Abstract: Using Virtual Experiments become one of the main methods for Science teaching in actual Education. Their power on creating simulation-based learning environments is well-known and many teachers have already adopted the virtual experiments to be used in their classrooms. The great extension of the Virtual experiments determined 9 institutions to propose a Socrates-Comenius 2.1. European project called VccSSe – Virtual Community Collaborating Space for Science Education project (code: 128989-CP-1-2006-1-RO-COMENIUS-C21) coordinated by Valahia University of Targoviste, Romania which has as main objective to adapt, develop, test, implement and disseminate training modules, teaching methodologies and pedagogical strategies based on the use of Virtual Instruments, with the view to their implementation in the classrooms. In the first year of the project, three software products were chosen for developing the process of training: Cabri Geometry II, LabVIEW and Crocodile Clips. This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis, made by the tutors who trained the in-serviced teachers on using the mentioned software products.

Abstract: Nowadays, the videoconference represents a spread technology in the distant training processes but experienced also in the traditional ones, mostly in the frame of national and international projects. Taking into consideration the last type of actions, the paper emphasizes on the main aspects carried out for organizing a Meeting with European Science teachers, under the umbrella of a videoconference, as a distinct dissemination activity, planned in the frame of the three years Socrates-Comenius 2.1 European project “VccSSe – Virtual Community Collaborating Space for Science Education” – code 128989-CP-1-2006-1-RO-COMENIUS-C21. The project partnership consists of 9 institutions, coordinated by Valahia University Targoviste, Romania. The paper offers an image on the videoconference organization and feedback collected from the participants. There were taken into consideration and discussed aspects like: technical and organizational criteria, content of the videoconference, communication and feedback criteria, strong and weak points met during the videoconference session. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract: Although the access to the computers and the Internet at home is quite widespread in the European countries, the use of them at home for school related learning activities comparing to the use for entertainment is much lower with about 30 percentages (Eurydice, 2011). The paper aims to present an analysis of the feedback collected from a group of teachers, from 9 counties, after they have been trained, within a POSDRU project, to integrate in education different multimedia applications. Among others, the results shows that although most of the teachers have a computer in their classroom or constant access to a computer room (78%) with Internet access (66%), only a low number of the teachers have used in the past digital images, videos and web conferences in the teaching-learning-evaluation process. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu

Abstract: Language promotes the most suitable way for expressing ideas, habits and values. For a multinational educational project (Comenius 2.1.) with a widespread European target group, it is very important to provide the online educational resources (courses, virtual instruments, etc.) through the project website, in several languages: English (as a worldwide spoken language) and partners' languages. This paper briefly presents three methods to create multi-language web sites and proposes a new architecture – the hybrid method architecture. In addition an example of a multi-language web site implementation is illustrated.

Abstract: Since the beginning of the 21st Century, massive changes took place in the field of education. New teaching and learning methods based on using modern ICT tools – like virtual experiments, educational video-clips or other multimedia products – have been implemented in the educational process. The paper presents an analysis of the impact produced by the implementation of new virtual experiments designed by 146 teachers who participated to a 40 hours training modules “Virtual Instrumentation in Science Education” organized in the frame of Socrates-Comenius 2.1. European project “VccSSe – Virtual Community Collaborating Space for Science Education”. Different aspects and interpretation related to the challenges and difficulties encountered during the implementation process are also included. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The advancements in information and communication technologies (ICT) provide significant opportunities to improve teaching and learning. The use of ICT in science education offers even more advantages due to the attractive premises to simulate and interactively explore and test experiments which would be too expensive or too dangerous in real settings (for example in nuclear physics). The aim of this paper is to contribute to the research field of technology based learning by presenting several findings obtained during a multinational educational project (Comenius) regarding the use of computer in classroom, in science education, in Romania, Spain, Poland, Greece and Finland. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract: With the exponential development of the web, the decision-makers are likely to use the web to support their decision -making processes. In group decision-making processes supported by an information system web-based or desktop-based – one of the most important element which can influence in a great extent if the system will be or not accepted and successful used for decision making, is the user interface. In this paper, we propose an architecture of an interface for an ideal web-based group decision support system.

Abstract: The paper presents some aspects emphasized in the “Best Practices Guideline for Educational Use of ICT Tools”, realized as a main product of the Comenius 2.1 European project “FISTE – A Future Way for In-Service Teacher Training Across Europe”. The main aim of this guideline was to collect all the experiences gathered during the project, regarding the ICT tools explored and inserted in the on-line course “Integrating ICT in Traditional Training”, organized in the frame of the project. The best practices guideline was designed to reflect on the experiences of individual project partners in delivering of the mentioned on-line course. It extracted some conclusions regarding the effective educational use of ICT tools in traditional educational settings, from both pedagogical and technical point of view, and is edited as a web product accessible to European educators.

Abstract: The great potential of introducing ICT in nowadays education is well-known. Teachers become more familiar on using ICT in schools and as their experience grows, they are able to develop effective ICT-based teaching and learning tools. Many teacher training programs or continuing professional development opportunities were proposed with the declared aim to support the integration of ICT in the actual education, but also to develop on-line training / e-learning in schools. This paper illustrates the main aspects developed in a Romanian teacher training program, dedicated to all the educational levels, organized in the frame of the project called “EDUTIC – A network for teachers professional development with the view to increase the quality of ICT implementation in the Romanian primary and secondary education” (code POSDRU/19/1.3/G/37002). The overall objective of the project was to improve teachers' skills and attitudes by developing and delivering a training program which aimed to integrate ICT tools in the educational process. The training program proposed one compulsory module and two optional ones – the teachers having the possibility to select one of those last two. After the ending of the training phase, the teachers expressed their feed-back in related on-line questionnaires. In this sense, the paper presents some of their main opinions. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin Uzunboylu

Abstract: Although the e-mail is the most used technology for remote collaboration, the team work within multinational projects involves collaborative activities that only the e-mail cannot support. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the activity amount that a multinational team has on a collaborative platform used to support the team work. The paper presents two examples of collaborative platforms usage for communication and for collaborative work within European educational projects.