Keynote Presentations:

From Adaptive Hypermedia to the Adaptive Web
by Professor Peter Brusilovsky, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Abstract

Web systems suffer from an inability to satisfy heterogeneous needs of many users. A remedy for the negative effects of the traditional "one-size-fits-all'' approach is to develop systems with an ability to adapt their behavior to the goals, tasks, interests, and other features of individual users and groups of users. Adaptive Web is a relatively young research area. Started in with a few pioneering works on adaptive hypertext in early 1990, it now attracts many researchers from different communities such as hypertext, user modeling, machine learning, natural language generation, information retrieval, intelligent tutoring systems, cognitive science, and Web-based education. Currently, the principal application areas of adaptive Web systems are education, information retrieval, and kiosk-style information systems. Most recent systems are exploring new promising application areas such as e-commerce, medicine, and tourism. Research-level systems constitute the majority of adaptive Web systems, but a few successful industrial systems show the commercial potential of the field. This talk will provide an introduction to the field of adaptive Web, review major adaptation techniques, and present several examples of adaptive Web systems in different application areas (including author's own work on adaptive electronic textbooks and adaptive performance support systems).

For speaker's brief CV click here.

Essential Ingredients of an e- Learning Environment
by Professor Hermann Maurer, Graz U. of Technology, Austria

Abstract

There is agreement today that e- Learning must not be seen as just offering 
material in the form of some "electronic book". Rather it has to be 
imbedded in a sophisticated e- Learning environment and the material has to 
be highly interactive. However, both terms allow a very broad range of 
interpretations and indeed most are too narrow. We will discuss that the 
environment must provide not just course material of good quality, for 
various types of pedagogical approaches and cognitive styles, but also has 
to provide an extensive digital background library, advanced collaboration 
and communication features and many types of administrative functions. We 
will further argue that interactivity must go well beyond what is usually 
offered. In particular we show what it means that learners can seriously 
work and modify the material at issue, for themselves and others. We claim 
that the notion of systems that are much more active, including the "active 
document concept"  and systemic actions such as the generation of knowledge 
landscapes and hints to the learners are essential. The importance of 
similarity- and connection recognition will also be emphasized. We conclude 
the presentation by indicating how a simple yet powerful start of an e- 
Learning set-up is possible. 

For speaker's brief CV click here.

Crafting Strategy for the Successful e-Learning Business

by Professor Dias de Figueiredo, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract

This presentation addresses a number of strategy issues in setting up a successful e-learning business. It starts by arguing that the future of e-learning is not to be found just on content and delivery, but also, and very much, on context and activity – that is, on making learning happen within activity rich, interaction rich, and culturally rich social environments that never existed, that the intelligent use of technology is making possible, and where completely different paradigms apply. This is supported with a brief description of the emerging field of Educational Context Design (ECD), and the illustration, through a set of examples, of how ECD-based learning contexts can be created. The presentation then moves on to the questions of business strategy in setting up an e-learning venture. In spite of the lessons learned from e-business enterprises that collapsed for lack of strategy and appropriate business models, many e-learning projects being launched at present suffer from exactly the same shortcomings. To help e-learning entrepreneurs set up and tune their business, the presentation reviews the key concepts of the value chain of e-learning, stresses the place and role of strategy in its establishment, characterizes the main features of any sound business model for e-learning, illustrates some of the more typical business models, and ends up summarizing some key concerns that should be kept in mind when setting up an e-learning business.

For speaker's brief CV click here.