It is time to say good-bye to our fantastic project!
Hopefully, all the project results will lead to a better understanding of disability and improvement of accessibility options for disabled students.
Here you can find a short presentation of all variants of the accessible Moodle.
At the end of the project activities, before the last transnational meeting in Denmark, three multiplier events were organized with the purpose of a larger dissemination and visibility of the project results.
The first Multiplier Event (ME) was organized at the Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University on June 15th in Skopje. The second one was organized at the Vilnius University, on June 16th 2021. The third ME was organized at the University of Aveiro. Because of the COVID-19 measures it was organized on three different working days (June 16th, June 23rd, and June 30th). Continue reading
The final meeting of the FAST project was organized by our Danish partner ETCC, on the 26th of June, 2021, near the end of the project activities. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemics, this meeting was physically attended by all project partners.
Discussions regarding evaluation, impact on the local, regional and European level, dissemination and sustainability and were made.
All the partners agreed on a complementary project as a continuation of the FAST project.
Our Lithuanian partner just published the Moodle mobile app for their students!
You can access the Lithuanian version of the accessible VU Moodle app here:
https://emokymai.vu.lt/
Тhe importance of the mobile devices for people with disabilities is clearly shown throughout different research, especially in the research for the visually impaired people. This is the reason, why in the conception phase of this project, we decided to create a mobile app for easy access to the accessible Moodle platform. Trying to bypass the common keyboard and mouse inadequacy, we decided to provide the same functionalities of the presented Moodle e-learning platform as custom-based mobile application that differs from the official Moodle application that exists on Google Play Store.
The interface of the application is shown on the picture above. The modules for dyslexia, sign-language, and TTS can be seen on the left. All the mouse functionalities are touch based with this application.
The application is active and can be downloaded on Google Play Store by the name Courses@FZF at the link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mk.edu.ukim.fzf.moodlefzf.
A note of gratitude to our IT experts Monika Simjanoska and Kostadin Mishev, who created the accessible Moodle platform and this fantastic app!
The fourth Intellectual output from the FAST project resulted in designing and development of an e-learning course for the use of the LMS by students with different types of disabilities. All of the created courses are in the official languages of the FAST project (coordinator country and country-participants) and are placed on the accessible University Moodle platform in each country.
The video presentation below is related to how to create an accessible learning management system, its benefits and some other tips on content accessibility and it is placed on several platforms such as E-twinning and School Getaway and is free and accessible for all.
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Accessible Moodle Course (EN)
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Accessible Moodle Course (MK)
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Accessible Moodle Course (PT)
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Accessible Moodle Course (DK subtitles)
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Advanced Accessible Moodle Course (EN)
Intellectual Output 4: How to Create an Advanced Accessible Moodle Course (LT)
The e-training programme was a blast! You can watch or download the sessions here:
2020.11: Staff e-training programme: video, day 1 [.mp4, 288 Mb]
2020.11: Staff e-training programme: video, day 2 [.mp4, 288 Mb]
2020.11: Staff e-training programme: video, day 3 [.mp4, 346 Mb]
2020.11: Staff e-training programme: video, day 4 [.mp4, 295 Mb]
2020.11: Staff e-training programme: video, day 5 [.mp4, 865 Mb]
The aim of this online training is to provide information about e-learning tools and techniques needed to create high-quality, engaging e-learning content for virtual synchronous training, flipped classrooms and blended learning.
The experts of e-learning will share their knowledge in online seminars. The groups of training participants will also get individual tasks for asynchronous activities every day.
The training, organized by Vilnius University, will be held online, November 23-27, 2020. You can download the program here.
Check MAKEDONKA out on Github:
https://github.com/f-data/TTS-Makedonka/
Audio samples:
https://f-data.github.io/TTS/
On September 28th, 2020, on the premises of the Faculty of Philosophy, there was a promotion of the first e-platform in our country accessible for students with disabilities. The FAST (2018-2021) project: An accessible Learning management system in Humanities and Social Sciences, which is an Erasmus+KA203 project led to the creation of such a system, which today is accessible for three groups of students with disabilities: students with impaired vision, students with impaired hearing and students with specific reading disabilities – dyslexia. Continue reading
The pre-print of “MAKEDONKA: Applied Deep Learning Model for Text-to-Speech Synthesis in Macedonian Language” is available here. Feel free to download, read and comment! 🙂
The second transnational meeting was organized online, April 16th and 17th on Zoom.
Initially, we planned to organize the meeting in Aveiro, with physical presence, but due to COVID-19, the plans were changed.
The participants (prof. Aleksandra Karovska Ristovska, prof. Nikola Minov, prof. Vojislav Sarakinski, prof. Gonçalo Paiva Dias, prof. Elisabeth Brito, prof. Justina Garbauskaite Jakimovska, Henrik Haubro and Hüseyin Koc) discussed the progress of the project and the challenges related to the creation of the accessible LMS. Budget and management was also discussed. Each organization gave a report regarding the staff issues, administration and budget issues. Continue reading
The second transnational meeting for the FAST (Fostering Accessible Study Technologies: Accessible Learning Management System in Humanities and Social Sciences) project was officially to be held on April 16th and 17th in Aveiro, Portugal.
As the project is nearing the end of IO2 and we are getting closer to the testing phase and actual implementation of the accessible LMS, the second transnational meeting would have focused on possible challenges concerning the functionality of the LMS. This phase is of crucial importance for the sustainability of the accessible LMS for the humanities and social sciences. We were also intending to evaluate the first 18 months of the project and discuss budget and management control.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 situation, we would like to inform you that this meeting has been postponed indefinitely.
