Information Communication Educational Technologies in Lifelong Learning of Underprivileged Groups ANDREJA ISTENIČ STARČIČ Assistant professor University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper SLOVENIA http://www.pef.upr.si ANDREJ BRODNIK Assistant professor University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper SLOVENIA http://www.pef.upr.si MATJAŽ KLJUN University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper SLOVENIA http://www.pef.upr.si Abstract: - The paper describes conditions that influenced the implementation of new technologies in educational organizations for adult learners and presents a project of deployment of ICT assisted learning for underprivileged groups of adults. The aim was to foster quality of teaching and learning and raise digital literacy. Instructional design for adult learners with poor learning skills, collaboration skills and ICT knowledge was formed, and interoperability within different technological conditions, systems and delivery platforms was built. Information communication educational technologies were implemented in three forms: (1) multimedia learning material on a CD-ROM for personal computers without Internet connection, (2) computer supported learning environment for guided self-directed learning, and (3) computer supported collaborative learning environment. Key-Words: - Educational technology, ICT assisted learning, Constructivism, Computer network, Interoperability, Lifelong learning, Collaborative model 1 Introduction Introducing Information communication educational technologies (ICT ET) in a learning process of underprivileged groups was a goal of the project named Intensifying of e-learning introduction for raising educational level and overcoming regional discordance in Slovenia. The project ran from 2002 to 2005. It involved adult learners enrolled in upper secondary educational programs (ISCED3 according to International Standard classification of Education or ISCED). In the year 2002 58.8% of population aged 25 − 64 in Slovenia had secondary educational qualification. A share of those people which had vocational secondary educational qualification was 52.7% and only 47.3% had technical or general secondary educational qualification which is a condition to enter a tertiary level [10]. 2 Development of an ICT learning environment for underprivileged adult learners 2.1 Lifelong learning and e-learning in Slovenia Percentage of adult population aged from 25 to 64 participating in lifelong learning was in Slovenia in 2003 15.1% while the EU-15 average was 9,7% [6]. Percentage of e-learning usage was Proceedings of the 6th WSEAS Int. Conf. on Software Engineering, Parallel and Distributed Systems, Corfu Island, Greece, February 16-19, 2007 140