Links
The philosophy of this column is to direct your research towards a selective panorama of specialized portals, leading to numerous directories organized according to subject.
These web sites deal with technologies of open distant learning from many points of view; institutions, training, research, resources, techniques and use, issues and practice of international mobility - of open distance learning or information and communication technologies, such as the sites educnet and formasup.
> www.auf.org
Site of Agence universitaire de la Francophonie.
The Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) is a multilateral institution supporting cooperation and solidarity between university institutions working primarily in French with the Francophone countries in Africa, the Arabic world, southeast Asia, central and oriental Europe and the Caribbean. It also contributes to developing higher education as well as research.
> www.europa.eu.int
The site of the European Commission
> www.educnet.education.fr
The French site of information and communication technology for education.
The server of the ministry of Research and the ministry of Education in France.
This portal at the service of the new technologies of the French educational system, aimed
at beginners as well as professionals of the field, is a source of specialized information, theoretical or technical
resources, and of institutional information or varying practices.
Official reports, reference texts, documentation organized according to subject, or factual reports enrich the contents
which are grouped together in eleven chapters: news, primary education, secondary education, higher education, resources,
forms, files, MEN (Ministry of Education) system, training, ODL, international. Among service information, the weborama,
the index or the list of abbreviations and acronyms, and assorted hyperlink sections, there are guides for performing
advanced research on the web sites. There are also technical data sheets divided into six subjects: first steps on the
web (familiarizing, educational use, and vocabulary), research (advice, directories or motors, choosing tools), communication (
in real time, in batch mode), creation (multimedia application, site), more information and toolbox.
> http://www.formasup.education.fr
The server of the ministry of Research and the ministry of Education in France
" FORMASUP " is a portal offering the players in open distance learning (ODL) simple access to resources and to existing training programmes. FORMASUP lists modules and programmes of distance learning proposed by higher education establishments and the French National Centre for Distance Learning (CNED). This site, managed and developed by the SFRS (Service du film de recherche scientifique), is an initiative of the French ministry of Education. FORMASUP is aimed at students seeking open distance learning; higher education lecturers proposing open distance learning; information professionals wishing to know more about open distance learning; higher education establishments. The documented section "Actualités" (News), which is continually updated and equipped with hyperlinks, is subdivided into nine subjects: publications, virtual campuses, reviews, educational resources, distance learning systems, politics, distance learning assistance, adult continuing education, businesses. The section "Pratiques et outils" (Practices and Tools) provides forums and online cooperative work spaces, sorted by subjects.
> www.edufrance.fr
EduFrance, studying in France, access to French higher education
The server of the Agence EduFrance, which promotes education and educational and scientific exchange
Created by the French ministries of Education, of Research and Technology, and of Foreign Affairs,
EduFrance works for "educational and scientific training and exchange". The site of EduFrance presents all sides of
higher education offers in France, and addresses the users (students, learners) as well as institutional players. This site
is available in nine languages.
• The section " Étudier en France " ("Studying in France") can be consulted as a practical guide.
It is a useful guide for those who choose to study in France, to help them understand, get oriented, and succeed in
their studies. Everything is designed to enhance mobility and access to training: service benefits - "Comment EduFrance
peut-elle m’aider?" ("How can EduFrance help me?"), a presentation of the educational system - "Tout l’enseignement
supérieur français" ("All of French higher education"), learning French around the world - "Étudier le français"
("Studying French"), and "Les informations pratiques" ("Practical information"). Numerous useful links complete this
invitation to discovery by providing orientation for networks (specialized organs, student sites, campus activities,
local events, cultural events...).
• The part " Agence EduFrance " works as a promotional platform for French supply of educational
engineering through, among others, the sections: "Salons internationaux" ("International shows"), an index of "Espaces
EduFrance à travers le monde" - ("EduFrance arenas around the world"), and "Les adhérents" ("The members"), allowing
partner establishments to access the network.
• Convivial services (EduFrance infos, cultural magazine…),
the "Catalogue des formations" ("Catalogue of training programmes"), and the list of training programmes of the "Universités
d’été" ("summer universities") complete this interactive panoramic view of the French offers of education.
