EDUCATE – End-user Courses in Information Access through Communication Technology

This paper will describe the EDUCATE project for end-user training in information access. EDUCATE is a CEC Libraries Programme Project which involves six members: Limerick University, Ireland (co-ordinator) and the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, France, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, Imperial College and Plymouth University, United Kingdom and the University of Barcelona, Spain. The aim of the EDUCATE project is to produce a new type of model self-paced user education course in the selection and use of information tools. The courses will be distributed by means of the academic communication networks. EDUCATE courses will be produced within two subject areas: physics and electrical and electronic engineering. The EDUCATE project started in February 1994 and will run for a period of three years. The paper starts with an introduction describing the need for courses in Information Literacy. It continues with a discussion on course design and the use of networks for training purposes. The goals for the EDUCATE Project are given, together with a short description of the media under development.