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Adaptation of e-Learning Environments
Determining National Differences through Context MetadataThomas Richter [BIO] and Jan M. Pawlowski [BIO] (e-Learning Research Center, Korean German Institute of Technology, KGIT, Seoul – South Korea)
Email: richter@kgit.re.kr and jan.pawlowski@icb.uni-due.de
ABSTRACT:
The paper shows how existing e-learning modules can be internationalized using structured information on the context and specifically culture. Reusing e-Learning contents is a promising concept for the internationalization or cross-cultural purposes. However, most adaptation efforts are often limited to pure language translation.
As the only alternative is rewriting, reusability allows a massive cost reduction by implementing and adapting already established courses, for example into developing countries on a low-cost level. Our approach provides a basis for international and cross-cultural adaptation. In the approach, we identify, collect and store as many parameters about the source and target context and culture as available. After comparing contexts, we determine changing needs by analyzing the impacting differences.
To implement this approach on a large-scale, we plan a public database containing the necessary information for the comparison process. In our research, we have identified a set of around 170 parameters describing national and, more specifically, cultural attributes related to various situations. Utilizing those in an adequate way will lead to an easier and efficient adaptation process.
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