ELU - Enhanced Learning Unlimited
The technology and pedagogy research conducted by ELU will focus on the methodology, the design and implementation of tools required to enhance the multimedia home platform with e-learning facilities.
- Strategic objective: Strengthening the Integration of the ICT research effort in an Enlarged Europe
- Project type: Specific targeted research project (STREP)
- Start date: 1 February 2006
- Duration: 33 months
- EU funding: € 2 961 000
- Number of partners: 14
- Project coordinator: ORT France
- Contact: Mr. Raphaël Attias
This project intends to develop and validate the use of interactive digital TV (iDTV) systems for learning. Despite the popularity of the PC, it is expected that TV will remain the leading device in each home and that delivery of t-learning will be part of iDTV deployment in the future. The advantages of iDTV include ease of use, low additional cost, and the small footprint.
The ELU team will research, develop and implement pedagogical scenarios for the use of iDTV at home, universities and schools. It will exploit the potential of iDTV to support a personalised, flexible and learner-centred pedagogical approach.
On the pedagogical side, ELU will examine how to bridge the gap between 'edutainment' and 'engaged learning' and how to turn a passive viewer into an active learner. ELU will also provide solutions to integrate learning support systems (human and electronic). To test the effectiveness of iDTV, several types of content will be developed.
On the technological side, ELU will provide content creation tools that combine:
- educational content authoring (thematic info, tutorial, demos );
- entertainment content authoring (user-immersion, educational games...);
- examination content authoring (multiple-choice questions, tests...).
The content will be SCORM-compatible and will be delivered on the MHP open platform. The ELU system will include supporting facilities, such as knowledge retrieval and delivery tools. In order to validate its technology, ELU will develop tools to simulate iDTV for areas in which real deployment is not feasible at this stage.
ELU will promote the use of immersion technologies and media convergence. User immersion enables 'natural learning' while media convergence enables common-core content to be broadcasted to all viewers and personalised data to be transferred and exchanged individually.
There are two main users for the ELU facilities, teachers and learners, while the scope is both for academic and life-long professional learning.