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2016 ITU Kaleidoscope Academic Conference

is also included in the paper. Moreover, some novel Portal [12] (Figure 1) has been developed “to provide
proposals to fill the gap of standardization related to the access to a set of online labs from worldwide renowned
analysis and evaluation of the learner QoE in these TEL research organizations, such as European Space Agency
systems and scenarios are presented. (ESA, the Netherlands), European Organisation for
The structure of the paper is as follows. In section 2 a Nuclear Research (CERN, Switzerland), Núcleo Interactivo
review of recent literature on TEL strategies and related de Astronomia (NUCLIO, Portugal), as well as multiple
standardization activities is included. Section 3 presents a universities and institutions. These online labs can be used
general description of NEWTON, the project that aims to by universities, schools, instructors, students and lifelong
build a novel TEL-based learning platform. Novel related learners to extend regular learning activities with scientific
standardization proposals for the enhancement of the QoE experiments that can be conducted not only by teachers as
evaluation in this kind of platforms will be described in a demonstration, but also by students themselves giving
section 4. In section 5, the proposed pilot test bed to be them real experience of scientific work.” [12]
deployed at the University of the Basque Country Another interesting initiative in this line is the Physics
(UPV/EHU) and the expected results will be detailed. In Education Technology (PhET) project [13] which provides
the last section, main conclusions and contributions of this simulations tools in the STEM areas over a free website:
work are summarized. https://phet.colorado.edu/. Under this project, more than 80
interactive simulations have been developed covering
2. BACKGROUND different topics in Physics and also real-world applications,
such as the greenhouse effect and lasers. In [14], more
One of the goals of the pan-European learning network proposals of remote virtual laboratories with collaborative
platform proposed in NEWTON project is to be developed roles for learning environments are also described. It is
in a way that makes it possible integrate and interconnect demonstrated that this kind of virtual laboratories enhance
different teaching platforms, existing teaching platforms or the creativity and the natural dispositions of young people
newly developed in order to support fast dissemination of to experiment with ICT, as stated in [15], and may
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and encourage them also to pursue their studies and a career in
Mathematics) learning content to a large audience and also a STEM field.
to improve the access to the education for the people with Nevertheless, none of the above mentioned platforms
disabilities in particular. Harmonization, alignment and makes use of the next generation of TEL strategies, like
compliance with related standards will promote this gamification, mulsemedia or interactive augmented reality
interconnection and facilitate integration of other TEL teaching. In addition, in most of these platforms there is no
systems in the platform. analysis on the learner QoE and that is something really
Therefore, in this section, a revision of some of the important in order to have the required feedback on the
European initiatives in technology-enhanced learning TEL contribution of these TEL strategies and methods on
methods and tools is included. Some of them could be enhancing the learning and teaching processes.
considered for integration in the NEWTON platform. On In this regard, some motivating studies were carried out [2,
the other hand, the most important related standards in this 16] to analyze how to improve the learner QoE, by means
area to be complied with are also identified and described of different adaptive techniques. However, these studies did
as well as in the field of the QoE evaluation for TEL. not consider the aforementioned next generation TEL
strategies and methods.Very recently, new research on the
2.1. Innovative initiatives in TEL platforms QoE analysis when using this next generation strategies has
been raised [17, 18] and very promising applications to
A lot of studies and research have been conducted over the enhance learning have been foreseen.
past few years focusing on the analysis and benefits of TEL Nevertheless, there is a need to join efforts to integrate all
[9, 10]. Nevertheless, few of them were successful in these new advances and develop new network platforms
developing real functional platforms to fulfill concrete based on innovative TEL methods and tools. This is the one
objectives, like the ones proposed in NEWTON project of the goals of the NEWTON project.
(encouraging young students to engage to STEM education
or improving access for students with disabilities). Even
fewer proposals can be found that relates to enhancing the
learner QoE to reach those objectives.
One of the most remarkable initiatives in this context is the
the Go-Lab Project (Global Online Science Labs for
Inquiry Learning at School) [11]. In this project the goal is
to promote student´s engagement to science topics through
the access to online laboratories. In this way, students may
conduct their own experiments and analysis learning from
their own experience and motivating them to make an
STEM career in the future. For this purpose, the Go-Lab Figure 1. The Go-Lab portal [12]

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