Aims and objectives of Arknet:
The purpose of the project is to respond to the needs of young people living in marginalised rural areas and inner-city areas experiencing disadvantage in the labour market as a result of their geographic and / or their socio-economic background / circumstances (the target group). The project seeks to do this by designing and implementing an innovative model of intervention as a means of training the trainers working with the target groups within their community and the young people themselves through a system of Open / Distance Learning (ODL), providing access to life-long, self-learning opportunities and recognition of acquired learning.
Within the Socrates Programme the project meets the objectives of facilitating co-operation between organisations and institutions in the field of ODL, enhancing the skills of trainers and managers in the use of ODL, improving the quality and user-friendliness of ODL products and encouraging the recognition of qualifications obtained through ODL.
Having undertaken the necessary research, the project aims to develop a network of remote portable "Electronic Classrooms", each linked to a host computer through Internet and the World Wide Web. This technical platform will give open access to a range of bespoke multi-media software developed in response to the needs of the target groups. An on-line tutorial support system will reinforce the training network.
The project then aims to develop a certified modular training curriculum to be used to train the trainers working with the target groups above. The project also seeks to investigate the parity (or not) of associated qualifications in participating Member States and address the issue of academic recognition in specific areas of activity within Member States.
Its outcomes will be the existence of an ODL network with open access to a range of modular, multi-media courseware together with internet access to research material via WWW and on-line tutorial support. Students will adapt a study pattern suitable to their lifestyle and their learning will be assessed through a portfolio / continuous assessment system leading to certification and potential access to further / higher education opportunities directly from the community. The technological and pedagogical tools developed during the project will be easily adaptable to other environments and applications.
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