lifelong learning and Teaching and Learning

European Schoolnet -- a network of 28 Ministries of Education across Europe -- has just launched the Xplora science gateway.

This is a fantastic online learning resource. It’s chock-full of ideas, teaching and learning materials, information, ‘hands-on science’ case studies, and opportunities to collaborate. The content is of outstanding quality and breadth. It’s also Creative Commons-licensed.

Xplora is one of the first sites I’ve come across that seems truly designed for lifelong learning. In many ways it exemplifies the European approach, emphasising education across the lifespan and using ICT to motivate and “catch” pupils at an early stage. The site is broad in scope: aimed not just at science teachers or students, but at scientists and science communicators as well. They’ve thought about longevity and helping users with ICT: apart from their enlightened approach to content licensing, they offer support and guidance on using Open Source tools for science education.