This paper presents an experimental Socrates ODL pilot project (EVU-Voice Course). The aim of the project is to implement new information technologies (e.g mulitimedia in Internet/Intranet) in the conventional educational programmes in Logopedics (Speech and Language Pathology and Therapy). The project has been developed partly through 8 partners' collaboration within Erasmus and the Socrates Tematic Network in Speech Communication Sciences, and partly through a special grant from the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education. The partners in the project are from 8 university departments in Europe; namly in Ireland, Finland, Spain, UK and Sweden.
The author will present the " knowledge-node" concept used in the project. The node is a metaconstruction/demonstrator for a virtual arena on Internet/Intranet were the users can access academically quality checked information. Through the EVU-Voice Course we intend to create a virtual course space where students (clinical staff, teachers and patients), independently of space and time, can take a real part in life-long-learning. Thus, the main objectives are to promote a) cooperation and b) collaborative learning beteween European institutions (universities, hospitals and schools).The main activities during 1999 will be to adapt, implement and evaluate an interactive web-based Voice Course in the partner university departments. EVU-Voice will be recognized within the ECTS framework and it will serve as a model for improving the vocational training of logpedists in Europe.
EVU-voice course URL http://www.ldc.lu.se/logopedi/EVU-Voice/