TEL,
like most other areas of research, has established fields of expertise.
Concerns of each can be broadly, but not definitively divided into the
following:
Collaborative, mobile and inquiry learning;
Developing software for professional learning and training;
Valid social, epistemic and technological factors in learning;
Blended learning: concepts and models;
Contexts of learner interactions;
Informal learning;
Authoring and learning systems.
Even within each of these different areas, research terminology and
cultures differ, and fields can split as well as converge. Kaleidoscope
is providing researchers with new perspectives and insights,
instrumental in developing an emerging, integrated, ‘higher’ research
agenda. Lessons are being learnt beyond specific research activity. For
example:
What needs to be done to develop doctoral training, which can be used to gain accreditation across Europe?
How
should resources and services be developed so that they can serve the
needs of the researchers across geographical and cultural divides?
What can be done to create greater efficiencies within and across fields of research?
What are the needs of different stakeholders and how do researchers learn about these and act upon them?
Kaleidoscope has started to develop a long-term vision and strategy to
ensure that these needs can be addressed beyond the contractual funding
period of the project (December 2007). In doing this, it is recognised
that TEL is an encompassing term that includes both vertical
perspectives (eg pre-school to lifelong learning; learning in workplace
to learning from home) and horizontal perspectives (eg medicine to
teacher education; maths to art etc.) in education. Kaleidoscope has
started to bring the necessary vitality to examine the issues from all
perspectives by drawing together multi-disciplinary teams --- each
individual member within these offering their own unique experience and
and thus driving the scientific enquiry forward to new heights.
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