Most of the research on users’ needs analyses is based on formal surveys that only consider the performance expected from technology use and pay little attention to the users' attitudes, motivation, behaviour and aims that actually shape how they use and manage TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning) in the school context.
The Seminar will pay attention to these “missing aspects” by conducting the following main activities:
1. developing methods for determining users’ requirements and expectations, enabling them to specify their needs on the basis of the contexts in which they work;
2. developing methods for understanding researchers’ perceptions of users’ needs and the values that steer their research priorities;
3. developing tools that will enable researchers to investigate and take into account users’ concerns in their research;
The workshop will be conducted through an approach of group dynamism techniques and brainstorming, in order to enable people of different backgrounds, profiles, languages and cultural references to express themselves as freely and creatively as possible.
The ultimate goal of the workshop is to make the methods and tools developed by the Users’ Group available to users, researchers, and decision-makers. In this context, the Users' Group addresses the issue of public awareness outside Kaleidoscope by linking Kaleidoscope to representatives of Initial Education and Informal Learning on the European and international scene.
The workshop will help to set up the basis for a new conceptual framework for addressing users’ issues. This framework can facilitate communication between researchers and users, as well as decision-makers.
