The advent of this summer's 6th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learing Technologies (ICALT) on the 5th, 6th and 7th of July 2006 at Kerkrade in the Netherlands, highlighted the growing importance of Life Long Learninig and the need for new and innovative technologies to foster and support it.

With the onus on collaborative learning through technology, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for work and discussion on a number of issues which are of paricular relevance to the TENCompetence vision including work on Educational Modelling Languages and Learning Networks.

The conference included over three hundred and seventy paper, six workshops and three tutorials with contributions from the TENCompetence project in all three.

EML's and IMS Learning Design 

Given the potential importnace of learning activity modelling in the context of the TENCompetence infrastructure, and, by extension, to Lifelong learning technologies in general, it was fitting that presentations and discussions on Educational Modelling Languages featured as prominently as they did with contributions from EML founder and TENCompetence project leader Rob Koper and the team at OTEC (Educational Technology Expertise Centre) at the Open University of the Netherlands. Contributions from the OUNL included a paper by Hubert Vogten et al describing a framework for the integration of e-learning services using IMS Learning Design and Question and Test Interoperability [1].

TENCompetence project workers Daniel Burgos and Marcus Specht added to the work on IMS LD in the form of a position paper outlining features in levels B and C of the Learning Design specification which could be used for the purpose of adaptive learning [2]. Further investigation into IMS LD came from Cristea and Bugos in a paper which explored the similarities between IEEE Adaptive Educational Hypermedia (AEH) and IMS Learning Deisgn (IMS LD) [3] and Colin Tatersall's workshop looked at the currentgeneration of IMS LD based tooling to show how the specification can be used to model an e-learning case study in astronomy [4].

Networks and Social Software 

In the architecture for the TENCompetence infrastrucutre, Learning Networks are intended as a means of integrating programmes so that they can be made available across different networks to individuals, groups and organisations alike. One issue of particular concern is the question of positioning in learning networks. In their paper, Jan van Bruggen et al [5] of the OUNL put forward latent semantic analysis techniques as an alternative to predefined procedures in helping learners find their way in a networked environment.

Alicia Cheak, Albert Anghern and Peter Sloep presented their paper on the use of social network based tools and concepts to enhance the self-organizing and knowledge sharing capabilities of the community of Competence Development and Mannagement Systems [6].

The subject of networks was probed further by Hans Hummel et al in a paper that investigated incentive mechanisms and face-to-face meetings as a means of increasing participation in learning networks [7].

Aditional contributions included a paper submitted to the conference strand on "Metadata for LEarning Resources" by TENCompetence partners Pythagoras Karampiperis, Demetrios Sampson and Demetrios Fytros of Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH). The paper addressed the need for adaptive educational hypermedia systems that select knowledge resources for personalised learning according to information gathered from competence description ontologies and a learner's competence records as opposed to the more rigid confines of a domain model [8].

On the final day of the proceedings Rob Koper helped to round off the event with a tutorial [9] designed to situate the work conducted on Learning Design to date in the wider context of the TENCompetence system making for an informative ending to a productive meeting.

On July 5th, LogicaCMG [10] in conjunction with the Open University of the Netherlands[11], the University of Bolton [12] and the SURF foundation [13], ran a second introductory workshop to the TENCompetence project. The event was free of charge and open to all with an emphasis on policy makers and decision makers. The majority of the participants were drawn from educational and developer professions in the Netherlands and neighbouring countries.

Proceedings of the event can be accessed from here. 

[1] Hubert Vogten, Harrie Martens, Rob Nadolski, Colin Tattersall, Peter van Rosmalen, Rob Koper: CopperCore Service Integration - Integrating IMS Learning Design and IMS Question and TEst Interoperability.

[2] Daniel Burgos and Marcus Specht: Adaptive e-Learning Methods and IMS Learning Design: An Integrated Approach.

[3] Alexandra I. Cristea and Daniel Burgos: Authoring Adaptive Hypermedia and IMS Learning Design: A Possible Understanding?

[4] Colin Tattersall: Comparing Educational Modelling Languages on a Case Study: An approach using IMS Learning Deisgn.

[5] Jan van Bruggen, Ellen Rusman, Bas Giesbers, Rob Koper: Content-Based Positioning in Learning Networks.

[6] Alicia M. Cheak, Albert A. Anghern, Peter B, Sloep: Enhancing Lifelong Competence Development and Management Systems with Social Network-based Concepts and Tools

[7] Hummel, H.,C.Tattersall, D.Burgos, F.Brouns and R.Koper: Fostering participation in learning networks by using reward systems and face-to-face meetings

[8] Pythagoras Karampiperis, Demetrios G. Sampson, Demetrios Fytros: Lifelong Competence Development: Towards a Common Metadata Model for Competencies Description - The Case Study of Europass Language Passport.

[9] Rob Koper: Building Learning Networks for Lifelong Learners: Challenges, Models, Technologies and Standards.

[10] LogicaCMG

[11] OUNL 

[12] University of Bolton

[13] SURF