Artificial Intelligence and Neural Network Tools for Innovative ODL

1. Socrates Minerva Monitoring MeetingBrussels, 9 October 2002 Artificial Intelligence and Neural Network Tools for Innovative ODL Coordinator : “Politehnica” University of Bucharest Prof. Paul Dan Cristea

2. Partners • Vrije Universiteit Brussels, BE • Prof. JanCornelis, Head of Electronics & Digital Signal Processing Department • Prof.Edgard Nyssen, Prof. Rudi Deklerck • Universitat Erlangen - Nürnberg, DE • Prof. Manfred Kessler, Director of Institute fur Physiologie und Kardiologie • University of La Rochelle, FR • Prof. Patrice Bourcier, Assistant Director of Information and Industrial Imaging Lab. • Universidade Nova de Lisboa, PT • Prof. Adolfo Steiger Garcao, President of UNINOVA • Prof. Jose Manuel Fonseca • University of Edinburgh, UK • Dr. Judy Hardy,Applications Consultant at EPCC • Patras University, GR • Prof. Nicolas Pallikarakis, Coordinator of BioMedical Engineering Scool • Global One Communications Romania, RO • Dr. Pavel Budiu, Strategy Manager

3. Objectives Main goal: develop and use a set of innovative ODL tools for on-line and Internet-based learning, using the methods and techniques of artificial intelligence and neural networks. O1. Provide a model of the collaborative learning process involving human and artificial intelligent agents; O2. Provide a set of tools based on AI&NN techniques to develop innovative ODL systems; O3. Carry out pilot implementations of ODL systems; O4. Develop a methodology for intelligent ODL production and performance evaluation; O5. Evaluate and disseminate the outcomes of the project for future developments.

4. SOCRATES TOTAL 609,540 EURO 373,140 EURO Total DURATION(eligibility period) 1 October 2000 – 1 September 2003 BUDGET

5. Contractual Time Table

6. Cooperative Distance Learning System • Basic paradigms: • Intelligent Human-Computer Interaction • Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) • Learning in the system: Cooperative learning by interaction between student and tutor/expert or inside the group of learners • Organization: Group of learners assisted by artificial agents with active role in the learning process. • Tutor: Human or artificial agent • Structural features: • Set of tools to assist the learner at several levels of the knowledge acquisition process. • Personalised model of the trainee

7. Learning Modalities • Combine the traditional style of teaching • with the problem-centered style: • learning by being told, • problem solving demonstration, • problem solution analysis, • problem solving, • creative learning

8. System Architecture

9. Agent specification Learner Profile Eliciting Tool Learner’s Profile Eliciting Tool Control Module Communication Module Student input Registration form Questionnaires Learning Modalities Student Tracking Tool Learning Objectives Knowledge Watch Content Management Self Testing • Curricular study for a diploma • Complementary study • Executive up-dating • Specialist up-dating • Problem centered • Test oriented • Preferredly / • Predominantly: • Descriptive • Demo • Analytical details • Practical aspects • Examples • Multimedia / Text ? Material to study 1 First Chapter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1 Section 1.1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 1.1.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 1.1.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 1.2 Section 1.2 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 1.2.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 1.3 Section 1.3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2 Second Chapter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1 Section 2.1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX 2.1.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ………………………………… Studied material 1 First Chapter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1 Section 1.1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.1.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2 Section 1.2 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2.2. Paragraphxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.2.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3 Section 1.3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.2. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.3.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2 Second Chapter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1 Section 2.1 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1.1. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1.2. Paragraphxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2.1.3. Paragraph xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ………………………………… Tutor input On-line students monitoring Validation of students proposals Mandatory Testing Contribution to Collaborative Learning Standard Path Recommended Path