All translations of the draft version of FAST: The Methodological Framework are completed and can be found online.
Our sincerest gratitude goes to all team members from our partner Universities that contributed to the translations. The printed copies will be available soon.
Тhe draft version of the methodological framework for the Fostering Accessible Study Technologies project is completed and can be found online. Continue reading
1. Video about Moodle focused on three concepts: the Why, the What and the How.
E-learning and Moodle are no problem to be implemented in Denmark, but it is the practical implementation of the general courses that presents the problem. Additionally, our partners face a challenge: General structure of Moodle with content by teachers being too dull, so we must find a way to make it interesting and engaging. Continue reading
Danish Ministry of Education: Department of quality and education
Options and support for students with disabilities: Presentation by Signe Højsteen, who has worked with various organisations and worked with UN goals regarding quality of education. See Signe’s presentation on our Resources page. Continue reading
University of Copenhagen: Presentation about Special Educational Support (SPS) Continue reading
Workshops were divided in 3 parallel working groups, which then had plenum in between:
Presentations. All the participants introduce themselves. Continue reading
Kulturhuset Islands Brygge 18
Copenhagen S, Denmark
21-25 June 2019 Continue reading
Prof. Elizabeth Brito conducted the Focus Group with professionals from the University of Aveiro. The results will be used as important benchmarks in the process of defining the concepts of the methodological framework.
On February 12th and 13th, after the official project promotion, the first transnational project meeting took place at the Faculty of Philosophy. Continue reading
On February 12th, 2019, the FAST project was officially promoted within the International week on the Faculty of Philosophy: “Challenges in teaching and research in humanities and social sciences”. Continue reading
project 2018-1-MK01-KA203-047104:
Fostering Accessible Study Technologies (FAST):
Accessible Learning Management System In Humanities And Social Sciences
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje
February 12th & 13th, 2019 Continue reading
Today, the Macedonian team conducted the Focus Group with IT experts.
Eight professionals with various expertise and experiences shared their opinions regarding the creation of Learning Management Systems (LMS) in Higher Education. One of the largest challenges was to choose an adequate LMS which can be constructed and introduced in higher educational institutions in the area of humanities and social sciences. Continue reading
The first intellectual output within the FAST project (December, 2018 – April, 2019) will result in the creation of a methodological framework for an accessible Learning Management System in Humanities and Social Sciences.
In order to generate such a framework, we needed to design the desk-top and field research. The research phase started in December – with the very start of the project – by defining the research instruments for the field and desk-top research. In order to have a triangulation of data sources we decided to conduct a combined research by using qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Continue reading
While building on and trying to improve the (mostly) negative experiences concerning LMS usage, accessibility and interoperability in Macedonian Higher Education, we aim to establish operational compatibility with several fresh developments and initiatives at the Faculty of Philosophy and at the University in general: the Institutional Repository, the e-Library and the Digital Library of the Faculty, initiatives whose completion and application is expected within the upcoming year. The project aims to complement these initiatives by providing compatible and inter-operable accessibility LMS software modules aimed at disadvantaged learners as well; in combination, this project will provide a solid basis for a complete e-platform Faculty-wide studying solution for all students. Continue reading
All participants in different project activities will be selected by a public call, in a transparent manner, in relation to their competencies, project and research experiences and capability to implement this innovative idea into practice.
The legal representative and the project coordinator in each country-participant will appoint project team members, which will be included in all project activities. The number of the team representatives will be proportional to the total number of employees of each institution involved in the project, so that a successful dissemination can be conducted. These researchers will be engaged in IO 1-4, the short-term joint training events and will coordinate and participate in the multiplier events and transnational meetings. Continue reading
The needs assessment indicates that Universities that currently do not use eLearning platforms (such as the Faculty of Philosophy at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius) can benefit from these user-friendly systems, which enable use of personalized high-education tools. A system of this kind will improve the digital skills of students and teachers aligned with the needs and challenges of the new century. In addition, universities that already use some kind of a LMS (such as the Universities from the partner countries) can benefit from the tools tailored for the students with disabilities.
Two groups will directly benefit from this project: Students in HEI’s participating in this project (including students with disabilities) and HEI’s teaching, management and administration staff. The indirect beneficiaries – through the multiplier events – are students, teaching, management and administration staff from other HEIs in the host and partner countries, as well as primary and secondary schools (including special schools), who may see benefit from the developed accessible LMS and the training module for LMS usage developed with this project. Continue reading
Higher education is facing many challenges, as it is being constantly reshaped by the digital evolution. In order to provide open education, we have to follow the rapid scientific and technological development and create different types of learning management systems accessible for everyone.
Illustration by Lourdes Margain
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software application for administration, documentation, reporting and delivery of educational courses or training programs. They help the HEI staff deliver course material to the students, administer tests and other assignments, track student progress, and manage record-keeping. LMSs are focused on on-line learning delivery but support a range of uses, acting as a platform for fully-fledged on-line courses, as well as for several hybrid forms, such as blended learning and flipped classrooms. An LMS provides interactive features such as threaded discussions, video conferencing, and discussion forums. One of the characteristics of the LMS is the possibility to access content via mobile phones and tablets, and therefore to also receive real-time notifications for different aspects of the teaching process. Continue reading
And let’s hope it’s not too bumpy 🙂 Continue reading
Fostering Accessible Study Technologies 