engleski

E-Learning as Worldwide Support to Education of Language and Culture for a small country’ s Diaspora

Croatia is a country with relatively numerous emigrant population and therefore one of its national strategic commitments is to enhance connections with its Diaspora in order to nurture its national identity in the era of globalisation. Important parts of this strategic commitment are educational programmes supported by the Croatian government. On higher education level, there are 34 lector centres worldwide integrated into national university programmes. On the elementary education level, there are 88 teachers working in 19 different countries on Croatian language and culture programmes. In year 2008, the Croatian government supported this programmes with more then 4 million € for the benefit of some 6860 pupils. By applying modern information technologies, such as e-Learning in educational process, availability of educational materials can be enhanced in a way to make them accessible 24/7, regardless of geographical location. The quality of educational materials should be improved as well as the educational economics of Croatian language and culture worldwide. As part of the project, support for the lector centres will be further enhanced. This commitment can be realised trough a carefully planned and implemented e-Education project. Realisation of interactive educational materials in rich multimedia and in the form of hypertext makes them more appealing to younger generations who are accustomed to video and computer technologies. Education is much more then reading and playing with video materials on Internet. Highly intensive interactions with mentor are provided to support pupils throughout the learning process. Mentors’ involvement in the educational process will support pupils but also make personal connection not only to their country of origin but also within the Diaspora worldwide. E-Learning implementation for education of the Croatian language and culture worldwide should improve the national image in information technology as well as improve the support for national culture in the globalised world.

Croatia; Diaspora; e-learning; culture; language

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