Giunti Labs, the vendor of learning content management solutions (learn eXact LCMS) and digital repository platforms (HarvestRoad Hive), is supporting the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Genoa in the provision of its Master’s in E-learning degree programme (http://masterelearning.unige.it). The programme, which is also supported by The European Pedagogical ICT Licence Group (EPICT) and the Italian Artificial Intelligence Association, is now in its fifth year. Running from February to December 2010, the programme offers formal education and a university degree in educational technologies – covering e-learning project design skills, as well as the organisation and management of technology supported learning programmes.

 

Focusing on e-learning process management, the course aims to cover everything required to design, produce and deliver an e-learning course. This year, the main focus will be on e-learning material production and creating online learning communities.

 

The Master’s programme is principally delivered via distance learning, using a SCORM compliant e-learning platform which is designed for easy access, thus offering the students maximum flexibility to plan their studies. Students will be able to access the material at any time and contact both the tutors and fellow students. The programme will also include a period of hands-on, practical experience for the students. Registration for the Master’s programme closes on 16th January 2010.

 

According to Giunti Labs’ Fabrizio Cardinali. “It is vital that professionals in the e-learning sector develop their knowledge and skills to the utmost if organisations in all sectors of the economy are to reap the maximum benefit from the use of e-learning and related materials.”

 

Comment: These sorts of programmes are becoming, if not widespread, at least more common around the world. For example, for some years, the instructional design course at a university in Mumbai has been supported by Tata Interactive Systems and, now, Giunti Labs has become identified with supporting an e-learning degree at the University of Genoa. Is it only in the UK that this sort of partnership between the commercial and the academic sector in the field of e-learning doesn’t happen?

 

It’s all very well for the British to applaud the gifted amateur in every aspect of life – from sport to science and from engineering to e-learning. However, over the years, whenever the best of British talent is examined on a world stage, it is extremely rare to find the British gifted amateur outshining the foreign professional. When will we learn this lesson as far as e-learning is concerned?