Acta Univ. Palacki. Olomuc., Gymn. 2008 38(1): 59-67

An example of an e-learning community for lifelong learning by physical education teachers

Matej Majerič¹, Milan Žvan¹, Marko Kolenc²

¹ Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana

² Zavod IZZIV, Ljubljana

The contemporary trends in the world and in the EU indicate an increase in the number of e-learning communities. This paper presents an example of the first learning community in Slovenia in the field of practical pedagogical training for students, the "Sportfolio.si".
The Faculty, sport students, professors, and the mentors at schools cooperate within the e-learning community and in this way interconnect "theory and practice". Within the e-community and by using blogs (web logs), users can share "examples of the best practice" and therefore gain, develop, and share professional competencies in the field of physical education - they are proving the idea that "you can develop your own knowledge if you share it with others".
These are also the trends in the EU which require teachers to continuously adopt new roles (competencies), and to change or abandon some of their earlier ones. Teachers must therefore permanently arrange for their own personal and professional development. With so called lifelong learning, teachers are becoming an important integral part of the "learning society" or the society of knowledge, which represents one of the fundamental goals of the European policies in the field of education and training to be achieved by the year 2010.
In the future, e-learning communities could provide an efficient source of support for the lifelong learning of physical education teachers and promote the development of sport of all types and dimensions.

Keywords: Lifelong learning, knowledge management, acquisition and development of professional competencies, informational communication technology, learning communities

Prepublished online: January 16, 2009; Published: January 1, 2008  Show citation