Gerard Prendergast

MR. GERARD A. PRENDERGAST, BSc (Hons), FInstLM, DipSysPrac (Open), is the Founder and Managing Director of Abacus Learning Systems Ltd. He is currently an Instructor Developer and Learning Advisor to PetroSkills. Mr. Prendergast is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management in the UK. He concentrates on the open and flexible learning aspects of education and training, especially the delivery of training using Computer Mediated Communication - CMC - and Computer Supported Cooperative Learning CSCL. He has trained Educators and Instructors from many Universities, and from industry and commerce worldwide in online Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Techniques. He has been visiting tutor on the 'Online Education and Training' Course run by the Institute of Education, London University, and for the British Open University's 'Teaching & Learning On-Line' course, for a number of years. In 2002, Mr. Prendergast was a contributor to an Online Trainers course run by the Northern Illinois University, USA. He has been an Advisor to The Management Institute, University of Ulster on Online Learning, and has carried out consultancy for the British Inland Revenue service in ways to deliver training by Computer Mediated Communication. He has undertaken various workshops on e-Learning throughout Germany and also at The Croatian Academic and Research Network.