Knowledge management

The impressive development and impact of information technologies and the Internet and their deployment in the area of education affects the traditional face-to-face paradigm of learning along with different processes and methods of education in various ways. Currently existing tools in the area of computer-based education attempt to facilitate traditional processes and methods for teaching and learning without taking into account the whole of the learning process. One consequence of these current developments is that in the design of computer-mediated education systems little attention is paid to cognitive factors and flexibility in learning approaches and styles. This proposal argues that the introduction of technology alone does not automatically make teaching and learning more effective and more efficient. Technology should be used as a tool that will take into account cognitive and organizational considerations enabling creativity, critical problem analysis and problem solving. Knowledge based tools and techniques can contribute to the reform of classical school and teaching in the direction of the "research school", where a teacher`s role is moved from that of a knowledge mediator to that of a mentor. The proposed project will contribute towards the shift of the learning process paradigm and reconsider the role of new technologies, systems and tools or the combination of already existing solutions. The main objectives of the proposed project are to: a.) Identify areas within educational activities and processes where the introduction of new methods, systems and tools for knowledge management would bring major improvments; b.) Apply and assess methods, systems and tools for knowledge management, providing additional insight into the selected educational activities and processes; The major phases of the proposed project will: 1.) Review the "state of the art" regarding technologies supporting education, including tools, systems and computer-based methods as well as learning approaches and styles. This phase will result in the identification of areas where the introduction of knowledge management tools and methods would bring major benefits. 2.) Develop and pilot the selected methods and tools for knowledge management in the identified areas of the learning process. 3.) Evaluate the application of these methods and tools and disseminate the results.