Guidenet
Virtual Learning Environment for the Training of Guidance Counsellors (2000-2001)
ESTIA (1998-2000)
Eurostage (1995-1996)
Anteo and Netform - Using videoconferencing for transnational guidance (1996-1998)
NCGE was a core partner in the GUIDENET project. The project, funded by the Leonardo da Vinci programme aims to establish a European network of expertise in guidance for practitioners and trainers of guidance counsellors. Guidance practitioners representing the post primary sector, adult guidance sector, labour market sector, higher education and further education are members of the National Guidenet group.Transnational Guidenet members communicate through an online discussion forum and have developed a database of best practice and innovative projects in Europe.
Benefits of the GUIDENET Project and becoming a member:
The GUIDENET Website offers guidance organisations, practitioners, trainers, policy makers from all over Europe the opportunity to:
 Learn from innovative projects. The Guidenet website hosts a database of best practice where one can view details of guidance projects at national and transnational level;
Disseminate innovative practices and projects. - Members can add projects which they are involved in to the database of best practice;
Voice an opinion - Members can join in on discussions taking place on the ICT Platform. Key themes include Social Inclusion, Developing Guidance Networks, ICT in guidance and Training in Guidance;
Make links with other countries - Guidenet offers Irish guidance practitioners and related organisations an opportunity to network and establish links with a wide range of guidance and education organisations throughout the EU, EEA and pre-accession countries.
Virtual Learning Environment (2000 - 2001) Teaching web based and internet guidance
Aim: to explore the use of the Internet as a tool for the in-career development training of guidance counsellors.
Target Group: Primarily guidance counsellors in post-primary schools and guidance practitioners in adult and non-formal sections
The Virtual Learning Environment project led by the Danish Institute for Educational Training of Vocational Teachers (DEL) aimed to assess the gap between IT competency and guidance practice offering practical suggestions for the use of the Web and email in guidance as well as delivering practical training in the use of the Web as a guidance tool. Other project partners included Scotland and Finland . This training was delivered to a pilot group of guidance practitioners, mainly from second level schools, through the use of a ‘virtual learning environment’. Course content related to the use of information and communication technologies such as video conferencing, the Internet and the telephone in guidance and counselling activities. Learning from the project informed the development of the CPD virtual learning environment.
ESTIA (1998-2000) First portal to EU learning opportunities
Aim: to develop a portal site for access to education and training provider websites in each Member State .
Target Group: General public in partner countries
The ESTIA project led by Sweden developed a gateway site to the websites of education and training providers in each Member State . The Euroguidance network committed to updating and maintaining the national sections of the portal website. Each Centre undertook training in web design and maintenance and sourced links to education and training providers in their country. It was each Centres responsibility to populate and update the national content of the portal website on a regular basis. The website was the precursor of PLOTEUS (2003).
Eurostage (1995-96) Database of work experience opportunities
Aim: to develop a database of transnational work experience placements.
Target Group: Primarily students or others seeking work experience in another Member State.
Eurostage led by the UK aimed to develop a database of transnational work experience placements. Partner countries endeavoured to source a range of companies and organizations that would commit to accepting individuals on work placement. The company’s needs and details would be hosted in a database available to students or others seeking work experience in a particular industry in a particular country. Unfortunately issues such as low unemployment and insurance difficulties discouraged organizations from committing to such a record of their available work placements and the database was not progressed. The project process proved useful in highlighting the perspective of companies and organizations in terms of work experience and hosting of transnational work placements.
ANTEO and Netform (1996-1998) Using videoconferencing for transnational guidance
Aim: to explore the use of video-conferencing and the Internet for transnational guidance
Target Group: All guidance practitioners in partner countries
The National Information Technology and Education Centre (NITEC) now incorporated into the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) was the Irish partner in the Anteo and Netform (1996-98) projects which aimed to explore the use of video-conferencing and the usefulness and application of the Internet to transnational guidance. NCGE was used as a test site for both these projects as complementary support activities to the ESTIA project. NCGE participated in a number of video conferences with educational institutions and careers fairs in Scandinavia , France and Germany providing careers advice and responding to queries on Ireland for young people. The ANTEO and Netform projects were merged in their third year of funding from Leonardo da Vinci and produced a CD of how to use video conferencing and the internet as tools for guidance activities. |
