At the PanEuropean University APEIRON in Banjaluka, on the 1st and 2nd of the October, 2011, the 2nd Scientific Congress named Information Technologies for e-learning has been held, under the auspices of Academy of Sciences and Arts, Republic of Srpska, Ministry of Education and Culture, Republic of Srpska, Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Srpska, and under the media sponsorship of the RTRS and Nezavisne novine, Banjaluka
At the Congress, eminent inland and foreign authors have presented their scientific papers. All papers have been published in the ITeO almanac, as well as on accompanying CD disc. In total, 37 papers have been acquainted (2 papers by invitation and 35 papers within the plenary sessions), and within the poster session, the best evaluated graduate student papers have been presented (3 posters in total). The debate on the topic of “Free software vs. proprietary software in education, advantages and disadvantages” was held on the second day of the Congress.
Congress participants were given certificates for their participation in the Scientific Congress ITeO 2011. Antun Kasipović, Minister of Education and Culture and Vinko Bogdan, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology addressed the Congress, and the Congress was opened by the President of the Republic of Srpska Rajko Kuzmanović. By video link, communication with Germany was established, thus enabling Ulrich Fayl von Hentaller, executive of the Global Roundtable European Academy of Science and Art to address the Congress.
Papers presented at the 2nd Scientific Congress ITeO covered all proposed thematic areas, ranging from basic education to the problems regarding students’, teachers’ and scientists’ mobility within the European Area of High Education (EHEA), with reference to the experiences worlwide.
Within the area of research, great potential of IT support was presented. This potential was presented to the researchers and students faciliating their involvement in a scientific work.
Advance in technology has enabled free access to a large number of centers containing information stored in an electronic form, previously tested and appropriately classified.
Within the area of technology, several papers were presented concerning the technology of course material preparation, material distribution and their usage. Speacial attention was dedicated to the ecological aspects of using ICT.
This year, special attention was dedicated to the economic aspects of implementing IT into the e-learning, respectively to the comparative analysis of costs and benefits in the area of traditional and e-learning. Risk management needs to be an integral part of every project, including the project of e-learning.
It is noted that the application of information technology in the system of distance learning requires higher initial investments which become profitable in the case of larger number of participants. Given the rapidity of the obsolescence of knowledge means that the exploitation life of these courses is limited, we must be careful and take care under which circumstances and in which areas of reserach e-learning is being introduced.
When applying IT to the e-learning, it is of great importance to consider possible information technologies regarding our conditions of limited number of students, language constraints and population. In some cases, priority should be given to technologies which do not require the preparation of teaching materials in a specific digital format, such as Video on Demand, the application of techniques of digital television which broadcasts material on demand or, live TV. By means of APEIRON TV CHANNEL (Video on Demand) and via internet (www.apeiron-uni.tv), the conference was attended by all those present in the university hall.
The need for information literacy among citizens has been especially emphasized, explaining the way citizens are able to use various modern services such as services of e-administration, use of ATMs, video terminals in public institutions, airports, as well as the standardization of the criteria for evaluating these skills at the international level.
The conclusion of the debate on the topic of “Free software vs. Proprietary software in education, advantages and disadvantages” is that before deciding on the software type it is necessary to carry out cost/benefit analysis.
Finally, organizers have noted with satisfaction that the objectives have been fully realized.
Banja Luka, Oct 15, 2010
for Program and Organizing Committee- Phd. Gordana Radić, graduate electrical engineer
