Training Description

The main object of this program was to train a group of 18 Tunisian professors in e-learning course production by use of new technologies of information and communication and transfer expertise in this field.

In our opinion the stay was very beneficial for all the group and the goals planned were attained. We can classify results in two kinds: Specific results are related to course development and general ones are related to knowledge and expertise about e-learning, challenges, opportunities, theory, practice, methods, equipments, techniques,?

1- Course development: each professor developed totally at least one chapter of his course. The training program was very helpful to achieve this result. In fact dedicated tutorials covered most requested steps i.e. the design of material and writing for the web, the use of Dreamweaver, preparing images for the web in addition to theoretical talks about pedagogy and principles of good practices, evaluation and assessments. Further more, many lab time sessions have been held for individual work on structuring and developing courses.

2- General knowledge: the group attended several conferences and tutorials about streaming and maximizing Video, the use of synchronous and asynchronous tools dedicated to communication for e-learning i.e. HorizonLive platform. They participated in an exciting and interesting videoconference session with a Brazilian team specialized in e-learning. The participants got an idea about the equipments necessary for launching and management of e-learning. A visit to Gwinnett University Center was very appreciated by all participants. The program of this visit presented the experience of this center in e-learning, course development and especially strategies adopted by this center to manage all steps of course production and diffusion.

Remark: in parallel to the program scheduled by UGA, a complementary training program has been ensured by Adel Ben Taziri and Mohamed Jemni and covered mainly the pedagogical approach by objectives and course structuring, Dreamweaver software use. Besides, the UVT graphic template and styles were presented and downloaded by the participants in order to ensure standardization of norms and rules adopted by UVT.

II. Training Program Perspectives 1. Short term: - All participants are motivated and engaged to finish the development of the whole course they are responsible up June 30th.
- Each participant will host his course in the UVT platform so as to run first experimentations in September 2004.
- Periodic meeting will be organized each month to ensure follow up.
- Development of a web site to disseminate project results and to constitute a tool for information and communication among participants and between participants and UGA. The web site will be bilingual (French and English). Abdelfattah Triki and Salwa Abid are proposed to be members of the redaction committee. Adel Ben Taziri and Mohamed Jemni will be the administrators of the site.
- A committee to organize workshops that will be ensured in Tunisia by UGA members. Some Tunisian participants will also be involved in animating these manifestations. This committee is proposed to be chaired by Prof. Houcine Chebli and constituted by Adel Ben Taziri, Mohamed Jemni, Salah Hammami and Riadh Ghenima. 2. Mid term : - Each participant has expressed willingness to share expertise he acquired in UGA training program with his colleagues in Tunisia by organizing sessions to train them in developing courses for e-learning. He can ask UVT for assistance in both the organization and training of the workshop.
- Complementary program training can be done for participants who have capability to play roles in training the trainers.

3. Long term: - Create human resources that can be self sustaining to ensure professor training.
- The participants suggest making a proposition to the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Technology in Tunisia to create a training institute that ensures similar function as OISD in UGA. Another proposition deals with the creation of an association around pedagogic content and its e-diffusion.