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Open Standard-Based Digital TV Browser in

T-learning Päivi Aarreniemi-Jokipelto

Helsinki University of TechnologySeppo Kalli

Tampere University of TechnologyFinland

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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.

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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

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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

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Motive learning environment

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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.

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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

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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.

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Graded assignments

• Constructed with a form element that enables interactive forms for students’ answers

• Forms include <form> tag with an attribute “action” that defines a URL where to send the student’s answer, when the send button is pushed

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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

Stu

de

nt

Te

ach

er

Computers: web form

DTV

Mobile phones: SMS

Stu

de

nt

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Pilots

1. Experimental environment, 20022. 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 59Students 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

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Questions!

paivi.aarreniemi-jokipelto@hut.fi