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•h it COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 26 03 1096 
COM(96) 120 final 
Draft 
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 
relating to educational multimedia software in the fields of education and training 
(presented by the Commission) 

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Preparing the people of Europe for the information society has become a priority, particularly in 
education. Accordingly, a research/industry Task Force "Multimedia educational software" was 
set up in March 1995 by the Commission and provided an opportunity to take stock of the 
current situation as regards educational multimedia and to draft a tentative plan of action to 
strengthen the research effort in this field through the research and technological development 
actions of the fourth framework programme (1994-1998), to allow the users concerned to derive 
the best possible advantages from the new technologies in the context of education and training, 
to improve the effectiveness of European research, and to give a boost to the European 
educational multimedia industry. 
A number of observations on the current situation emerged from this exercise. 
Firstly, multimedia educational software offers vast potential for teaching and people in the 
education sector are key figures for the multimedia industry. Teachers and trainers are 
responsible for a whole range of tasks which cannot be taken over by machines. Teachers 
discuss and exchange ideas with their pupils. They stimulate, assess and adapt teaching routes. 
They analyse and select from among the resources available. The great advantage of multimedia 
is its interactivity whether for local or distance learning, and experiments in progress show that 
it offers additional dimensions. Multimedia permits an original presentation of knowledge and 
the creation of a virtual environment which gives students an idea of the effects of their actions. 
In combination with telematics networks, it provides a capacity for interpersonal 
communication, a collective tool which is essential to the learning process. Furthermore, 
multimedia offers fresh prospects for providing a growing percentage of the population with 
access lo a good level of general education and to solid vocational training, and for renewing 
knowledge and skills in a context of increasing specialisation and complexity. 
A second Task Force observation is that the European Union has to make the best possible use 
of expertise in this area and foster co-operation between all those in the Member States who are 
involved in these developments. A research and incentive drive is needed to turn the potential of 
multimedia educational software into tangible teaching benefits and achievement. This drive 
should focus in particular on better co-ordination of Community programmes, be they R&D 
programmes, programmes dealing with the production of multimedia contents or education and 
training programmes, in complementarity with national action. The Structural Funds and the 
resources allocated to the trans-European networks could also make a useful contribution to this 
drive. 
The Task Force's stocktaking exercise also reveals a patchy and generally unsatisfactory 
situation at present as regards the provision oi' multimedia educational equipment and software 
in education and training establishments. There is even a serious risk that home equipment will 
overtake the level of equipment in educational establishments, meaning that the children from 
low-income families will be left on the fringes of developments. Wider access to the new 
information and training media in schools and in all places of learning is a challenge which has 
to be met if we are to avoid a two-tier society divided by unequal access to technologies. 
These three broad observations prompt recommendations concerning: 
research and the choice of priorities in collaboration with consumers and industry 
the design of multimedia educational software 
the training of teachers and trainers 
the infrastructure of equipment and services for users, teachers or trainers, and the 
dissemination of best practice 
Co-ordinated and targeted research on the teaching environment offered by multimedia 
technology should make it possible to better understand the teaching issues inherent in these 
developments and to tailor supply to demand. 
User requirements should be taken into account in the design of multimedia tools, services and 
applications at the outset, so that software can be customised to the teaching process. Pupil and 
teacher must be at the heart of this process of designing multimedia applications and services. 
The training of teachers and users in the broad sense is essential and due account has to be taken 
of the specific roles of the teacher, the trainer, the pupil and the student in the use of multimedia 
educational software, also paying attention to the fundamental contribution of initial and 
continuing teacher training structures. Multimedia technology could make dissemination of 
teaching and organisational innovation easier e.g. new patterns of organisation for school or 
outside school learning or teaching methods at all levels. 
Infrastructures are essential. A good level of appropriate multimedia equipment is a 
precondition for the successful introduction of multimedia: at school, university and all places 
of education and training. This equipment should be defined as a function of its suitability to the 
teaching environment and the funding context. New ways of access to resources and funding 
should be devised. The establishment of multimedia and distance support centres, the 
development of co-operation networks, the development of forums of evaluation and 
demonstration would be a useful way to disseminate good practice. 
