Abstract:

The current paper, result of the research Erasmus+ project “e-Prep” (e-Preparation Portal for Teachers-Students-Parents Including Abroad Studies) has developed an innovative digital platform for teachers-students and parents. Project’s core aim is to develop effective e-training techniques, practical knowledge-containing materials, and feedback systems so that users are successfully adapting to the world of online learning and maintain their endeavors. A survey was conducted to ascertain the limits of the most typical knowledge and training requirements when offering and receiving e-learning, e-lessons, e-courses. Survey’s results illustrate the needs of educational stakeholders, to enhance students’ interest for parents to contribute to their immigrant children integration to the reductional system and for students to overcome their language difficulties, alleviating their stress.

An innovative digital multilanguage portal was developed to meet needs and be used not only in the educational system of European Union member states but also for non-European Union countries. Users are required to complete a questionnaire, such that the digital portal can identify their requirements and provide suggestions that would fulfill their needs. In parallel, parents are able to learn how to support their kids in overcoming knowledge gaps, preparation requirements, and computer skills abilities. Moreover, the platform provides guidance to teachers on how to administrate online courses efficiently. All in one, the e-Prep target is to meet educational challenges are related to global social-ethical, political, human and environmental issues and on how to use technological advancements.

The current paper based on the e-Prep project addresses actual e-Learning and e-Life realities and offers practical knowledge in parallel to questions and answers by avatars’ support for efficient communication with users. The innovative platform provides e-Learning on hybrid training principles for self-assessment questionnaires addressed to students and pupils to figure out their interest. e-Prep assumes that all beneficiaries will take advantage of the platform since it meets their needs in an engaged and innovative way of learning.

The content of the e-Prep e-learning curricula contain 9 modules to respond to any specific target group needs and prepare pupils for higher education entrance exams in the European Union states. The content of the modules is compatible with interactive and narrator-based e-Learning. Avatars have been designed, so that attractiveness elements to enhance students’ interest and promoting positive emotional experiences among viewers, developing a unique online representation. Access to learning material is offered as indexed PDF based on Google infrastructure and e-Book in HTML5 with several attractive functions.

The e-Prep platform and mobile application are innovative, user-friendly and based on extendable design criteria, so that future expansions are possible. The online users e-manual provides easy and handy navigation to users, maximizing their benefit. Moreover, the portal has been designed to succeed inclusion, providing guidance, and meeting any different educational opportunity to the existing European educational and national networks. Therefore, e-Prep educational platform supports the preparation of competent students, trainers and parents, with a profitable outlook for future candidacy in European higher education.

Keywords:

Educational platform, online learning, courses, narrator-based e-learning.