PROJECT TITLE:

NEW MEDIA KNOWLEDGE VILLAGE FOR INNOVATIVE e-LEARNING SOLUTIONS (KNOSOS)

 

PROJECT CODE:

EL/2002/B/P/114025

 

 

 

 

COORDINATOR (if there is):

Complete elements: name of organisation, surmame and name, type of organisation,  address, telephone number, fax number,       e-mail, responsible person.

Prof. Stavros Christodoulakis

Laboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications (U)

Technical University of Crete

University Campus - Kounoupidiana

731 00  Chania

Greece

Tel.: (++30) 2821-037390

Fax: (++30) 2821-037567

e-mail: [email protected]

 

 

TYPE OF ORGANISATION:

University

 

CODE OF ORGANISATION:

U

 

DESCRIPTION OF ORGANISATION (PROFIL):

The Laboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE) of the Technical University of Crete (TUC/MUSIC) is a centre of research, development and education in the technological fields of Information Systems and their applications in the Information and Knowledge Society and in particular in Technologies, Architectures and Web Services Systems over the Internet, Databases and Knowledge Bases, Information Retrieval, Digital Libraries, Geographic Information Systems, Human Computer Interaction, Multimedia Management Systems, Digital TV Systems and Applications e-Commerce, Tourist, Culture, e-Learning. TUC/MUSIC exists since 1990 and it has participated in over than 40 European and National Projects. The funding of the lab from the research programs during the last 12 years exceeds 10 MEURO.  In many of these projects TUC/MUSIC was the Prime Contractor and/or Technical Leader. The projects include large Basic Research projects (like the LTR HERMES as Prime Contractor), large projects for the development of innovative software tools and integrated multimedia servers (like the IST UP-TV project in which TUC/MUSIC develops systems for supporting Digital TV services based on the TV-Anytime specification, the ACTS SICMA project in which TUC/MUSIC developed the Kydonia Multimedia Server), large projects for technology transfer (like the STRIDE Multimedia project in which TUC/MUSIC as Prime Contractor has transferred  multimedia information systems technology in the major IT Greek companies and academic institutions) and large projects for the development of multimedia applications (like the Cretan TOURnet project, in which the TUC/MUSIC was Technical Leader, that developed a Destination Management System for all the small and medium size tourism related enterprises of Crete). TUC/MUSIC participates in many Excellence Networks of the European Union along with other leading scientific organizations of the Union, as i3-Net in intelligent information interfaces, DELOS in Digital Libraries, and the European Excellence Network IDOMENEUS for the development of multimedia information systems in Europe. TUC/MUSIC has also participated in several working groups.

 

DURATION OF THE PROJECT:

01.12.2002 to 31.05.200530 months

 

SECTOR:

Education, Computer and related activities, Telecommunications

 

CODE SECTOR:

80, 72, 64

 

TARGET GROUP:

  • ICT and new media professionals, working for educational content providers through digital TV devices, as well as for electronic mass media, advertising agencies etc.
  • Educationalists, teachers and tutors, using the new technology to support the development of pedagogically driven applications
  • Students with needs for additional competence to work on content and tools production, integrating web and broadband media.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT:

The convergence of web and broadcast information gives new value and quality to the available educational services. The project exploits the educational potential of the integration of web and digital TV technologies following the TV Anytime-Anywhere models defined by the TV Anytime Forum. This new technological reality requires very dynamic continuous update and acquisition of new knowledge and skills both for ICT professionals and users from humanities, arts, mass media etc. and forms the primary target groups of the project consisting of: 1/ ICT and new media professionals, working for educational content providers through digital TV following the TV Anytime models, as well as for electronic mass media, advertising agencies etc.; 2/ educationalists, teachers and tutors, using the new technology to support the development of pedagogically driven applications; 3/ students with needs for additional competence to work on content and tools production, integrating web and broadband media. The new competences of the target groups members will contribute also to their adaptability to the labour market of the digital economy and to creation of new business opportunities in the audiovisual industry.

