1 Open Standard-Based Digital TV Browser in T-learning Päivi Aarreniemi-Jokipelto Helsinki University of Technology Seppo Kalli Tampere University of Technology Finland

2 Introduction The use of the DVB-HTML browser for learning purposes and the results of the pilot course using the DVB-HTML browser are presented The study is based on the 3 year Motive project in Industrial IT Laboratory of Helsinki University of Technology that ended in April 2004 The state of interactive T-learning in Finland is on a planning level.

3 T-learning Refers to the use of digital TV for educational purposes Shorthand for TV-based interactive learning and it is about having interactive access to video-rich learning materials primarily within the home, through a digital- TV STB Convergence between interactive TV and e- learning

4 Digital TV educational services 1.Traditional educational TV programming 2.Interactive value-added educational services, which can be exploited as independent contents or combined with A/V services

5 Motive learning environment

6 Study question We have tested, if the Digital Video Broadcasting – HyperText Markup Language (DVB-HTML) satisfies the special requirements of adult education in distance learning. The DVB-HTML does not require huge programming, thus we can concentrate on learning in the content production.

7 Learning material We have used a non- linear course structure in our course which allows browsing of the learning materials in desired piece and order

8 Self assessment assignments A student is allowed to perform as many times as requested In the case of an incorrect answer, the student has easy access to the learning material with help of a supplied link.

9 Graded assignments Constructed with a form element that enables interactive forms for students’ answers Forms include tag with an attribute “action” that defines a URL where to send the student’s answer, when the send button is pushed

10 Communication Intended for better communication Functionalities through the using of many platforms; computers, digital TV, mobile phones and communicators. The DVB-HTML browser was also used in viewing chat messages in digital TV. Interaction StudentTeacher Computers: web form DTV Mobile phones: SMS Student

11 Pilots 1.Experimental environment, Over cable DTV network, 2004 Commercially available none MHP STBs for cable networks  only 8 students LDGE-course, 2 cr –MCCS enabled communication –Graded assignments (return channel) –Self-assessment assignments and group assignments –Learning material (DVB-HTML) 1.Students’ ages vary between 26 and 59 Students from computer science and industrial engineering and 2.The students’ ages vary between 38 and 55 and all students were men All students had earlier studied in WBEs

12 In the research were analyzed Is DVB-HTML Browser suitable for T- learning? Is the Browser easy to use? Are color keys useful in navigation? Are the links supporting learning and fast navigation to additional learning material? Is any changes required in the Browser?

13 Is the browser suitable for learning purposes? Yes 86 % Students’ comments: The browser is suitable for browsing and reading It is a little bit slower to browse the learning material compared to the use of a mouse and a keyboard, but it was a positive surprise compared to my expectations in advance.

14 Was the use of color buttons useful in navigation? Yes 100 % Students’ comments: The color buttons were the best of the system. The color buttons make it easier to navigate in the learning material.

15 If you had answered incorrect in individual self assessment questions, did you use the link to get easily to learning material to study more? Yes 71 % Did the links support learning? Yes 100 % Students’ comments: It made the searching of correct information faster, what is important this kind of environment. The links were useful.

16 Is digital TV suitable to be used as a learning environment? Yes 87 % Students’ arguments: Digital TV is a media for everyone, whereas a computer is still not. Digital TV is an option for learning. I think that digital TV has good chances to become an important learning environment Naturally, digital TV demands still further development

17 T-learning, M-learning, E-learning In digital TV we face same kind of challenges as in using mobile phones, because of the limitations in user interface of digital TV DTV –Limited screen –Remote control of a STB as the only control device –Navigation –Writing (virtual keyboard) –Television screen is watched from longer distance than a PC screen

18 Advantages of iDTV Television is an easy-to-use device The audience tends to trust the contents showed on TV Accessibility is the most important reason to use digital TV for learning purposes. Television as an easy-to-use device makes it easy to start to use interactive services.

19 Advantages of iDTV DTV services have been desired to stay as easy-to- use as traditional television services has been. DTV seems to have the image of a familiar and secure device. Television has been significant sub-device in learning in the form of a school television via analog TV, thus the use of digital TV for learning purposes is not new idea.

20 Advantages of iDTV Collaboration occurs, when more than just one person works on a single problem-solving task (Marttunen et al., 2005) The results of the pilot course indicates that iDTV suites for collaborative learning iDTV enables multi channel interaction, which supports the requirements of lifelong learning. In our pilots, students were studying aside with their work and family duties

21 Conclusions According to the results, the DVB-HTML is a good candidate for T-learning in interactive digital TV. It seems to satisfy the requirements of adult education in distance learning. It is easy to produce DVB-HTML based learning material. The DVB-HTML browser is flexible and enables many functions, i.e. presenting learning materials and responding to assignments and viewing the conversations.

22 Questions!