BIBB / Verdict of test conducted by the German consumer association "Stiftung Warentest": the ELDOC continuing training database is categorised as "good"

Verdict of test conducted by the German consumer association "Stiftung Warentest": the ELDOC continuing training database is categorised as "good"

In the period from July to November 2006, Stiftung Warentest tested a total of 25 continuing training databases, these comprising ten national, nine state, three regional and three specific topic databases. The verdict of the consumer association was that: "Searching is worthwhile".

The ELDOC e-learning continuing training database ELDOC (www.eldoc.info), operated by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), was categorised as good (receiving a score of 2.0 on a scale of 1 to 6).

The details of the evaluation

Reasons behind the conceptualisation of ELDOC

Although learning via the Internet (e-learning/blended learning) is growing ever more popular and the amount of provision is constantly increasing, this growing market lacks clarity. It is extremely difficult for those interested in pursuing continuing training to use the established search engines find a suitable CVT measures online. The quality of the information provided is extremely arbitrary and frequently does not constitute sufficient basis for a decision. Even e-learning provision within general continuing training databases, always assuming such provision has been integrated, does not furnish any specific criteria for e-learning and is thus often able to fulfil the requirements of the target group in question to a limited extent only.
This lack of transparency and this level of inadequacy were the reason behind the conceptualisation of the ELDOC continuing training database.

Target group and scope of services offered by ELDOC

The target group comprises those interested in pursuing continuing training and seeking e-learning or blended learning provision with tutorial support in the vocational area with the intention of using this form of learning for their further development.
ELDOC providers assistance in the search for suitable courses by using a variety of criteria (such as duration of course, learning time, prior learning requirements, qualifications, costs, quality standard) to present information on provision and providers in a transparent and comparable manner.
In addition to this, ELDOC offers general information on e-learning, check lists for those interested in continuing training, information centres, funding opportunities, links to further databases, associations and an e-learning glossary.

Main content focuses in ELDOC

Although no limits are placed on the range of provision in terms of content, most courses offered are from the fields of computing/IT, economics/law, interdisciplinary qualifications and languages.

Figure 1: Overview of thematic areas in ELDOC, status: 10 April 2007

Accessibility, using the database and searching

Our aim is to make this Internet presence accessible to the widest possible group of users. This entails efforts on our part to pay due consideration to the requirements of a wide range of people, some of these needs being very different in nature. As a matter of principle, we are guided in this area by the requirements of the German Accessible Information Technology Ordinance BITV pursuant to §11 of the German Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities Act.
When describing their continuing training provision, providers are afforded the opportunity of stating information as to the degree of accessibility their e-learning courses.

When developing the database, attention was paid both to providing ease of use and to integrating sufficient search possibilities to enable aims to be achieved rapidly. Alongside text searches using "and" or "over", further search criteria such as by "General specialist area", "Specialist field", "Keyword", "Means of conducting course" and "Funding opportunity" are available.
The database has been certified by the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) in respect of PAS 1045, Part 1 (certification number: 6G001).

Figure 2: ELDOC Homepage

Acceptance criteria for continuing training provision

Courses fulfilling the following criteria are accepted for inclusion in the database.

Initial and continuing vocational education and training provision in Germany and in German speaking countries abroad,
where at least parts of the courses are conducted via e-learning/blended learning phases,
in which phases web and multimedia based learning materials are deployed and learners receive tutorial support (such as via phases of classroom teaching or by means of other communication possibilities such as e-mail or web chats).

Use of ELDOC is free of charge for those interested in continuing training and for providers. Providers of network-supported courses are permitted to enter their courses into the ELDOC database provided they comply with the acceptance criteria.

The details of the evaluation

The details of the evaluation conducted by Stiftung Warentest on the ELDOC continuing training database were as follows.

URL: http://www.eldoc.info/

Catchment area of the database: national

Number of providers: 100

Number of products on offer: 850

Quality evaluation (100%): Good (2.0)

Information about the database (5%): Very good (0.9)

Information on educational providers/provision (60%): Good (2.2)

Search and refining of search (20%): Good (1.9)

Usability (15%): Good (1.7)

Overall comment: Extensive database for all varieties of e-learning and blended learning. Good list of links on the topic. Some products do not appear to be active.

Please visit http://www.weiterbildungstest.de/ for all further details and test results for the 25 continuing training data bases.