ECSCHOOL Model: A Case Study of Building Learning Support Community in ICT Promotion Project in Japan
wei zhou, Shigeki Yokoi
Abstract
Due to concerns about the digital divide based on age, an ICT promotion project named “e-namokun” was started in Nagoya, Japan to support the Internet use by senior citizens. In the project, a learning support community system named ECSCHOOL (www.ecschool.org) for senior citizens and ICT novices was developed to help them gain computer and Internet-related knowledge. The ECSCHOOL model has the following features: learning contents for different users, suitable communication and support tools, introduction of field research results, participation of ICT volunteers, an easy-to-use interface, and low development cost. The ECSCHOOL scheme is a new operational model for promoting e-learning in lifelong learning fields. This paper discusses the ECSCHOOL model, the system’s structure, its main functions, its learning content, and the formation of communities.
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