For a renewed academy industry research partnership

eLearningBrussels 19-20 May 2005

Towards a Learning Society

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For a renewed academy industry research partnership

Nicolas Balacheff

CNRS (France)



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A movement toward the learnerYesterday and today One teacher Many students A single time & space location

Today and tomorrow Single student among many Several didactical agents Multiple time and space

A common concern

do they learn?



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A common concern

do they learn?



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A common concern

do they learn?



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Whatdo they learn?



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The weight of knowledge (content)

RepresentationAction/feedback

Learning control

MathematicsNarrationNatural sciencesRoboticSurgery



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The weight of knowledge (content)

RepresentationAction/feedback

Learning control

MathematicsNarrationNatural sciencesRoboticSurgery

Learning is situated because

learning is knowledge dependent



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The challenge of complexity

Learner

Technology

Situations



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Learner

Technology

Situations• School• Informal learning• Learning at work

• Document• Simulations• Microworld

• Autonomous• Socialized• Collaborative

• Interactive• Wireless• Distributed• Ubiquitous• Trustable

• Knowledge• Ability



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Learner

Technology








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Learner

Technology






inquirylearning

collaborativelearning

mobilelearning



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Learner

Technology






inquirylearning


mobilelearning



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Learner

Technology






inquirylearning


mobilelearning

• Trustable



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Research, to take up the challenge

• The return of investment in research– Reliability, universality and openness of its outcomes– A method to learn from success and failure

• The cost of research– The theoretical nature of its outcomes– Its method (explicit conceptualisation, rational

validation)– Keeping asking “why?”



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The emergence of “Acadustry”• The strength of an original movement

– A dramatic increase of the links between academy and industry around human learning

– Based on a synergy of European TEL research and industry– A growing awareness of the economical role of TEL research– The challenge of “innovation”

• A problematic situtation– A research driven by the calls not by the market, not by theoretical needs

– A research organisation constrained by contractual formalisms– The erosion of the “academic” specificity– The confusion between Research, R&D and Deployment



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It speeds up innovation



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It speeds up innovation

It’s weak against failures



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Basic research



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Basic research

Need 1: a critical consensus at a conceptual and methodological

level, across disciplines and research practices

Need 2: de-fragmentation of the research workforce, its geographical and institutional distribution



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Basic research




The mission of the FP6

Networks of Excellence



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Basic research

For a renewed Academy-Industry allianceObjectives

– Consensus building about research outcomes– Intelligibility of theoretical results in a R&D context– Understanding of the “needs” and “problems”– To establish a common understanding of the priorities

• Conditions– Interface between basic research and R&D– Long lasting cooperation around testbeds– Balance between long term research and R&D




The mission of the FP6

Networks of Excellence



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– Consensus building about research outcomes– Intelligibility of theoretical results in a R&D context– Understanding of the “needs” and “problems”– Common understanding of the priorities


Obstacle 1:European eLearning companies are mostly SMEs

anchored in a country or a region Obstacle 2: European demand (users) is marked by

the diversity of the culture of learning



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– Consensus building about research outcomes– Intelligibility of theoretical results in a R&D context– Understanding of the “needs” and “problems”– Common understanding of the priorities


Systematic NoEs

cooperation

Obstacle 1:European eLearning companies are mostly SMEs

anchored in a country or a region Obstacle 2: European demand (users) is marked by

the diversity of the culture of learning

We need a

SME gridsupported by research

by 2010