Workplan

WP1 Setting the Scene

WP2 Semi-automatic metadata generation driven by Language Technology resources		WP3 Enhancing eLearning with semantic knowledge

WP4 Integration of the new functionalities in the ILIAS Learning Management System

WP5 Validation of new functionalities in the ILIAS Learning Management System
WP6 Dissemination, transfer and broad take-up of programme results		WP7 Project management

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WP1 - Setting the scene

WP leader: University AI. I. Cuza of Iasi

Objectives

The aim of this work package is to carry out preparatory work including collection and normalization of the learning material to be used in the project as well as to reach a common understanding of the relevant standards and procedures within the consortium.

Description of work

Inventarization and classification of existing tools necessary for the development of the relevant functionalities (i.e. key word extractor, glossary candidate detector);
collection and normalization of the learning material related to the use of the computer in education (Humanities, Social Sciences). Investigation of IPR issues;
adoption of relevant standards for linguistic annotation of learning objects;
dissemination of the results through the Web portal;

Deliverables

D1.1 (May 2006) IPR-cleared collection of learning object for the languages addressed in the project and guidelines for their annotation (at least 1000 pages per language).

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WP2 - Semi-automatic metadata generation driven by Language Technology resources

WP leader: University of Tübingen

Objectives

The aim of this work package is to improve the retrieval and accessibility of content through the identification of the learning material by means of descriptive metadata. Language Technology and resources for the languages addressed in the project will be employed to develop functionalities which will facilitate the semi-automatic generation of metadata. The following functionalities will be implemented, documented and evaluated:

Keyword extractor;
Detection of definitory contexts for glossary generation;

Description of work

Annotation of the training and test corpora for the languages covered;
definition of use cases;
implementation and documentation of the new functionalities: keyword extractor (at least 1000 keywords), glossary candidate detector;
testing evaluation and feedback (2 cycles);
possible optimisation of the functionalities after testing;
documentation of the new functionalities which will allow for their integration in any open source LMS (including ILIAS which is the system adopted in the project).

Deliverables

D2.1. (May 2006 & November 2006), Linguistically and structurally annotated learning objects for the various languages.

D2.2 (November 2006 & November 2007 & May 2008) Documented keyword extractor (at least 1000 keywords) and report for its integration in any open source LMS, including ILIAS.

D2.3 (November 2006 & November 2007 & November 2008) Documented glossary candidate detector and report for its integration in any open source LMS, including ILIAS.

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WP3 - Enhancing eLearning with semantic knowledge

WP leader: IPP, Bulgarian Academy of Science

Objectives

The aim of this work package is to enhance Learning Management Systems with semantic knowledge, that is ontologies, in order to improve the organization and the retrieval of the learning objects across languages. Special attention will be given to the languages of the New Member States and Associated Candidate Countries and to the language families represented in the consortium.

Ontologies will facilitate the construction of user specific courses, by semantic querying for topics of interests; will improve the creation of personalized content and will allow for decentralization and co-operation of content management as well as for multilingual retrieval.

Description of work

Definition of use cases;
domain ontology development based on existing resources;
creation of English vocabulary for the ontology;
ontological annotation of learning objects for the various languages;
creation of vocabularies for the various languages and their mapping to the ontology;
integration into ILIAS, testing evaluation and feedback (2 cycles);
possible optimisation of the functionalities after testing;
documentation of the ontology development and report for its integration within any open source LMS (including ILIAS) ;
multilingual retrieval: evaluation of problems and tuning;

Deliverables

D3.1 (November 2006 & November 2007 & May 2008) Ontology of at least 1000 concepts and report for its integration within any open source LMS (including ILIAS).

D3.2 (November 2007 & May 2008) Development of all language vocabularies and annotated corpora, multilingual retrieval.

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WP4 - Integration of the new functionalities in the ILIAS Learning Management System

WP leader: International Security Network, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

Objectives

The aim of this work package is the integration of the new functionalities as well as ontology based retrieval into the ILIAS Learning Management System. However, documentation will be provided which will allow for the integration in other open source LMS, given the modularity of the new resources developed. Metadata annotation and ontology driven search and navigation will allow for individual content assemblance for learners as well as individual learning paths.

Description of work

Technical integration of the functionalities and ontology tools into the ILIAS system;
testing of integrated functionalities;
report for the integration of the functionalities and ontology tools into other possible open source Learning Management System and user documentation;
optimization of functionalities after testing and validation.

Deliverables

D4.1 (November 2007 & May 2008) Integration of functionalities and ontologies into ILIAS and relative documentation for the integration into any open source Learning Management System (including ILIAS).

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WP5 - Validation of new functionalities in the ILIAS Learning Management System

WP leader: Open University (England)

Objectives

The aim of this work package is to assess:

the usability of the new functionalities;
the usability of the platform itself, and in what way it is affected by the integration of the new functionalities;
the pedagogical impact of integrating the functionalities.

Description of work

Development of a suitable validation methodology for enhanced Learning Management System;
Preparation of experiments and questionnaires;
Pilot experiments and questionnaires;
Execution experiments and questionnaires;
Analytical comparison of foreseen use cases envisaged within the project and actual uses by the sample group of users;
Report results.

Deliverables

D 5.1 (May 2007 & November 2007 & May 2008) Report on validation methodology which will include the development of the questionnaires and the setup of the experiments (May 2007) and their executions (November 2007, May 2008), an analytical comparison of foreseen use cases and actual uses by the sample group of users with respect both to the semi-automatic generation of metadata and the ontology based (multilingual) retrieval (November 2007, May 2008) and the conclusions (May 2008).

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WP6 - Dissemination, transfer and broad take-up of programme results

WP Leader: Utrecht University

Objectives

The aim of this work package is to present and disseminate results of the project, to foster the transfer of knowledge and a broad take-up of programme results. The following groups will be the special targets:

end users at universities: learners and teachers;
scientific community;
national educational authorities.

Description of work

organization of workshops;
organization of awareness events;
organization of user panel;
creation of a multilingual web portal;
market the approach developed to other communities which develop open source LMS;
development of an exploitation plan;
dissemination of the results through the various channels;
creation of mailinglist and newsletter.

Deliverables

D6.1(May 2006) Dissemination plan and updates (Nov 2006, Nov 2007, May 2008).

D6.2 (May 2006) Exploitation plan and updates (Nov 2006, Nov 2007, May 2008).

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WP7 - Project management

WP Leader: Utrecht University

Objectives

Overall management and coordination of the execution of the project including liaising between partners, liaising with the EC.

Description of work

setting up the management structure;
liaising with the EC on contractual and financial matters;
making contractual and financial arrangements with the partners;
liaising with the WP leaders, coordinate and support WP leaders;
preparing management and activity reports for the EC;
preparing cost statements for the EC;
organizing project meetings;
organizing project assessment.