Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Opening up education: innovative teaching and learning for all through new technologies and open educational resources

This Communication sets out a European agenda for stimulating high-quality, innovative ways of learning and teaching through new technologies and digital content. ‘Opening up education' proposes actions towards more open learning environments to deliver education of higher quality and efficacy and thus contributing to the Europe 2020 goals of boosting EU competitiveness and growth through better skilled workforce and more employment. It contributes to the EU headline targets for reducing early school leaving and increasing tertiary or equivalent attainment and builds on the recent initiatives 'Rethinking Education', 'European Higher Education in the World' as well as the flagship initiative Digital Agenda.

It proposes actions at EU and national levels, notably:
- helping learning institutions, teachers and learners to acquire digital skills and learning methods
- supporting development and availability of open educational resources
- connecting classrooms and deploying digital devices and content
- mobilizing all stakeholders (teachers, learners, families, economic and social partners) to change the role of digital technologies at education institutions.

Even though the key for success depends foremost on Member States, the EU also has a role to play. It can promote best practices and support exchanges across Member States. It can deliver benefits from economies of scale and interoperability, thus avoiding fragmentation. It can support the deployment and availability of digital technology and content through financial support, public-private partnerships and recommendations.

The actions proposed in this document will be supported by the EU as mentioned above and reflect the results of consultation with a broad range of stakeholders which took place since summer 2012. The results and detailed evidence base are also presented in a Staff Working Document (SWD) that provides an analysis of the current situation in Member States with significant differences among them, highlights best practices, and analyses the main obstacles at EU level impeding the introduction of innovation in education through digital content and technologies.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2013)654: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2013:654:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2013)341: Analysis and mapping of innovative teaching and learning for all through new technologies and Open Educational Resources in Europe http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2013:341:FIN

ESO: Background information: Commission launches 'Opening up Education' to boost innovation and digital skills in schools and universities http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-launches-opening-up-education-to-boost-innovation-and-digital-skills-in-schools-and-universities/

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