SIGOSSEE Project News

Special Interest Group in Open Source Software for Education in Europe

SIGOSSEE

Call for tender for evaluation

About the project

The Special Interest Group in Open Source Software for Education in Europe (SIGOSSEE) project, supported by the EU e-Learning action Plan has been established to investigate, inform and advise the education community on the uses and benefits of open source software and content.

Open Source is of growing interest to the education and training sectors for a number of reasons:

• Often specific versions of educational software will be required to reflect particular course content or pedagogical approaches.

• A loose ‘community’ of educational institutes already exists which supports the exchange of ideas and concepts. Thus, the basis of an OSS community is already in place.

• In many cases, larger institutes already have the human resources capacity in-house to perform the necessary software and content modifications, testing and deployment.

• Educational institutes are under increasing pressure to find the lowest-cost solutions for effective learning provision.

• Learners can be involved in improving OSS software and content making it possible to take an approach which sees education as the process of supporting learners in joining a community of practice.

• More generally, the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in education provision is being recognised and explored.

However, there is a lack of clear and unbiased advice and information over the advantages and disadvantages of OSS and how appropriate the adoption of OSS is for education.

The SIG group is supported by the European Commission sponsored SIGOSEE and JOIN! Projects.

Activities and Services

The activities and services for the SIG include;

• The organisation of regional ‘open door’ days providing advice and guidance on open source

• Undertaking research into key issues impacting on the development and Implementation of Open Source in education

• The organisation of national and regional seminars

• The development of a catalogue of Open Source developments and software for education

• The development of a catalogue of examples of good practice

• The sharing of news and information about Open Source for education

• The management of a web space for discourse and exchange on Open Source and its uses in education.

Who is SIGOSE for?

The SIG is for anyone interested in the use of Open Source software and contents in education. Whilst the SIG is supported by two European projects it is open to members from any part of the world.

What can members do?

• Attend the Open Days, seminars and project meetings and conferences

• Contribute to on-line discussions

• Access news and information

• Join in the research activities

• Contribute to the Resource catalogues

• Build SIG OSE

What are our hopes?

We intend that The SIG becomes an sustainable organising centre for Open Source in education. Ultimately that depends on its members – in contributing and supporting activities and helping to shape the future direction and activities.

Tender

The call for tender is for evaluation of the project.

Specification

1. Formative evaluation

Whilst the evaluator will be expected to produce an interim and final evaluation report, the primary focus is on formative evaluation. The evaluation is intended to assist and steer the project coordinator and project partners in developing the project, to alert to any possible emergent problems and to advise on possible opportunities for developing the aims and work of the project.

2. Focus for the evaluation

One of the first tasks for the evaluator will be to develop and agree an evaluation plan. The following aspects should be taken into account in the plan:

• Effectiveness of the project partnership

• Development of the SIG group

• Communication processes within the project and within the SIG

• Further development and sustainability of project ideas and ambitions

• Effectiveness of project cooperation with other interested projects and organisations in Open Source Software for education

3. Project workshops

There will be regular project workshops during the lifespan of the project. The evaluator will be expected to attend at least three of these workshops. It would be an advantage if the evaluator were able to attend parts of other workshops through video conferencing.

3. Web site

The primary organising centre for the project is the web site – www.ossite.org. The evaluator will be expected to communicate through the site and to contribute to the site.

4. Period for the contract

The contract will be from June 1, 2004 to December 31 2005.

5. Time scales

The following time line is indicative:

a) Contract awarded – May 31 2004

b) Development of evaluation plan – June 30 2004

c) Interim evaluation report – December 15, 2004

d) Final evaluation report – December 15, 2005.

6. Funding

The indicative fee for this work is €14,000

7. Applications

Applications should be made in writing or by email to:

Mike Malloch, Knownet, 6 Menai View Terrace, Bangor LL572HF – email mike@theknownet.com

Applications should include:

1. Approach to the work

2. Previous relevant experience

3. Organisational description

4. CV of relevant staff

5. Equal Opportunties policy for organisation

6. Proposed budget

7. Deadline

Tenders should be submitted no later than 24 May 2004.