The effectiveness of these measures presupposes synergy between all the players concerned: 
teachers, families, local authorities, heads of establishments, of associations and companies, 
pupils, students and employees, in arriving at a general consensus on the objectives to be 
attained at these different levels. Solid school-enterprise partnerships should be negotiated in the 
interests of mutually advantageous relationships under flexible and adaptable contracts. In 
particular, telecommunications operators and service providers should be encouraged to try out 
innovatory technological solutions and pricing structures, in conjunction with the education 
authorities, teachers, parents and students. 
Specific measures are needed for children and students from disadvantaged environments, 
underachievers, disabled people, pupils or students in rural areas, the unemployed and the 
employees of small firms. 
Specific actions could be envisaged, as part of international co-operation, under existing 
programmes and in relation with specific aid programmes for the countries of Central and 
Eastern Europe, and the countries of the Mediterranean basin, as well as third countries, in the 
light of the experience gained during the PHARE programme in the field of Open and Distance 
learning. 
Article 126 of the Treaty creating the European Community, which allows for encouragement 
of distance learning under the heading of the general objectives of co-operation in education, 
and respecting the principle of subsidiarity as regards the content and organisation of 
educational systems, does not allow the proposal of a legally binding text. This is why the 
Commission proposes the adoption of a resolution seeking to lay the foundations of profitable 
and lasting co-operation on questions are which are essential to the future of education systems 
in Europe. It also purports to encourage and support the education authorities in the Member 
States in any action they take in this area. Lastly, it seeks to achieve better co-ordination on 
these issues following the recommendations of the Task Force "Multimedia educational 
software". 
Council resolution 
of 
relating to educational multimedia software in the fields of education and training 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
Having regard to the draft resolution submitted by the European Commission, 
Having regard to action to support the development of high quality education through co­
operation between the Member States, while respecting their responsibilities in this area, 
Having regard to Decision No 819/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 
March 1995 establishing the Community action programme SOCRATES (1) 
Having regard to Council Decision 94/819/EC of 6 December 1994 establishing an action 
programme for the implementation of a European Community vocational training policy 
(LEONARDO DA VINCI) (2); 
Having regard to Decision 818/95/CE of the European Parliament and the Council of 14 March 
1995 regarding the adoption of the third phase of the "YOUTH FOR EUROPE" programme (3). 
Whereas Decision No 1110/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 April 
1994 concerning the fourth framework programme of the European Community activities in the 
field of research and technological development and demonstration (1994-1998), also makes 
provision for research in the area of the application of information and communication 
technologies in responding to common social needs (4) 
Whereas Commission communication COM (96) 12 final concerning the draft decision of the 
European Parliament and the Council regarding the second amendment to decision 1 i 10/94/CE 
relating to the fourth framework programme for research, technological development and 
demonstration (1994-1998), makes provision for an increase in the global amount of the 
Community's financial contribution to the fourth framework programme, and the allocution of 
financial resources to activities relating to educational multimedia software. 
