Take Off

From Researching Virtual Initiatives in Education

Take Off asbl is a non-profit organisation in Belgium which targets children in the French-speaking Community who have been sick for a long time so they can continue their education at home or while in hospital through connecting to the class and teacher via videoconferencing.

This not-for-profit organisation is based in Brussels, Belgium.

The website is http://www.asbl-takeoff-vzw.be

More Details

The project started in 2007 and is made possible by sponsors and volunteers. In the first 3 years it had already provided its service to 50 children.

Take Off provides materials, logistical support and broadband internet and enables contact between the teacher, classmates and the sick student through video conferencing (screen sharing software and Skype).

There are 2 levels:

• Class on video, enables the child to follow class through videoconferencing (Skype).
• Individualised education, allows the child to receive personalised and interactive distance education directly from his or her teacher. In this case, Take Off uses Yugma software (to share his or her screen with the student) and Skype (for audiovisual interaction).

Video examples of this is available online (in French) on the front page.

Participating hospitals

The Walloon hospitals taking part in this project are:

• Clinique Saint-Joseph (Espérance) in Montegnée.
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Liège.
• Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Citadelle in Liège.
• Centre de Traumatologie et de Réadaptation Brugmann in Laeken.
• Cliniques Universitaires in Mont-Godinne.
• Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc in Woluwé Saint-Lambert.
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Charleroi.

> Belgium

> Wallonia