Abstract:

In this paper the designing and testing of an electronic learning system specifically devised to adjust the users’ needs within professional environments is discussed. The system integrates learning objects or pills, semantic intelligence and “just in time” learning as key elements.
Learning pills or learning objects are custom and individually made to meet the employees’ needs when they are needed (“just in time”). These learning objects are presented as little training content units (between 2 and 15 minute long), and among their main features are: own content, reusable, gathered into larger knowledge structures if needed, and can be tagged with metadata.
Semantic intelligence allows users to set specific problems or needs, meeting them with most suitable pills used by the system to match.
Thus, this system allows both proactive and “just in time” delivery of learning content; adaptation to users’ needs; semi-automatic generation and improvement of learning pills; and integration in long-term learning paths adjusted to performance.
Results obtained by the system in a test for a 40 professional sample (training managers, training technicians, and trainers) using 45 learning pills on the planning and management of the training process are also discussed in terms of utility of pills perceived by users, potential of the system compared to the objectives set, and future development lines.

Keywords:

Micro learning, semantic intelligence, “just in time” learning.