OJNoL87of2G.04.1995, p. 10 
OJ No L 340 of 29.12 1994, p. 8 
OJ No L 87 of 20.04.1995, p. 1 
OJNoL 126 of 18.05.1994, p. 1 
Having regard to Council Decision 94/802/EC of 23 November 1994 adopting a specific 
programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of 
information technologies (1994-1998) (5) 
Having regard to Council Decision 94/801/EC of 23 November 1994 adopting a specific 
programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of 
telematics applications of common interest (1994-1998) (6) 
Having regard to Council Decision 94/915/EEC of 15 December 1994 adopting a specific 
programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of 
targeted socio-economic research (1994-1998) (7) 
Having regard to the Commission proposal of 30 June 1995 for a Council Decision adopting a 
multi-annual Community programme to stimulate the development of a European multimedia 
content industry and to encourage the use of multimedia content in the emerging information 
society (INFO 2000) (8) 
Having regard to Council Decision 95/563/EC of 10 July 1995 on the adoption of the (MEDIA 
II -development and distribution) programme to encourage the development and the 
dissemination of European audio-visual works (9), and the Council decision 95/564/CE of 22 
December 1995 on the adoption of a training programme for professionals in the European 
audio-visual industry (MEDIA II - training) (10) 
Having regard to Council resolution of 4 April 1995 on "culture and multimedia", which 
recognised the urgency of taking action to support the establishment and development of a 
market in cultural multimedia whilst respecting Europe's linguistic and cultural diversity (11 ), 
Having regard to the Commission's White Paper Growth, competitiveness and employment: the 
challenges and ways forward into the 21st century, which stresses the importance of education 
and training as catalysts in a changing society (12) 
Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European 
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions "Towards 
the information society in Europe: a plan of action" (13) 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
II 
12 
13 OJ No L 334 of 22.12.1994, p. 24 
OJ No L 334 of 22.12.1994, p. 1 
OJ No L 361 of 31.12.1994, p. 77 
OJ No C 250 of 26.09.1995, p. 4 
OJ No L 321 of 30.12.1995, p. 25 
OJ No L 321 of 30.12.1995, p. 33 
OJ No C 247 of 23.09.1995 
COM (93) 700 final,05.12.1993 
COM (94) 347 final, 19.07.1994 
Taking note of the outcome of the G7 meeting in Brussels on 25-26 February 1995 on the 
information society and particularly the recommendations on pilot projects in the area of 
transcultural education and training; 
Having regard to the potential offered by the use of educational multimedia for third countries 
in the interest of international co-operation, and in particular the countries of central and eastern 
Europe, the countries of the Mediterranean basin, and developing countries, 
Taking note of the two reports of June and December 1995 from the advisory group on 
competitiveness forwarded to the President of the Commission and to the heads of state and 
government on the improvement of European competitiveness; 
Taking note of the report of the Task Force "Multimedia educational software", which takes 
stock of the situation as regards this software in Europe and proposes a plan of action in this 
area; 
Having regard to the White Paper Teaching and learning: towards the learning society (14) 
which recommends inter alia measures to encourage the development of multimedia 
instruments conducive to the acquisition of new knowledge by: 
launching co-ordinated calls for proposals across the Community programmes 
concerned; 
establishing a system to exploit to the full and label European educational software and 
European education and training products in order to boost the dissemination of these 
products; 
Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council the European 
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a 
methodology for the use of Community resources in implementing information society 
applications and on the need for effective co-ordination between research and educational 
programmes (15) 
Having regard to the advantages of joint action for the use of educational multimedia software 
in services in schools and training establishments in order to: 
improve the quality and effectiveness of education and training systems, inter alia by 
introducing new patterns of teaching; 
strengthen social cohesion by giving every person and every company, particularly those 
of the less-favoured regions and the small and medium size enterprises, the means to be 
an active part of the information society; 
COM(95) 590 final, 29.11.1995 
COM (95) 224, 31.05.1995 
make teachers and students aware of the use of these new instruments and provide 
appropriate training; 
instigate a solid partnership between educational establishments and the suppliers of 
hardware, software and services with a view to creating a big market in multimedia 
applications and services truly adapted to teaching needs: 
Whereas the use of software and multimedia educational services requires the active 
participation of local authorities, schools and training establishments, teachers, trainers, and the 
business sector so that the best teaching methods can be tested and used; 
Having regard to the contribution of multimedia telematics networks in linking up education 
and training establishments, teachers, pupils, and the outside world in order to provide access to 
information, exchange and compare ideas and teaching experience; 
Taking note of the results obtained within Community programmes, and of the richness and 
diversity of actions in progress, and of experience acquired by the Member States in the 
development and exchange of methods relating to the use of information and communication 
