As part of its remit, the LeGE-WG is organizing a series of four international workshops on themes relevant to the Learning Grid, culminating in an International Conference in September 2004. In addition, the LeGE-WG National Nodes organize national-level workshops intended to supplement and extend the knowledge transfer achieved at the international events.
National events
LeGE_WG UK Node: 2nd Workshop
The UK Node of the LeGE-WG held the 2nd UK LeGE-WG Workshop on the 4thSeptember at the Malmaison Hotel Manchester. The theme of the workshop was 'Towards a European Learning Grid Infrastructure' and its title E-Learning and Grid Technologies: a fundamental challenge for Europe and the UK.
The purpose of the 4th September workshop was:
To look at the concept of a European Learning Grid and its effect on Learning and E-Learning.
The agenda covered:
The activity of the European Learning Grid of Excellence Working Group
Cross-connection between grid technologies and e-learning
National / Northwest perspectives.
The workshop was attended by a cross section of organisations including Research organisations, Universities, Colleges and Industry. There were three overseas delegates from Germany, France and Spain and there was a total attendance of 20 delegates.
The Workshop was the first day of a two day LeGE-WG event in the Northwest of England the first being the Workshop the second the steering group meeting. The day provide a platform to inform delegates of the workings of the LeGE group, and potential a 6th Framework project develop from the LeGE-WG, also it gave the delegates a opportunity to receive a academic view of the development of the Grid in a learning context. The afternoon session looked at the challenges, and opportunities for the Grid and Learning. The last session focused on the conception/ideas of new projects in the field of grid and learning.
The issues raised and discussed by the delegates were:
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The application of the Grid technologies to the learning sector
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More knowledge on the technologies associated with application of the grid and e-learning,
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Free or pay!, what learning material will be free on the grid.
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The involvement in LeGE of large companies/prime contractor and how they can use the Grid in Supply Chain Learning activities.
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The attraction of enabling application technology SMEs to the group and how they mighe be involved in the debate.(in paticular those who support the learning sector)
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How LeGE group can develop the UK Node
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Is the grid going to be exclusive or inclusive for the Education and Learning Sector
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How can LeGE-WG assist in the development of further projects.
The UK Node now has 15 members and as a result of the workshop we will be able to increase the membership to around 25 people. It is hoped the UK Node can run other workshops and if possible to extend its activities to the development of UK/Regional funded project. The UK Node geographically covers the whole of the UK and a representation in most of the UK regions.