones) and TV-learning (IPTV)

Five countries participated in the project (Italy, Greece, France, Austria and Poland)

Outcome: training course


PartnersConsorzio FOR.COM, ITALY www.forcom.it

Auxilium, AUSTRIA www.auxilium.co.at

IRIV, FRANCE www.iriv.net

Hellenic Open University, GREECE www.eap.gr

Gruppo Pragma, ITALY www.gruppopragma.it

Tischner European University, POLAND www.wse.krakow.pl


Aims of the TIPS projectTo develop and test an online training

courseTo use the T-learning methodology,

addressing o potential cultural mediators o professional cultural mediators o social workers

To advance their skills and capabilities required for cooperating with immigrants


The T-Learning methodology

The TIPS system combines three different educational platforms, in order to maximize the benefits of distance learning tools:

the e-learning platform, the M-learning platform

and the IPTV-learning

platform.


The e-learning platformview multimedia training

content attend virtual classroomsparticipate in a discussion

forum interact with other students

and/or the tutorsdownload the didactic material exchange information and

knowledgesee in a menu the available

services such as communication tools, the training agenda, announcements, documents, links and access to the e-course contents

www.forcom.it/tipsproject


The M-learning platformsupports a “learning-by

doing” approach integrated with “learning in the workplace”

access to the training course contents anytime anywhere through a mobile phone or PDA

different didactic material

communication tools, such as the TIPS phrasebook

http://77.238.3.46/claroing/mobile/


The IPTV-learning platform

The IPTV-learning platform needs:

a TV seta set top box

(with a remote control and a keyboard)

ADSL Internet connection

77.238.3.46/claroing/IPTV


The TIPS CourseThe TIPS training Course titled “Practicing and Enhancing Cultural Mediation in a Pluralistic Europe” officially started on March 2009 ended on August 2009. The TIPS training Course appealed not only to the people who were already working as professional cultural mediators and require up-to-date training, but also to those prospective cultural mediators, who needed to enhance their knowledge and skills.


Modules

Module I: Introduction to the TIPS course Module II: Cultural Mediation: A

Professional Profile Module III: The Psychology of Cultural

Mediation Module IV: National and European

Legislation Module V: Cultural Mediation: Fields of

Application


Additional learning content

TIPS glossary

TIPS phrasebook

multimedia objects composed of images, audio and text

an e-book that provides information about several migrant countries, cultures and traditions


The learning Objects

SALL Conference, Patras16

Mobile learning pillsIPTV videos & quizzesA/V lessonsSlidesLecture notesQuizzes

The TIPS trainingA specific selection process of the participants

was realized in every participating country100 participants from all the partner countriesThe selected course participants were given a

training schedule describing the sequence of study of the five course modules.

They attended one Virtual Classroom from a distance using the TIPS e-learning platform

Course students could log on the e-learning platform from their own premises and on the three platforms from one of the TIPS Centres


The Greek Class (1)More than 50 people were interested in

participating in the TIPS courseFinally 25 of them were selected and

enrolledo 21 people from all around Greeceo 1 from Albaniao 1 from Romaniao 2 from Lebanon


The Greek Class (2)3TIPS Centres were set up in 3 cities in

the countryoPatras, oAthens and oRethimno

Each TIPS Centre offeredo IPTV,oa mobile phone for the m-learning

platform andoPCs with ADSL Internet connection


Results

After the realization of the course, Hellenic Open University issued seventeen (17) certificates of attendance to the Greek class who completed at least a minimum of 30% of the Learning Objects. The 68% of the Greek Class managed to use the triple platform in a satisfactory level. Most of them have never used the mobile telephone and television for educational purposes.


Evaluation

evaluation questionnaires interviews roundtable discussions


Conclusion

The T-learning methodology that was applied in the TIPS project has enhanced the combination of theory and practice, synchronous and asynchronous, autonomous and collaborative learning. It realized a pilot training Course at a European level, combining three novel an powerful technologies: Internet, mobile phones and IPTV. Cultural Mediators will always need to improve their capabilities and competences


Thank you for your attention!!

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]


Konstantina N. Polymeropoulou, postgraduate student in Cultural Organizations Management Achilles D....

Documents

Transcript of Konstantina N. Polymeropoulou, postgraduate student in Cultural Organizations Management Achilles D....