iCamp: The Educational Web for Higher Education in an Enlarged Europe. Echallenges 2006

wien-ac.at Abstract: European higher education has started to successfully implement technology enhanced learning strategies. The level of uptake varies however substantially between institutions and countries. Regarding the technical solutions, a similarly heterogeneous picture can be drawn. Whereas the variety of commercially licensed and open source systems currently in use responds to different needs of the users, this technical diversity faces the drawback of restricted data exchange possibilities across systems. A recently started initiative called “iCamp ” is challenging this situation by suggesting a networked learning environment for collaboration and networking across technical, institutional, and national borders. The aim of this new project is to connect different learning systems, services and content repositories via interoperable interfaces. From a pedagogical perspective the project is focusing on scaffolding self-directed learning, collaboration and social networking across national borders. 1