Personalised learning development
The objective of the ELENA project is to demonstrate the feasibility of smart spaces for learning combined with personalisation methods. The "Personal Reader" prototype uses several methods needed for personalisation suitable for an environment based on a fixed set of documents, a closed corpus, together with personalised context sensitive information from the semantic web. The central design element for this personalised learning system is a dynamic learner profile that enables the user to achieve their personal learning goals. The dynamic profile includes learning history, learner specific information and learning goals. Interconnecting learning services in a smart learning space leads to learner empowerment as they become capable of choosing from a variety of knowledge sources. The ELENA consortium has evaluated information model standards and open specifications that are recognized by the e-learning community. This has driven development of schemas for many aspects of learning resources. These include learning objectives, activities, assessment and portfolios. These variables were tested in personalised contexts and resulting guidelines were drawn up as to how to personalise, search and navigate resources available. The Personal Reader embeds learning resources in a personalised context, providing a local context within a course or corpus, as well as a global context with references to external resources. This project is paving the way for new educational service markets which will allow learners to fulfill their personal development plans.