10. Workpackages and Responsabilities WP0: Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting (PMMR)PUB +PMG WP1: Collaborative Learning Model (CLM)ULR + PUB + UP WP2: Learner’s Profile Eliciting Tool (LPET)EPCC+ PUB+ GOC WP3: Automatic Tutoring Tool (ATT)UNL + ULR + PUB + VUB WP4: Learner’s Personal Assistant (LPA)PUB + UNL + UEN + GOC WP5: ODL courses on Bio-Medical Data Processing and Visualisation (BMDPV) using the new AI&NN tools BMDPV – M1:Medical visualisationUEN + PUB + VUB BMDPV – M2: Cortical brain anatomyVUB + PUB + UP + UEN WP6: Elaboration of Instructions, Guidelines, and Examples of integrating the AI&NN tools with existent ODL materials (IGE) UP + UPB + EPCC + all WP7: Testing, evaluation, assessment and dissemination (TEAD) of AI&NN toolsfor innovative ODLPUB + all

11. WP0: Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting (PMMR) T0.1 Organisation of the Project Management Group (PMG) T0.2 Organisation of planning meetings and project activities and outcome evaluation meetings T0.3 Project monitoring and check accomplishment of milestones T0.4 Organisation of workshops and summer schools T0.5 Coordination among partners T0.6 Elaboration of reports on project activities and of financial reports T0.7 Ensure links with the European Commission D01 - Work Plan (March 2001) D02 - First Interim Report (1 June 2001) D03 - Reports of the partners to coordinator Financial Reports (before delivery of interim Reports)

12. T0.4 Consortium Meetings First Meeting & Workshop - Bucharest, 29 June - 1 July 2001 Second Meeting & Workshop - Edinburgh, 8 December 2001 T0.5 Short Visits PUB - EPCC, 5-8 March 2001, Edinburgh PUB - DCT, 9-11 March 2001, Darlington PUB - UNL, 23 April 2001, Lisbon PUB - URL,21-22 May 2001, La Rochelle PUB - UEN, 29-31 August 2001, Erlangen PUB - VUB, 17 - 18 November 2001, Brussels T0.6 Project Documents Agreement letters from all partners Money transfers Interim Report 1 June 2001 T0.7 Link to the European Commission Up-dating of the Financial Agreement, Feb - March 2001 Socrates Coordinator’s Meeting, 18-19 June 2001, Brussels Change of consortium

13. Internal Reporting & Mutual Information Activity Report - for each activity, when completed Progress Report - for each work package, when reaching a milestone Institutional Report - for each partner, yearly to prepare the Interim Reports & Final Report

14. SOCRATES MINERVA PROGRAMME Open and Distance Learning – Information and Communication Technology MINERVA ‑ Transnational Cooperation Project Project ID: 87574-CP-1-2000-1-RO-MINERVA-ODL Artificial Intelligence and Neural Network Tools for Innovative ODL ACTIVITY REPORT • Partner: • Date: • Contact person: • Please provide a brief description of each activity implemented in the framework of the project, covering the points below: • Workpackage (e.g., WP1 - Collaborative Learning Model • Task: (e.g., T1.4 - Evaluate and validate the model) • start and end dates, stage of development • type of activity • aims • location(s) • expected benefits • products and results – description of deliverable(s) • partner(s) responsible • other organisations/contacts involved • costs of the activity • claims from the project budget, own contribution • Please explain any divergence from the work plan provided under the agreement.

15. SOCRATES MINERVA PROGRAMME Open and Distance Learning – Information and Communication Technology MINERVA ‑ Transnational Cooperation Project Project ID: 87574-CP-1-2000-1-RO-MINERVA-ODL Artificial Intelligence and Neural Network Tools for Innovative ODL PROGRESS REPORT • Workpackage: • Interval: • Coordinator: • Date: • Please provide a brief description of each activity implemented in the framework of the project, covering the points below: • ·start and end dates, stage of development • ·type of activity (activities) • ·aims • ·location(s) • ·expected benefits • ·products and results • ·description of the deliverables • ·partner(s) involved in carrying out the work • ·other organisations/contacts involved • ·costs of the activities • ·claims from the project budget, own contribution • Please explain any divergence from the work plan provided under the agreement.

