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Just in Time Open Learning

A major distance learning experiment is Just in Time Open Learning. This is far from a full institution, so the term experiment is appropriate. The long range goal is to explore strategies to provide learning in all areas, just when it is actually needed. The scope is far beyond that of a conventional university; adult education is also included. Twelve partners are involved, in different parts of Europe.

Just in Time Open Learning is a project of the Delta Program, within the European Community. In addition to countries within the European community it involves several other communities in Europe. Delta funds many interesting projects using technology in education.

Just in Time Open Learning has ambitious goals, as represented by the phrase ''just in time''. The idea is that anyone eventually should be able to study anything at just when they need to study it. Thus perhaps someone in an engineering job whose background in some needed mathematical area is weak should be able to at that moment study just the necessary background mathematics. The project is based heavily on the use of interactive technology, networks and other kinds.

In the trial activities just being worked on, three prototype areas are being considered. One is, for example, material for doctors, nurses, and patients concerned with the care of diabetic patients.

An important concept in JITOL is "reification": the process by which informal knowledge can be captured and then formalized and structured. For instance, in the "diabetes" workpackage, the main goal is to capture practical knowledge about how to best deal with diabetic patients and how to educate them about the risks related to their disease. Teleconferencing and electronic mail are used to allow medics to exchange their ideas, points of view and experiences. Their exchanges are then analyzed by a few specialists who try to structure the new ideas that appeared and integrate them into the body of knowledge that is made available to all participants and to newcomers.

Another aspect of the JITOL project is that telecommunications are used to bring people closer to each other in the learning process, by allowing the learners to easily interact with the "tutors/experts" as well as by allowing learners interested in the same topic to exchange ideas and help each other.

JITOL is strongly linked to the notion of professional development of people working in organizations. The focus is on informal knowledge which is the day-to-day meat of most professional activities.