The aim of the Observatory for Educational Multimedia Resources (ORME) is to observe the different uses of multimedia, and more generally to see how information and communication technology is conveyed in the education system.

Founded in1995, the ORME is a national organisation delegated to the Aix-en-Provence CRDP (The Regional Centre for Pedagogic Documentation) by the SCÉRÉN network (Service for Cultural Resource Publications for the Ministry of Education / "Services Culture Editions Ressources pour l’Education Nationale").

It aims to clarify the thought processes and activities of the participants in the multimedia educational sector by carrying out observation studies requested by institutions, public organisations or manufacturers. Results of these studies are circulated in these three areas in order to achieve:

	a better penetration of the uses of multimedia and of the TICE (Information Technology Plan for Culture and Education) in teaching methods;
	a better knowledge of the investment return in terms of development;
	better targeting of products and services offered to the education sector.

At the operational level, the ORME has progressively gathered tools and resources for benchmarking, observation and usage follow-up. The ORME has also built a network of pedagogical teams in the field, and has established links between research and industry.

In terms of circulation and publication of the observation results for participants involved (teachers, researchers, training participants, education policy authorities, the private sector, professionals in the information industries, representatives in public organisations, institutions and associations), the ORME offers information services and observation reports. In addition, the ORME has a series of strategic information files, known as the "Cahiers de l’Orme".

Finally, by proposing a particular theme each year that is linked to a topical subject, the "Rencontres de l’Orme" (the 9th edition was held in February 2004) has become a place for exchange and interviews between the private sector, institutions and representatives of the national Education Ministry. Thanks to links established by daily contact between the different participants, the event is viewed as the time and place to put things into perspective, and to air different points of view between participants (in education, users, manufacturers, public organisations).


Website: www.orme-multimedia.org