16. SOCRATES MINERVA PROGRAMME Open and Distance Learning – Information and Communication Technology MINERVA ‑ Transnational Cooperation Project Project ID: 87574-CP-1-2000-1-RO-MINERVA-ODL Artificial Intelligence and Neural Network Tools for Innovative ODL INSTITUTIONAL REPORT • Interval: • Contact person: • Date: • Please provide a brief description of each activity implemented in the framework of the project, covering the points below: • ·start and end dates, stage of development • ·type of activity (activities) • ·aims • ·location(s) • ·expected benefits • ·products and results • ·description of the deliverables • ·partner(s) involved in carrying out the work • ·other organisations/contacts involved • ·costs of the activities • ·claims from the project budget, own contributionInterval: • Please explain any divergence from the work plan provided under the agreement.

17. WP1: Collaborative Learning Model (CLM) T1.1 Model cooperative problem solving and cooperation relationships T1.2 Specify features of learner behaviour and learner profile T1.3 Identify components of the cooperative learningprocess that may be supported by intelligent tools T1.4 Evaluate and validate the model in the framework of different educational environments D1.1 Report on the Collaborative Learning Model D1.2 Report on learner’s behaviour and learner profile D1.3 Report on the evaluation of the model D1.4 Pedagogic methodology to guide ODL production

18. WP2: Learner’s Profile Eliciting Tool (LPET) T2.1 Implement student tracking tool and collect statistics T2.2 Build the database with collected statistics on student behaviour T2.3 Install and tailor the learner’s profile eliciting tool T2.4 Build the database with learner’s profiles T2.5 Evaluation and validation of the approach and of its effectiveness in learning. D2.1 Database with student behaviour features and learner profiles D2.2 Software tool to elicit the learning profile D2.3 Manual of LPET D2.4 Report on testing and evaluation of LPET D2.5 Papers to present the results to project workshops and to other scientific events connected to ODL and ICT based learning

19. The LPET tools records information about the following entities: • student (name, gender, login name, password, e-mail address), • course (name, description, folder on server, teacher/supervisor,chapters/subchapters, abstracts, HTML files building the course), • teacher ((name, login name, password, e-mail address), • entries (enrolments of students for courses), • tests (related course, number of questions, set of questions, maximum timeallowed, final/non-final test), • test results (student ID, answer for each question in test, resultedscore), • path (marks the path of one student through the course material), • self tests (same info as for imposed tests, but with no recording of theobtained scores), • course extensions (Web links added by students and approved by thesupervisor as valid references that are extending the course material).

20. User Tracking Mechanism Database Initialize Student ID Login Course ID Level 0 Session object Chapter ID Level 1 Questions Time Subchapter ID Level 2 Testing Module

21. WP3: Automatic Tutoring Tool (ATT) T3.1 Specify the interface and standard form of data for links with other modules T3.2 Install and tailor the ATT T3.3 Adapt ATT to work according to the student profile T3.4 Evaluation and validation of ATT and of its effectiveness inlearning D3.1 Software tool for automatic tutoring D3.2 Manual of ATT D3.3 Report on testing and evaluation of ATT D3.4 Papers to present the results to project workshops and to other scientific events connected to ODL and ICT based learning

22. Tutor Agent architecture and functionality

23. WP4: Learner’s Personal Assistant (LPA) T4.1 Specify the interface and standard form of data for links with other modules T4.2 Install and tailor the LPA T4.3 Evaluation and validation of ATT and of its effectiveness in learning D4.1 Software tool for personal assistant D4.2 Manual of LPA D4.3 Report on testing and evaluation of LPA D4.4 Papers to present the results to project workshops and to other scientific events connected to ODL and ICT based learning

24. Learner Personal Agent architecture and functionality

25. Personalized navigation through learning material • Functional Requirements • Full accessibility from within the Web • Full database support for all entities in the system • Multi-level informational structure • Monitoring/registration of user variables • Asynchronous communication services • Multi-language dictionary and thesaurus • Testing module

