European E-Learning: Important Research Issues and Application Scenarios

While E-Learning is increasingly influencing university and workplace education in Europe, several critical issues still have to be solved in order to achieve the full potential of technology enhanced learning in many of these learning scenarios. The EU/IST FP6 PROLEARN Network of Excellence in Technology Enhanced Learning is focussing on these issues, and advancing the state of the art in this area, through a large concerted effort of more than 120 research institutions and companies working together in the PROLEARN Consortium and as PROLEARN Associated Partners. Key issues involve advanced production, deployment and exchange of professional learning resources and the use of these learning resources for professional training in SME's and larger companies. Key areas involve the use of personalized learning and interactive media resources, with learning resources connected to real-world settings and reusable in different contexts. Further PROLEARN key areas cover the use of brokerage platforms and services, appropriate business models and networks for specific markets, and advanced workplace arrangements integrating ELearning and knowledge work management both in smaller and larger European companies.