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Study report "Virtual Learning Platforms in Europe: What can we learn from experience in Denmark, the United Kingdom and Spain?" has now been released.With the proliferation of ICT equipment and the pedagogical approaches underpinning it, the concept of virtual learning platforms has emerged in several educational systems. This study, entrusted by the Caisse des dépôts to European Schoolnet, offers an analysis of policies and initiatives in the field of virtual learning platforms in Denmark, the United Kingdom and Spain (Andalusia and Catalonia). The first part of this study report provides a summary of each national situation according to a common structure that addresses key features of existing platforms, the services they offer, the status of their deployment, their modes of deployment and governance, their uses and the success factors determining their wider deployment. The second part of the report compares these three national situations in terms of these aspects

This report shows that two actions are at the heart of the drive to make MST studies and professions more popular option for young learners: the development of effective and attractive MST curricula and teaching methods, and improved teacher education and professional development. Some countries (the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Israel, Switzerland, and Italy), have implemented national strategies and others have set up dedicated national, regional, or local centres (Norway, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland). These centres aim to improve the quality of MST teaching, and sometimes more particularly, to increase science and technology's popularity (also achieved through campaigns and competitions). This holistic approach usually includes all MST subjects, covers the lifelong learning span and involves the government, educational sector and industry. Public-private partnerships are an important feature of these all-encompassing approaches, aimed at developing a sustainable scientific culture which is deep-rooted in society. Other common approaches are to establish networks of teachers and teacher trainers, as well as other relevant stakeholders, and to implement curricular reform and initiatives favouring inquiry-based learning (e.g. cross-disciplinary, thematic or project work). In some countries, extra time, funding and smaller student groups enable more handson MST activities in laboratories and outdoors.

In order to investigate how social computing applications can be used in organised learning settings to enhance learning activities and promote innovation and inclusion in Education and Training, an exploratory study employing a triangulation of different

iTEC (Innovative Technologies for an Engaging Classroom) is a four-year, pan-European project focused on the design of the future classroom. With funding of €9.45M from the European Commission, the involvement of 15 Ministries of Education and school pilots in up to 1 000 classrooms in 12 countries, iTEC is the largest and most strategic project yet undertaken by European Schoolnet and its supporting Ministries.

Results of recent studies about Web 2.0 teaching and learning in Europe show that existing pilot projects at schools are often driven by single, motivated teachers in grass-root approaches and that apart from support by the school basic knowledge, motivation and inspiration of teachers are necessary for realization of Web 2.0-related innovation. The te@ch.us project sets up a web-based learning community for teachers who are novices in Web 2.0 and connects them to experts and experienced teachers for exchange of concepts, experiences and learning materials.

The INSPIRE project aimed to develop and experiment new teaching methods in the field of math, science and technology (MST). The purpose is to challenge the lack of interest of students to start scientific studies and more widely to extend the supply of scientific specialists and to develop a scientific culture in European countries