EU network launches world's first Open Archive for technology-enhanced learning
The Kaleidoscope Network of Excellence (NoE) has launched the world's first Open Archive for technology-enhanced learning. Dubbed 'TeLearn', the archive collects research results from across Europe in such diverse and converging disciplines as computer, social and education sciences and places them all in one location available worldwide. The EU-funded TeLearn aims to benefit researchers, teachers, policy makers and the public by offering them up-to-date research in the field of information and communication (ICT)-supported learning. Nicolas Balacheff, scientific manager of Kaleidoscope, sees the establishment of the TeLearn as an important contribution to reducing duplication and shaping the further development of research in the field. 'Thanks to TeLearn, scientists from extremely diverse fields have the opportunity for easy access to current research on this topic at any time,' explained Dr Balacheff. 'This will make research more transparent and more effective.' Furthermore, by systematically archiving scientific works, TeLearn hopes to make the direct comparison of research results possible in order to stimulate scientific competition in a positive way. The archive accepts material in any language, and the resources found on the website include publications and audio and video presentations. For example, the most downloaded research paper is 'How people in virtual groups and communities (fail to) interact'. The materials uploaded to TeLearn are fixed with detailed information such as date of publication, ownership and content, in the belief that this will protect the intellectual property rights of researchers. In the longer term, TeLearn hopes to get established as a sustainable service that will support the needs and concerns of researchers and publishers. According to Dr Balacheff, the free availability of the research offers even further advantages. For example, the open archive on technology-supported learning can help bring the research more prominently into the view of decision makers and the public. It can also give a new boost to cooperation between science and industry. Open archiving is a means by which researchers are able to submit their publications to an online archive to ensure they can share the outcome of their work openly, freely and reliably. It also cuts the need for researchers to provide publishers with copy ready for publishing, which is very often bought back by the organisation representing the researchers, often at a significant cost, once published.