26. Student Module Registration Database Server Login Testing & Evaluation Course Navigation User monitoring System Features Forum area Dictionary Search engine Course extension

27. Level Structure of the Course Level 1 Content Course summary Course description Chapter List Subchapter ID Chapter ID Level 2 Database Server Main course body Chapter description Subchapter List Subchapter description Subchapter File Level 3 Detailed information, References, Links, Questions

29. Information Retrieval Facilities • Functional Requirements • Possibility to search for one/multiple word(s) • Links of the fields: And/Or/Phrase • Choice of targets for the search engine: courses, chapters, subchapters, links • Links to Web Search Engines

30. WP5: ODL courses on Bio-Medical Data Processing and Visualisation using the new AI&NN tools (BMDPV) T5.1 Produce on-line form of learning material for M1 T5.2 Link on-line material of M1 with the AI&NN too T5.3 Experiment M1 with target students and evaluate learning performances and pedagogical merits T5.4 Produce on-line form of learning material for M2 T5.5 Link on-line material of M2 with the AI&NN tools T5.6 Experiment M2 with target students and evaluatelearning performances and pedagogical merits D5.1 ODL module M1, D5.2 CD with M1 D5.3 Manual of M1 (printed and on-line) D5.4 Report on experiments and evaluation for M1 D5.5 ODL module M2, D5.6 CD with M2 D5.7 Manual of M2 (printed and on-line) D5.8 Report on experiments and evaluation for M2 D5.9 Papers to present the results to project workshops and to other scientific events connected to ODL and ICT based learning

31. WP6: Elaboration of Instructions, Guidelines, and Examples of integrating the AI&NN tools with existent ODL materials (IGE) T6.1Elaborate instructions and guidelines on how to integrate the AI&NN tools with existing ODL material T6.2 Development of the current experimental exercises to produce a set of simple parallel programming exercises designed to collect and store information in a format suitable for input to the AI&NN tools T6.3 Integrate AI&NN tools with the HPC course T6.4Develop a new course exercise, based on collaborative work. T6.5 Evaluate overall effectiveness of system and provide input toguidelines on methodology for development

32. D6.1 Report on methodology for development and integration D6.2 AI&NN enhanced ODL module to teach HPC D6.3 CD with the module D6.4 Manual of module (printed and on-line) D6.5 Report on experiments and evaluation D6.6 Papers to present the results to project workshops and to other scientific events connected to ODL and ICT based learning

33. WP7: Testing, evaluation, assessment and dissemination of AI&NN tools for innovative ODL (TEAD) T7.1 Perform testing T7.2 Perform evaluation T7.3 Elaborate questionnaires, perform survey and synthesis of the results T7.4 Develop the website of the project T7.5 Produce leaflet and CD for project presentation T7.6 Contact other institutions to participate in the evaluation and further dissemination of results T7.7 Produce regular inputs for the dissemination of project results and deliverables by the European Commission T7.8 Produce an executive summary of the key deliverables and translate it into the partners’ languages: French, German, Portuguese, and Romanian

34. D7.1 General report evaluation and assessment D7.2 General report on methodolgy D7.3 Proceedings of workshops and summer schools D7.4 Website of the project (see components above) D7.5 Leaflet of the project D7.6 CD of presentation of the project D7.7 Regular inputs for the dissemination of project results and deliverables by the European Commission and for the participation in the electronic fora organised by the EC D7.8 Executive summary of the key deliverables of the workpackages into each of the partners’ languages

35. Testing module Components: • Self-Evaluation Tests • Final Tests • Possible use of test results: • user profiling • student reports for the use of teachers • student classification • customizing future tests • adapting the course content

36. Additional resources • asynchronous tool for communication • compensates the lack of direct communication • communication between students – teacher • posting of messages • reading of messages posted by other people • replying to other people's messages Forum Dictionary • bilingual dictionary • more than 80000 entries • exact search of a word • expression search based on a given word