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TO OPTIMIZE THE INVIDUAL LEARNING PROCESS OF OCCUPATIONAL TRAVELLERS

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Imaging software for personalised computing

Education is an important criteria to attaining advancement and increase opportunities in life. Yet, more than half the world's population receive little or no education at all. TOPILOT, an innovative self-help education program, provides an answer for a sector of the population that could benefit tremendously from the service it offers.

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Migrant labourers and occupational travellers such as circus families, fairground workers and children of underprivileged families who may not have access to, or be able to afford standard educational facilities, can now take full advantage of the TOPILOT programme. TOPILOT is based on CD-I technology. This home-based education facility focuses on students aged 3-19 years and works in the following manner. The students use the CD-I interface module whilst working through the course material. This module comes with a handbook, games and jigsaw puzzles, and is capable of animating simple graphics for illustrative purposes. All course information is based on the CD-I and each course can only be accessed through a code provided by the tutor once the student has completed the preceding courses. A large part of the CD-I method is based on student-tutor correspondence that utilizes modern telephony-Internet email technology. When, and as necessary, the students can access their CD-I interface to receive feedback or guidance from, or communicate inquiries to, a long-distance educational specialist. No other external communication or access is required. Therefore, CD-I needs no other specialized equipment. When sending material for grading or to receive guidance from the tutor, the student can connect their CD-I device to the nearest available telephone and dial a toll-free number that'll re-route their call to the CD-I server. Since there is no need for large file transfers “on-line” time is absolutely minimal. Furthermore, all information to and from student/tutor is stored in the CD-I server until either party is available to accept it. In this manner, continuing at one's own pace can be maintained without pressurising an already complicated life style. A key factor in TOPILOT is that both interaction with tutor and parental support play important motivational roles for the students. CD-I provides the means in which education can be transferred, whilst the student, as always, provides the hard work, dedication and commitment. TOPILOT may be for horizontally nomadic families, but its goal is to offer those who care, increased access to learning and education. Useful links: http://www.edm-topilot.luc.ac.be/

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