THE E-HOOP LEARNING PLATFORM AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO EXPAND LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS European Distance and E-learning Network 2015 Annual Conference Session G2 Demonstration Session Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 Eleni Chatzidaki, Michalis Xenos, Lefteris Kozanidis, Hellenic Open University, Greece, Thomas Fischer, New Technologies and Learning in Europe, Germany, Aliki Economidou, Cyprus Neuroscience and Technology Institute, Cyprus

Main Goal Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs e-Learning Environment e-Learning Environment Adaptable DynamicUniversal

e-Learning Environment Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs  personalised training regardless of learners background

People special needs that e-Hoop Addresses Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs Disabilities Learning Preferences Learning Disabilities Dyslexia Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Learning Styles

The e-hoop Learning Platform The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs Barcelona 9-12 June 2015

The e-hoop Learning Platform Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs  Web application based on joomla-guru LMS open source and free Stable widely used Secure multilingual support open source and free Stable widely used Secure multilingual support Students/Learners accounts Courses/lessons as HTML5 multimedia content Enables Student interaction and collaboration (comments / forum) Motivating (provide Certificates) Students/Learners accounts Courses/lessons as HTML5 multimedia content Enables Student interaction and collaboration (comments / forum) Motivating (provide Certificates)

The added value of e-Hoop unified approach Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs  An alternative pedagogical aspect,  Diagnostic tools for learning abilities,  LOS algorithm for delivery the content,  Combination of open source software,  Provide a useful tool for educators,  Allows customization or/and future extensions.

How assessment process is taking place in e-Hoop? Barcelona 9-12 June 2015 The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs

Assessment by using e-Hoop Learning Platform 1.Assessment of the learner before attending a course 2.Assessment while learning is happening

Assessment of the learner before attending a course – Diagnostic tools  Self-Declaration  MAPS  VARK  Honey/Mumford Learning Styles

Assessment while learning is happening Formative Assessment Cognitive Load self-reporting The results of these assessments are fed into the Module called “Sequencer,” which determines the educational material which will appear next.

Learning Object entity  Each Learning Object contains different views of the same lesson, such as:  Talking book  Audio Recording  Large Print  Amplified Speech  Sign Language Video  Lip Reading Video  Subtitled Video  Special Structure  Multimedia

Users’ group correlate with type of LO

Purpose of LO Sequencer  Delivery the learning content in the appropriate form based on user’s learning abilities combine Diagnostic tools results & Learning progress 14

Talking book Learning Object Sequencer Different views of Learning Objects Users’ profiles Learning Object Sequencer Diagnostic Tools for learning abilities Output Large Screen Audio Recording e-Hoop Database Appropriate Learning objects

Greek Persian war Selection of the appropriate educational material by LOS: An example of Greek History course Persian Invasion Ionian revolt Audio RecordingLarge printVideoSign language video

Selection of the appropriate educational material vie by LOS: An example of Greek History course Greek Persian war Persian Invasion Ionian revolt Appropriate selection of LO

LOS extends the Guru LMS by using its main functionalities Selects the appropriate educational material Mapping of users’ groups Metatags of LO types Results of diagnostic tools Learning progress

e-Hoop sample content design 19  The templates for creating Learning Objects  are stored at the back end repository - “Media Library”. Course CategoriesCourseModuleLearning Object Courses Hierarchy : Greek History Greek War of Independence Greek Persian Wars The Battle of Plataea The Battle of Marathon The Ionian Revolt The Main Battle

E-Hoop Platform Back-End Front-End Learning Object Repository Learner’s Profile 20 Admin’s view Educator’s view Learner’s View

E-Hoop database (Back –End) 21 Guru Database e-Hoop database Learners’ Profile Extensions of the Guru main Database LO to Learners’ Profile Mapping Learning Object Repository

Learning Object Examples: 22

Thank You!!!  Questions? The e-Hoop Learning Platform – An Innovative Approach to Expand Learning Experiences for Persons with Special Needs Barcelona 9-12 June 2015