Short version of submission of tender - E-Learning Part
The following is a short version of submission of tender by Fraunhofer IZM (which is the basis for the project) of promoting Eco-design Activities in the SMEs of the Electrical/Electronics Sector. Aim is to give the reader an overview about tasks, organization, structure, facts, partners and intention of the project. The content may vary from upcoming activities but illustrates the overall purpose.
Project website
The project website will include the following elements (link lists and downloads):
The elements will be presented so that the user will be able to relate EU policies relevant to the electrical and electronic sector with best practices in eco-design and with concrete case examples from SMEs.
The introduction and presentation of tests, checklists and tools will be based on the eco-design tools that have already been developed in many European countries for SME electronics manufactures and further developed for the specific purpose of this website.
As examples the checklists will be inspired by:
- Fraunhofer IZM's modular environmental assessment tools for production processes, materials, products and recycling
- International Network for Environmental Management (INEM) tools for SMEs
- The consulting firm PlanMiljø's and Danish Design Centre's visual decision tools for designers and product developers
The teaching material at the website will be based on an approach that allows the users to 'bring home' the teaching material to the writing desks and conference tables in the SMEs.
The reason for this approach is the simple, but very often forgotten fact that decisions concerning product design is not made when studying the internet, but when decisions makers and product developers are in dialog with one another. This is also the reason why the tools will include an argument-tool that sums up the main perspectives related to considering eco-design in development of E and E equipment and products.
The arguments in this specific tool will to a high degree be based on the input from the SMEs at the many workshops all around Europe. In this way the workshops will not be single standing events but will in addition to examples on best practices lead to lasting and specific tools that reflect the possibilities and considerations on eco-design in the European SMEs of the E and E sector.
Multi-media based teaching material
The multi-media based teaching material (hereafter teaching material) will be based on recognized approaches for teaching material and will be based on modules from Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) or as PDF-files.
The modules will be located on the projects website (se below for description) and can as stated earlier be downloaded on the users own computer, which means that the user can work with the material offline. The approach is based on the experience that the target group - decision-makers in SMEs - seldom have time for concentrated studying on the Internet. Furthermore decisions in relation to EcoDesign are made in dialogue with product developers, suppliers etc. Thus, written material that is easily printable matches the needs of the target group.
The modules of teaching material can after project completion easily be delivered to the EC for further utilisation in other projects and web-sites, should the EC wish so. This would be very complicated had the primary content of the teaching material been online and thereby based on a specific CMS-system foreign for EU.
Paths and modules
An introduction to the teaching material will contain three "paths" or "routes", which the user can follow to obtain information about specific subjects. The primary path suggested will be a downloadable module of teaching material that may contain suggestions to study other parts of the website, being specific cases or methodologies for EcoDesign. The three paths will correspond with three modules of downloadable teaching material. The modules will have the following headlines:
- Quick.
- IPP (EMAS and Green Procurement).
- EcoDesign.
The quick module contains an introduction to the basic principles of:
- Relevant EU-legislation.
- IPP in the form of EMAS and Green Procurement.
- Existing concepts, tools and methodologies for EcoDesign.
The IPP-module focuses on the business benefits related to:
- EMAS.
- Green procurement.
- Sustainable Supply Chain Management.
- Argument tool (motivation).
The EcoDesign-module will focus on the possibilities and limits related to working with EcoDesign based on existing:
- Concepts.
- Tools.
- Methodologies.
- Check-lists.
The approach in the downloadable Word and PowerPoint files will be simple and with non-technical language. The PowerPoint-files specifically aim at encouraging the user to make presentations for colleagues, business associates etc. This follows the approach that the user should pass on the information from the material and work for actual changes in the business climate.
Pre-test
The aim of the pre-test with eight to ten questions is to help the user in choosing the path that is most beneficial in respect to his/her interests and knowledge. If the pre-test is programmed into the website, the result of the test will automatically lead to a suggestion for the most relevant path for the user. Otherwise the pre-test can be presented on the website as a graphical flow chart based on yes and no questions.
Post-tests
The aim of the post-tests is to provide a feedback on the amount of knowledge absorbed by the user by going through a teaching module. The overall design of the post-tests deals with four levels, aiming at identifying both short-term and long-term learning results.
- Short-term learning
- Level 1: Reaction
- Level 2: Learning
- Long-term learning
- Level 3: Behavior / Individual Job Changes
- Level 4: Results / Organizational Changes
Naturally, it is more complicated to develop training programs that has long-term effects than short-term effects. The first part of each post-test focuses at short-term effects with 8-10 multiple-choice questions related to factual aspects of the teaching material. The user can check their replies by looking at an answer list attached to the teaching material or placed on the website.
The second part of the post-tests will be based on 5-7 reflective questions allowing the user to evaluate the potential long-term effect at individual and organisational level - for example in relation to design of products, supplier relations, information to customers etc.
This second part of the post-tests will not contain an answer list. In stead the user will be encouraged to answer the questions after a period of time to reflect whether changes have occurred, emphasising the need for actual changes in behaviour.
Visual introduction version
A small highly visual introduction version of the project website will be offered to all European stakeholders e.g. national members of EICTA, Euro Info Centers etc.
The aim of the introduction version is to give European stakeholders the possibility to brand the content of the project website on so many local (national) European servers as possible. The introduction version will consist of a collage of the possibilities that is available at the project website. The introduction version will as a starting-point be made available in three languages (France, German and English). National stakeholders will on the basis of this in dialog with the consortium be able to translate the introduction version into whatever language wished.
The need for an introduction version is based on the fact that it today is generally recognized that it simply is not sufficient to expect that developed e-learning material will attract users by its pure existents. Web based teaching material needs to be branded like any other websites if optimal dissemination is to be expected. A visual introduction version aimed at national stakeholders is an important element in this respect. From the introduction version it will of course be possible to link to the project website.
Organizational Part
Top
Version for print