4. NETRO - THE ELECTRONIC LEARNING SPACE

4.2 THE CONTEXT OF UNIVERSITY LANGUAGE CENTRE

The idea of a web based module on web literacy was born during summer 2002. The module was needed to support a part of the University Language Centre's electronic learning space, the Language Compass (http://kielikompassi.jyu.fi). Language Compass is a part of the Jyväskylä University Language Centre quality development, and was formed to enhance the quality of language learning and teaching, as well as to facilitate the Language Centre multimedia teaching approach. Language Compass offers learners a comprehensive view of language learning and teaching both during courses and before or after the course. It can be said to guide and give resources for language learning.

Because of the idea that the Language Compass would include a variety of electronic resources for self-directed and independent language learning, we saw a need for an introductory module in Language Compass, which would guide the learners to use the web. Thus, there was a real need to create a module the aim of which would be on managing the web and as we later sharpened the focus, on web literacy. As both of us, Johanna Ahtikari and Sanna Eronen, were already members of a Language Compass team, we had been involved in the creation of the electronic space itself an idea of a Master's thesis integrated to the Language Compass became to take its shape.