12.11.2014.
Expert meeting about distance learning
In organization of the Human Resources Sector, expert talks were held at the Military Academy about distance education at the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia, with participations of around 50 members of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces.The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway, with whom the MA Simulation and Distance Education Center has had a very successful cooperation for several years.
Stressing that the occasion for the organization of the fourth expert meeting about electronic learning is informing the participants in planning and realization of training and education at MoD and SAF about the results of the realization and current activities of the Project of introducing distance education, and about future plans of development of electronic learning, Colonel Doc. Dr. Goran Simic, Head of the Simulation and Distance Education Center stated that electronic materials with distance availability, interactive courses and computer simulations represent only some of the new contents of education that are used in contemporary armies at large.
Achieving better or maintaining the established quality of education and training in a shorter time and with less material expenses are the main motive for using highly technological solutions in the process of military education and training at the Armed Forces of Serbia, Simic said, and added:- Aside from a number of other measures, thanks to successful years-long projects of distance education and implementation of constructive simulations into the system of military education and training, Serbia has entered the line of countries that can swiftly respond to defence and security threats of the modern world. Such form of education should enable higher staff to continue their professional advancement after their completed education until the end of their professional career, with minimal absence from their work place. We have five years of experience in exploitation of the distance learning platform which enables all subjects of training and education to use the advantages of new technologies in order to cut their own expenses while maintaining and improving quality. For over two years, the Simulation and Distance Education Center has realized courses for training teachers to use the distance learning platform the best possible way, to enrich their teaching and make a more approachable contact with their listeners and cadets.
At the Simulation and Distance Education Center, several courses for basic and advanced use of the distance learning platform have already been realized, which enables teachers and training conductors to employ various didactic-educational tactics in creating lesson materials, to master the software prod producing interactive multimedia content and use new software modules installed on the distance learning platform. Moreover, we have begun mobile learning as one of the new concepts of electronic learning, which enables access to learning resources adjusted for smart computers – telephones and tablets – from any spot in the world.Atle Svendsen, coordinator of the projects that have been developed at the Center during the last four years reflected on the cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of Norway and the Simulation and Distance Education Center at the MoD.
- Thanks to the exceptionally professional staff at the Simulation and Distance Education Center of the Serbian Ministry of Defence, our cooperation has resulted in the realization of three projects for the United Nations and the development of two new, expected to be realized next year. All this has contributed to placing the flag of Serbia in the field of electronic learning very high, right next to the Norwegian one. This is why the Simulation and Distance Education Center has been chosen as one of the five distance learning laboratories in the world, which is a unique achievement for such a short time – Svendsen stressed.