technology for educational and training systems, 
CALLS UPON THE MEMBER STATES TO: 
develop the use of the new information and communication technologies in education 
and training systems as part of an enhanced approach to teaching methods which take 
full account of the teacher's role, give the student a more active and participative role, 
customise learning, encourage a cross-curricular slant, and secure co-operation between 
teachers in defining teaching projects and in responding to specific needs, 
step up the training of teachers and trainers in using multimedia software and on-line 
services and their use as tools to better prepare their teaching activities; special attention 
should be paid to the analysis and understanding of the role of teachers and trainers, to 
providing teachers with the results of research on the introduction of multimedia into 
teaching, to campaigns to show the benefits of multimedia, to support and promotion of 
teachers' initiatives, and to co-operation between teachers and the business sector on trial 
runs using multimedia products and services; 
encourage research activity, the creation and design of multimedia educational software 
in Europe, particularly under partnerships between the education world, editors and 
multimedia companies, for: 
the development of methods for the design of multimedia teaching material, 
structures to support the development and adaptation of educational multimedia 
software, involving teachers and trainers in the design of these products; 
the definition of appropriate software licensing systems and the development of 
new ways to share resources; 
ways of opening up access to multimedia libraries for schools and training 
establishments while safeguarding intellectual property; 
the definition of quality criteria and labels or appropriate means of recognition, 
inter alia in order to secure synergy with multimedia intended for the home 
market and a satisfactory level of consumer protection; 
setting up the appropriate infrastructures to guarantee to the greatest possible number of 
users access to hardware, software and on-line multimedia services of good quality, as 
well as to the appropriate training and back-up. This should be achieved by installing 
this equipment at the places concerned, i.e. nursery, primary and secondary schools, 
universities, public libraries, businesses, resource centres, socio-educational centres for 
young people and families, associations, etc. Special attention should be paid to 
developing multimedia support centres and to communication between teachers and 
education partners; and to training in its broadest sense. 
take specific steps to: 
introduce multimedia as a means of testing and encouraging flexible patterns of 
school or university organisation, in order to increase the effectiveness and 
dissemination of such instruments, 
favour the use of, and access to educational multimedia software in particular in 
catering for the needs of young people, and areas which are disadvantaged, 
peripheral or suffering from industrial decline; 
encourage the dissemination of best teaching practice based on the use of multimedia 
educational software and services, and consider the establishment or consolidation of 
demonstration and promotion forums on this basis; 
seek out the most efficient management methods for joint action at European level 
between cultural, educational and training programmes and research programmes; 
taking account of the possibilities offered by the Structural Funds, 
produce regular progress reports on the implementation of multimedia educational 
software in their education systems. 
CALLS UPON THE COMMISSION TO 
undertake a comparative analysis and follow up of the most advanced pilot experiments 
on the use of multimedia educational products and services in Europe and in the world, 
and disseminate the results of this analysis to the Member States; 
take account of the fields of education and training in the context of its overall initiatives 
on the information society; 
use all the potential offered by multimedia software and services in implementing 
Commission-driven actions in the areas of education, training and culture, including 
international co-operation, particularly with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe 
and the Mediterranean countries; 
identify and encourage common services which could be developed at European level, 
including information on products and their evaluation, the establishment of links 
between producers, users and managers of education and training systems in order to 
secure good quality in the products and their use; 
establish a co-ordinated approach for action in the field of multimedia educational 
software under the different Community programmes concerned and also under the 
Structural Funds and initiatives to develop trans-European telecommunications 
networks, around converging objectives and pooling of budgetary resources, while 
respecting the procedures applicable; 
pay special attention to the external visibility and implementation of this co-ordinated 
approach in order to improve the quality and effectiveness of education and training 
systems, research and access to the employment market 
encourage full use and dissemination at European level of best teaching practice based 
on the use of multimedia software and services; making as much use as possible of 
existing structures at all levels; 
submit no later than 31 December 1997 a report on progress achieved, obstacles 
encountered and additional action needed for the implementation of these actions 
looking ahead to the year 2000. 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(96) 120 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 16 15 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-96-130-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-01820-1 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L-2985 Luxembourg