From October 18 to 22, 2016, as part of the project ICT Knowledge Exchange, CARNet's team, comprised of members from the Project Team and employees directly involved in the e-Schools pilot project, participated in a study visit to the University of Trondheim.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim is one of the largest universities in the Kingdom of Norway with extensive experience in using information and communication technology (ICT) in education. The general goal of the project ICT Knowledge Exchange This is an exchange of knowledge and experiences between the Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNet and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, with the aim of improving the quality of ICT application in education, as well as e-services. The sole purpose of the study visit was to gain insight into the practices and experiences of the Norwegian partners, particularly regarding the direct application of information and communication technologies in education, as well as the ways in which they use e-services for acquiring, evaluating, and monitoring knowledge.
During the study visit, the CARNet team visited various departments at the university and was provided with a detailed insight into the concept Learning Lab, as a future classroom model already in use at a Norwegian university. The technology's ability to improve the student experience is presented through Medical Simulation Centre, and a particularly detailed insight is given regarding e-tools for interaction, response, and evaluation called iLike, which, like the aforementioned, the university developed independently.
A visit to a high school, comprising both a general and a vocational section, was also organized, and the most modern technological solutions for vocational education were presented, which may be of interest for future implementation in Croatian vocational schools. In addition to all of the above, the CARNet team had the opportunity to learn about the development of digital educational content in the form of open educational resources by the umbrella institution responsible for e-content development. National Digital Learning Arena.CARNet's team will propose further steps for possible cooperation with the Norwegian partner based on an internal evaluation of the suitability of the presented solutions, after the project has ended.