Abstract:

It is necessary to provide supports on both aspects of education and technology for developing human resources who can study independently and contribute to society through their lives. In the former aspect we have studied what kinds of learning skills or literacy are acquired, and how we support a learner to build own learning style for continuous learning. As the latter, we have continued to develop a learning environment that gives the learner a prompt or facilitation toward their learning more deepen.

Recently we launched a project to design and develop a NGDLE (Next Generation Digital Learning Environment). According to A Report on Research of EDUCAUSE, "its principal functional domains are interoperability; personalization; analytics, advising, and learning assessment; collaboration; and accessibility and universal design. Since no single application can deliver in all those domains, we recommend a “Lego” approach to realizing the NGDLE, where NGDLE-conforming components are built that allow individuals and institutions the opportunity to construct learning environments tailored to their requirements and goals" (M. Brown and N. Millichap 2015). Thus, we characterize NGDLE as an integrated or a mashed-up small ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) learning support systems, and as a tailored learning environment that we can employ in formal and informal learning.

In design of our NGDLE, we particularly focus on cooperation between new technologies being transformable to education like AI, IoT sensing and exists for learning support, because we aspire that the constructing environment will realize comprehensive learner supports providing various learning resources such as a facilitating prompts for learning, materials personally optimized learning suggested by a learning data analysis. We have already developed some small educational systems for supporting independent study, and studied effectiveness of the system in and/or outside a class. For example, a system prompting reflective thinking with SNS (Social Networking Services) helps students’ learning experiences. It not only encourages thinking more deepen, but also make an contribution cultivating meta-cognitive monitoring/control. We plan those systems will be incorporated into our NGDLE as functionalities or learning tools.

We would show you the design of our NGDLE, and related efforts for developing human resources to study self-directly and contribute to society through this project.As is well-known, there are many leading institutions, especially in EU and USA, to provide technological supports for learners to facilitate effective and efficient learning inside/outside class. Through this project, we would learn from, if possible collaborate, with the leading institutions to make a contribution teaching and learning support with technologies.

Keywords:

ICT learning supports, Personal Learning Environment, Self-Directed Learners.