Papers in PDF format

1. Introduction
IDEALS, An Approach to Web Based Remote Training
J. M. Brisson Lopes(*), José Carlos Teixeira(**)
(*) IST - Av. Rovisco Pais, 1096 Lisboa Codex, Portugal
Email: brisson@malhoa.ist.utl.pt
(**) CCG/ZGDV - FCTUC - R. de Moçambique, 17 R/C Esq. - 3030 Coimbra, Portugal
Email: teixeira@ccg.uc.pt
The Web has dramatically changed the way we used to look at the world. The emergence of the Web and Web
viewers has made world-wide available an almost infinite number of information sources with such an extent
that no one can grasp anymore. Use of the Web for educational purposes is one of the many fields of
application that came naturally to be. The Web presented itself as the ideal environment to deploy Computer
Based Training (CBT) applications and services. The Web's support of most multimedia formats looked
extremely promising for learning and authoring. If courseware could be created with high quality multimedia
educational contents, one would inevitably get the best rated courseware. Moreover, Web widespread usage
would ease learning and training by putting high quality courseware at the fingertips of anyone person
regardless of geographical location.
A very common belief is that no one teaches but everyone learns. Conventional CBT systems gallantly walked
into this false illusion. Successful learning can not rely on the superiority of the learning material alone.
Person to person contact is also a must. Learners must keep some contact with teachers and other learners
taking the same courses. Today, the Web has made it possible for people to contact other people live. It is only
necessary that the Web integrates the latest developments in teleconferencing. As a consequence, CBT systems
must evolve and adapt to the new needs. This calls for a new generation of CBT systems which is aware of
both the Web and all the psychological and educational aspects of learning to accommodate the predictable
scenario changes that will start to take place very soon.
This paper addresses the likely changes in learning scenarios and user needs and the role that the Web can
play in this context. Development of advanced, Web aware CBT systems has already begun. One of such
advanced systems is IDEALS which will be described in this paper. IDEALS aims at creating and deploying
advanced CBT software and services based on the Web and aware of the specifics of learning.
2. Trends in learning scenarios
The two driving forces of the global society are the need to adapt to continuous technological change and the
simultaneous demand for better qualified person on the labour market. Retraining on the job has a vital need
for most firms, especially small and middle sized firms. The emergence of learning services fits into the space
opened up by the new learning scenarios that present the following demands:
- universal, comfortable and equitable access to information
- information diversity and choice
- use of open and interactive networks, at a reasonable cost
New learning and training scenarios should support the development of new skills and enable the creation of
new kinds of jobs through innovation.
Lifelong learning is one of the key components of a new global economy, where knowledge is the critical
resource. One of the most important goals of someone involved in learning and training is the identification of
the best enabling technology to use. The use of distributed based learning scenarios opens an opportunity to
harmonize contents and methodologies and, therefore, learners skills, increasing the mobility effectiveness of
professionals, both at national and international level.