| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Institute of Technology Tallaght
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EnCoMpaSS, e-learning Content Management Services for SMEs
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The system will help SMEs to reduce the growing knowledge deficit of many of their technical personnel. For example, field service technicians are now responsible for the maintenance of equipment, which is more complex and diverse than ever before. Product life cycles are continually being shortened, which means that continuous retraining is required. Traditionally it has been costly and time consuming to develop and deliver this training. The ability to create learning content which can be delivered to a desktop PC or to a handheld device provides SMEs with a cost effective and flexible solution to these training needs.
EnCoMpaSS will make use of a new concept in e-learning known as reusable learning objects (RLOs). RLOs are bundles of knowledge that can be delivered to a learner via a PC, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or other device. They are reusable since they can be easily reconfigured to cope with evolving products, or combined in different ways to provide knowledge about more complex products. The concept of re-use is key to keeping the costs down for SMEs. It is clear that existing e-learning content development tools do not have a means to re-use previously developed content in an efficient manner. This can lead to costly re-development of material.
The research at IT Tallaght is concentrating on developing an innovative means of authoring and delivering these RLOs. The RLOs take the form of a virtual representation of the task to be performed. The technician can run through the procedure on the PDA before attempting to work on the real equipment. For example, a technician being trained to upgrade the software in a photocopying machine can be led through the procedure on the PDA or a PC. He or she can practice the software download process by interacting with the virtual photocopier control panel.
The role of the research group at IT Tallaght is:
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��Application of the best instructional design theory to the construction of learning objects
��Evolution of current learning object meta-data standards ��Optimisation of search algorithms to enable rapid location of existing learning object fragments for reuse ��Deployment of learning objects over mobile devices for field use ��Harnessing the paradigms of object oriented programming to increase the reusability of learning objects ��Development of new concepts for the structure of learning objects. |
Contact: Pat Coman, Head of Department, Department of Electronic Engineering, IT Tallaght; E-mail: [email protected]