> www.commentcamarche.net
The site for popularizing computing
If you wish to learn about computing (language, data bases, systems, networks, web...), and also find documentation on security and legislation, this site contains numerous pieces of very clear documentation, for specialists or the inexperienced, easily downloadable in PDF, PS, DOC and PPT format, as well as tutorials.
> www.01net.com
The primary site of information on the new technologies
A continually updated portal - the editorial content is provided by professional journalists in micro computing - very interactive and convivial, offering numerous services and "tips and tricks" for "understanding and managing the computer". Aimed at all the enthusiasts of the technical universe of the web, the site includes many discussion forums for the users to use as they explore the resources of digital technology - including when they are discovering or getting an introduction
> thot.cursus.edu
Thot
Two complementary servers from the Institut de formation autochtone du Québec (IFAQ), with support from the Agence intergouvernementale de la francophonie.
Thot, news about distance learning
This Quebec site now has more than 10,000 subscribers with a mission of "promoting the use of distance
learning in French". Each week, Thot presents "the essentials about the productions, courses, tools, methods, theories,
practices, events, debates and players of distance learning". All visitors can submit articles to the Thot editors.
The weekly forum is also open for everyone to contribute.
Eleven sections organized according to subject are provided to help the users orient themselves in the abundance of information: courses, software applications, references, technologies, didactics (a didactiweb guides the users through the first steps on the web), arguments, actions, institutions, media reviews, and press releases. Among other things, the references provide free consultation of an online multimedia encyclopaedia. A search engine makes access to the archives of Thot easy. The archives are full of exchanges from monthly forums organized according to subject, and thousands of articles published from 1998, when the site was launched, and up until present.
Cursus, the international catalogue of courses of distance learning
Cursus hosts more than 20,000 visitors per year, and every week, it distributes an information bulletin
to its 11,000 subscribers. A tool for promotion and distribution on the Internet, French training courses, manuals and
software applications for the whole world, Cursus addresses the learners (catalogue, news, forums, archives, mutual aid)
as well as the producers of courses, and the institutions.
The promotion of training products is accompanied by a useful service of marketing and advertisement, and it is completed
by the offers of advice, studies and discussions. A search engine for distance learning gives rapid access to a great
number of dedicated resources, and an FAQ gives each user precise information. A description of the courses can be
found in the titles listed by category. Certain courses are free of charge and directly accessible, and others must
be paid for. The conditions of access are then stated.
> www.algora.org
Algora, open and network learning, ex-ORAPEV
Support server for the development of open distance learning
Founded in 1981 and initiated by the Délégation à la formation professionnelle, the Centre-inffo, the INA and the CNDP,
the Algora association works to develop open learning with the help of new technologies.
The Algora server is a place for distribution and support for this project, and more particularly intended for the players and lecturers of ODL.
This is underlined by the documentary resources provided by this organization on different subjects: "
Comprendre la FOAD " ("Understanding ODL"), " Découvrir les plates-formes
" ("Discovering the platforms"), " Utiliser les plates-formes " ("Using the platforms"), " Trouver une
ressource " ("Finding a resource").
The section " Kiosque " ("Kiosk") draws up a summary of main European events, transmitting dedicated information,
going from news flashes to lecture notes or publications assembling summaries of work, lectures, studies, etc.
To strengthen the complementary new training methods, Algora also runs a monthly chat on specific subjects.
The section " Observatoire " ("Observatory") presents more than 21 training systems, and provides a data
base of multimedia resources containing 3,000 software and video references accessible through a search engine.
This section also offers a space for contemplation on the professions in education entitled
" Formateurs & Technologies " ("Lecturers & Technology"), and a selection of about a hundred sites.
Algora hosts the site Fore.
FORE, Formation Ouverte et Ressources Educatives (Open Learning and Educational Resources)
Created through an initiative of the Délégation Générale de l’Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle, Fore is working to support "the plans of action of open distance learning in the regions". The site functions as an exchange platform collecting and distributing large amounts of information concerning regional offers of open distance learning: plans, players, tools, products and reports from experiences. The forum " Échangeons nos idées " ("Idea exchange") as well as the section "Fore infos" translate well the spirit of didactics and the pragmatic purpose of this site.
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