The main aim of the project is to create a network of virtual training and resource centres of expertise (New Media Knowledge Village) for development of competence in integrated web and digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies. The efforts will be focused on: integration of existing or emerging technological and education standards, as well as existing or emerging standards in digital TV developed in the context of TV Anytime-Anywhere, in order to propose a unified standard for vocational training using digital TV Anytime-Anywhere devices and methodologies; development of curriculum and actual training facilities for professionals and/or students in the field of digital TV Anytime-Anywhere standards, tools, applications and techno-legal issues of IPR/digital rights management; utilization of interactive TV facilities for personalisation of learning and its tailoring to the individual learning styles.

Expected specific results of the project: 1/ New Media Knowledge Village, containing at least four local centres of expertise in the form of applied software systems running on existing computer and communication infrastructure of the partners.     2/ Methods for pedagogical use of integrated web and interactive TV technologies. Proposal of a unified standard for vocational training using digital TV Anytime-Anywhere devices.  3/ Distributed repository (multimedia database) of information resources and re-usable training materials in the field of integrated web and digital TV technologies. The training materials will be developed in English and the partner languages (when found necessary). 4/ Curricula in the field of digital TV technologies for professionals and/or students with various backgrounds, covering at least 12 modules for different training levels. 5/ Experimental use and evaluation of the project vocational training facilities with representatives of the primary target groups from the partner institutions or from institutions, expressed interest to project results.

The long term impact of the project is in its contribution to the possibilities for time independent interactive and personalized access to broadband training information at educational institution, at home or on the move, which is a real step towards implementing the ‘ubiquitous learning’ paradigm – personalized life-long learning for all, anywhere, anytime.

 

OBJECTIVES:

The project deals with effective and innovative use of web and interactive TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies for technology supported vocational training. The main aim of the project is to create a network of virtual training and resource centres of expertise (New Media Knowledge Village) for development of competence in integrated web and digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies for innovative e-Learning solutions. The Knowledge Village metaphor is a conceptual framework for creation of virtual training and resource centre environment ensuring effective access to knowledge and skill acquisition, fast preparation and flexible use of multimedia training materials by Internet, Extranet and Intranet training facilities, author’s studio and a distributed repository.

 

 

ACTIVITIES:

The main efforts of KNOSOS are focused on:

  • Integration of existing or emerging digital TV standards (e.g. TV Anytime), MPEG-7 and education standards (such as SCORM) in order to propose a unified standard for vocational training using digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies.
  • Development of novel methods and e-Learning solutions for pedagogical use of integrated web and interactive TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies.
  • Development of curriculum and actual training facilities for professionals and/or students in the field of digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technological solutions, standards, tools, applications and techno-legal issues of IPR/digital rights management.
  • Utilization of interactive TV facilities for personalisation of learning and its tailoring to the individual learning styles.

 

RESULTS/ PRODUCTS:

§         New Media Knowledge Village – open distributed environment of virtual training and resource centres of expertise for development of competence in integrated web and digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies. The environment will contain at least four local centres of expertise (in the form of applied software systems on existing computer and communication infrastructure of the partners).

§         Methods for pedagogical use of integrated web and digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies. Proposal of a unified standard for vocational training using digital TV Anytime-Anywhere devices.

§         Distributed repository (multimedia database) of information resources and re-usable training materials for technological and software solutions, standards, techno-legal issues, innovative e-learning applications etc. in the field of integrated web and digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies. The training materials will be developed in English and the partner languages (when found necessary).

§         Curricula in the field of digital TV Anytime-Anywhere technologies for professionals and/or students with various backgrounds. The curricula will cover at least 12 modules for different training levels.

§         Experimental use and evaluation of New Media Knowledge Village vocational training facilities, applying innovative pedagogical approaches - learning-by-doing and personalisation of learning. The experimental implementation concerns the content and coverage of the developed curricula. The experimentation will involve representatives of the primary target groups from the industrial and academic partner institutions or from institutions, expressed interest to project results.

 

 

PARTICIPANTS COUNTRIES:

Greece, France, Bulgaria, Hungary

 

PARTNERS:

  • Technical University of Crete, Laboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications (TUC/MUSIC) - Greece
  • Galanis Sports Data s.a. – Greece
  • Maison des Sciences de l' Homme – France
  • Institute of Information Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – Bulgaria
  • Balkan Multimedia Centre – Bulgaria
  • Eurotelematica Bulgaria
  • Kürt Computer Rendszerház Rt. – Hungary
  • MTA SZTAKI, Computer and Automation Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Hungary