1. A vision of desirable eLearning and eInclusion development trends in Latvia Dr. Andrejs Ermuiža, lead researcher University of Latvia Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, Riga, Latvia, ermuiza@edi.lv

2. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20052 Content of presentation My interests in the urgent problem and offered approach Vision desideratum about ICT application in Latvia Status quo in the areas of social inclusion and education What we should have? Access to internet in all regions of Latvia Origination of motivations and opportunities for eInclusion Preparation of eContent for different branches Strategy directed to eLearning profile and individualization Overcoming of language barriers

3. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20053 My interests and proposed approach to relate eLearning with eInclusion I am apply myself to solving problems of risk averting in safety- critical systems. I think that in these both areas (1 – inclusion, 2- risk averting) are some common features: we must maintain monitoring of individual objects (persons): (1) process of solving problems of social inclusion (using eLearning) as improvement in some features is similar with (2) Process of averting critical states in safety-critical systems. But the missions in these processes are different: Wellbeing progress due to improving inclusion in 1-st case protection the objects and their environment in 2-nd case

4. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20054 Common features for both processes Earmarking preferable groups of objects for monitoring Planning distribution of resources between groups in accordance with their preferences Individualized monitoring of each object in the group

5. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20055 The Vision desideratum about ICT applications Access to knowledge bases for in all regions of Latvija An appropriate knowledge portal of eContent for eLearning about operational (ready to use) knowledge in different areas (like ‘’How Stuff Works’’ in USA) for qualitative decision making Facility of personalised learning for anybody and flexibilty in terms of: Place Time Pace and style Disposable profiled knowledge base for different learner needs Organized tutorship for eLearning monitoring with benefits Accesability of mobile equipment for individual languge and skills learning

6. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20056 Example of www.howstuffsworks.com using for operational purposewww.howstuffsworks.com Assume that you must go to one of Asian states You know that there may be risk to catch SARS Where you can get information (new knowledge) how to prevent this risk? One of possible ways - you visit www.howstuffsworks.com and get helpful instructions how to protect yourself from SARSwww.howstuffsworks.com Conclusion: The set of new knowledge makes eContent

7. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20057 What ought to be eLearning in my point of view? eLearning combines learning with technologies to facilitate the learning process Tutors and learners communicate using e-mail or discussion forums and specalized means for registration and records keeping There must be personalized monitoring for each learner which may be automatized by using software agents Of prime importance is the content of the eLearning materials – its availability in the mother tongue of learner eLearning uses operational knowledges in multiple formats in a variety of media from simle pdf files to animations and video

8. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20058 A model of eLearning with agents as fulcrum of process personalisation

9. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 20059 Possible categories of learners Pupils Students Lifelong learners Foreign language learners Unemployed Prospective businessmans and entrepreneurs

10. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200510 Profiles and stages of learning Each category of learners demands to apply own profile and sets of learning scenarios which is prescribed by tutors and agents interaction The process of eLearning consists of several stages with increasing complexity Succesion of stages depends from abilities of learner which make possible to select and promote more talented learners

11. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200511 Why ought to be essential software agents using? The eLearning process must be standardized and automatized in order to increase its efficiency The facilities of tutors for monitoring is less than in case of standardized software agents using The induvialised approach for monitoring is hard to be implemented without standardization and without software agents using

12. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200512 Topicality of eInclusion in Latvia Shortcomings that raise exclusion in Latvia for some categories of residents (inhabitants): Hight unemploiment rate especially in the rural regions – the teleworking could be improve this situation Lingual barriers between certain groups of inhabitants Insufficient information how to start business processes and bureaucracy barriers to obtain it Lack of motivation eLearning due to inacccesability and misunderstanding

13. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200513 How eLearning may be useful for eInclusion? Social inclusion demands personalised approach and monitoring as like as eLearning For social inclusion it may be useful to earmark preferable groups for their monitoring and for resource distribution planning The eInclusion is especially important for young people and those with poor motivation

14. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200514 Pros and cons of Latvian system of education (-)Difficult access to obtaining knowledge: small motivation for studies (low salary in perspective) High tution fee Unpopular livelong education (+) there exists portal of explanatory dictionary (www.termini.lv a.o.)www.termini.lv A great number of students in the universities Opportunities to study in different countries Motivation to reach knowledge based society

15. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200515 Advantages and disadvantages of existing technological progress for eLearning (+) Most of active inhabitants have cellular phones Via cellular phones one may have access to internet Technological progress of cellular phones is in boom (-) Low percentage of home internet users in Latvia Lack of eLearning services for internet users no eLearning services to master a language or any skills using cellular phones Potentialities of cellular phones finger-board is limited

16. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200516 Pros and cons of conventional ICT application (+) Possibility to obtain operative knowledge Possibility to operative cooperation in wide areas (-) Necessity to have on-line access to internet Necessity to know all the tricks of internet using Necessity to know english Lack of links between knowledge and context No ways and means for individualized eLearning

17. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200517 What kind ought to be eContent for eLearning? It must be available in the mother tongue of learners and within limits multilingual to master alanguage It must contain graphical information besides textual one The involment of scientists (think-tanks) for knowledge expertise is highly desireable There may be goods advertising incomes from business companies

18. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200518 Conclusions The eLearning is very important for inclusion and must be combined with eInclusion in order to reach knowledge society For efficient and all-inclusive eLearning implementing there is needful multiprofiled latvian eContent building which has to based on operational knowledge using As potential method for knowledge access there may be considered services of cellular phones

19. Dr. A. Ermuiža, eBaltics, 200519 References www.termini.lv www.howstuffworks.com www.content-willage.org/europe catching up in e-Learning www.content-willage.org/europe http://www.cordis.lu/ist/workprogramme/wp0506_en/2_5_11.htm ftp://ftp.cordis.lu/pub/ist/docs/productivity-paradigm.pdf