State of the art


What is the operation "Success Stories" version 2.0 ?

Why "Success Stories" ?

Who contributed to the version 2.0 of the "Success Stories" ?

What information can be found in the "Success Stories" ?

Under which forms are the "Success Stories" available ?

How can you obtain the "Success Stories" ?

How to contribute to the next version of the "Success Stories" ?

Deadline for the 3.0 version of the "Success Stories" ?

First statements about the use of the "Success Stories"

Thanks

As a temporary conclusion ...


What is the operation "Success Stories" version 2.0 ?

It is a collection, using a predefined electronic questionnaire, or Entry grid, of good practices and satisfactory uses of NTIC (new technologies of information and communication) in education. This collection has been put into concrete form in a data base.

Why "Success Stories" ?

The goals of this operation are numerous :

Who contributed to the version 2.0 of the "Success Stories" ?

To begin with, the collaborators of the CIP (Pedagogical Computer Centre), as well as authors in different schools in Geneva, were requested to contribute. Then, the cantonal correspondents in Switzerland repeated the operation, and finally, the process was reproduced in more than a dozen countries thanks to national correspondents (contributions have already come from 12 countries : Japan, Israel, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark, France, USA, Italy, United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Switzerland).


What information can be found in the "Success Stories" ?

The author of each description completes the Entry grid and enters :

In addition to the language of description, key-words (*) are then added, especially in relation to the contents of the 9 items listed above (see Examples of complete descriptions). The information of the above-mentioned categories that are marked with an asterisk (*) correspond to sectors which are automatically completed in 4 languages (French, German, Italian, English). A reference number is also added to each description (e.g. J022 for the 22nd "Success Story" from Japan, B004 -> the 4th Belgian story, CHFR019 -> the 19th story from Fribourg (Switzerland), etc.).


Under which forms are the "Success Stories" available ?

The process was imagined, at the outset, to stimulate the "dynamics of dissemination and exchange". That is why there are (or will be) several forms of "Success Stories", considering the various possible uses, and especially the various different means available to the users (equipment, help/support, etc.).

"Macintosh" versions

The "4th Dimension" version is the complete, original version ; it is even coupled with the "didacthèque" (a data base on 900 pedagogical products based on NTIC). These two applications (versions of July 95) operate with the software "4th Dimension", version 5.2.5 (Mac). The program and the data are compressed.

Other version
It is easy to imagine other versions with specific data base software such as Filemaker, ClarisWorks, etc. via the extractions (see below).

"PC" versions

The "4th Dimension" Windows version is the complete, original version ; it is even coupled with the "didacthèque" (a data base on 900 pedagogical products based on NTIC). These two applications (versions of July 95) operate with the software "4th Dimension", Windows version (PC). The program and the data are compressed.

Other version
It is easy to imagine other versions with specific data base software such as Access, FileMaker, ClarisWorks, etc. via the extractions (see below).

The "paper" version

The complete collection of the summaries of each description The present document is only an extract ; (see Examples of complete descriptions). However, every owner of the computerized version can make a personal print-out of the complete version, or of complete extracts of descriptions according to the chosen criterions (e.g. language, subject, public, etc.).

The collection of all the complete descriptions Every owner of the computerized version can make a personal print-out of the complete version, or of complete extracts of descriptions according to the chosen criterions (e.g. language, subject, public, etc.).

Lists extracted from the "Success Stories" Every owner of the computerized version can make a personal print-out of the complete version, or of complete extracts of descriptions according to the chosen criterions (e.g. language, subject, public, etc.).

Telematics versions

Internet access A first version is at your disposal on the World Wide Web (W3) at the following address :
URL :

http://tecfa.unige.ch/edu-comp/success-stories/0EF.html

Extracts on magnetic media

These extractions can be simply printed, or computerized.

All of the data base For the whole of the data (see Examples of complete descriptions), in order to integrate them into data base software, a convention will be needed to separate the descriptions and the different fields. This process will also enable the user interface to be adapted to different local conditions (language, environment, software, etc.). Please contact Bernard Vuilleumier at the CIP .

For a selection of the descriptions and/or part of the items Same process as described above, specifying the selection of descriptions (language, public...) and/or the items (title, authors, social aspects, etc.) (see Examples of complete descriptions).


How can you obtain the "Success Stories" ?

The data base is free, but the work and the cost of distribution will be minimized in the following way :
In Geneva : please contact the collaborators of the CIP, delegates of the different institutions and services ;

Cantonal correspondents
In Switzerland : please contact the cantonal correspondents (primary and secondary teaching).
The magnetic medium must be supplied, as well as the package for the answer, and postage costs ;

National correspondents
Abroad : please contact the national correspondents. At present, the list is as follows :

To obtain the address of one or more of the above-mentioned people in relation to the operation "Success Stories", please write to R. Morel at the CIP or by e-mail :

Raymond Morel
Centre informatique pédagogique
"Success Stories"
Case postale 3144
CH-1211 Geneva 3
Switzerland

(Internet e-mail) : morel@uni2a.unige.ch
(X-400 e-mail) : C=CH ; A=ARCOM ; P=ETAT-GE ; O=GE-DIP ; OU=BAL ; S=MOREL-R
Fax : ++.41.22/318.05.35


How to contribute to the next version of the "Success Stories" ?

You can find the Entry grid (void description) and the Examples of complete descriptions.

The input of data is made by the author (see Guidelines to contribute to the next version) and the system of posting PC and Mac diskettes, which worked very well for the first and second versions, is renewed for the third version.

For those who wish to send their contributions (files of descriptions, input by the author) via telecomputing, it would be advisable to contact R. Morel at the CIP to avoid surprises (exotic alphabets, suppression of accents, etc.). It would be preferable to proceed via the cantonal and national correspondents for authors living outside Geneva.

Deadline for the 3.0 version of the "Success Stories" ?

If a 3.0 version of the "Success Stories" is to be completed by the end of June 1996, the deadline for handing in contributions is set to the end of March 1996. Those who think they might contribute should contact Raymond Morel, at the CIP (by writing, by E-mail or by fax).


First statements about the use of the "Success Stories"

The goals established at the outset have been reached, and this project answers a need that is found everywhere.

Who has not met a colleague, a director, a parent or a decision maker who asked the following questions :

The "Success Stories" are also an instrument which has already been used to organise courses or reflection meetings (symposiums, forums), because they implicitly contain expert valuation at different levels.

Thanks

The Work Group n.; 7 (that has worked on the versions of the "Didacthèque") of the CIP has contributed greatly both to the content and during the operation of the "Success Stories" in order to make the original concepts evolve towards a useful, user-friendly, sensible and realistic product with limited means.

This second version of Operation "Success Stories (version 2.0)" is grateful for the sponsorship of the institutions and persons listed (see Authors). Without their contribution and the National correspondents, the organisation of the competition for the participation to IFIP WCCE'95, would not have been possible. We would like to express here our deepest gratitude for their kind help.

As a temporary conclusion ...

Your remarks and suggestions after reading this document and/or using the data base "Success Stories" would be of great use to us. Thank you in advance for sending them to the CIP .

Enjoy your reading, and ... your discoveries !