Nobody need question that mobile devices have become a key fixture in our daily lives, particularly with the younger up-and-coming generations who are seemingly transfixed to their mobile phones and tablets as they move through their daily tasks. Educators, administrators, educational publishers and parents all are concerned with how best to reach out to students in an environment where mobility plays an ever-increasing role. In fact, there is a growing recognition that new approaches must be developed to engage and encourage students—ones that accommodate for their individual educational needs, while also leveraging mobile devices to create a next-generation educational platform for “learners on the go”. To meet this very important issue, and advance mobile-based educational initiatives, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) Industry Connections is sponsoring the global Actionable Data Book (ADB) Committee. The ADB Committee invites participants to work together on the design of a reference model for Connected Learning, and identify new standards that will emerge from this model.
ADB Overview
What’s different about the Actionable Data Book? ADB is a transformative blend of mobile technology, experiential analytics, and rich media delivered through interactive eBook technology. It is being developed as a reference model based solely on open standards, including the IDPF EPUB 3 specification, HTML5, Bluetooth, xAPI, and W3C packaging standards for scripting, rich media, and interactive content. Based on sound inquiry and evidence that students today learn differently and that mobile access plays an important role in their educational endeavors, ADB retains the layout and richness of a traditional textbook, yet engages learners with games, videos, collaboration tools, and real-time data. What’s more, it provides a platform where learning activities can be presented in any order, while also incorporating powerful analytical tools that enable instructors to better understand student’s educational experiences, allowing them to proactively tailor lessons and studies to meet individual learning needs.
ADB’s ready-made infrastructure enables authors and publishers to use existing and familiar tools, while providing the security and privacy controls needed for safe collaboration and regulatory compliance. It also supports both commercial and open educational resources, such as digital rights management and E-commerce. Additionally, the ADB embraces the IoT with a networked and context-aware learning experience that’s cloud-based and sensor-enabled so that books can collect and share data, content can respond to biometrics, displays can adapt to light and motion, and activities can be triggered by location. This level of connectivity also creates a platform where learners can collaborate and connect to each other through avatars and video chat to share progress, as well as share activities in social media. And, content on the web and in digital libraries is accessible, with learners also having the ability to engage and interact with experts and communities of practice.
Built-in analytic capabilities are a central functional element that sets ADB apart and positions the platform to meet future educational needs and allows for a more adaptive and personalized educational experience. This requires that individuals’ performance and engagement are measured accurately. ADB analytic tools generate clear and concise reports that can identify areas of difficulty, helping to support educational research and efforts to find ways to inspire performance. ADB analytics expose emerging patterns by providing real-time aggregate reporting and unprecedented learning analysis to readers, instructors, parents and administrators. This ability to identify details on students’ struggles not only expedites remediation, but aids in measuring the effectiveness of content and instructional methods, as well as engaging leaners in analysis of their individual performance.
“It’s clear that young people today are looking to pursue much of their educational activities on their mobile devices,” said John Costa, chair, IEEE ADB Committee. “Open standards development is elemental to support a reference model for developing a comprehensive, interactive eBook learning platform. To achieve this, we need the engagement, support and consensus of all stakeholders involved with Connected Learning, and we encourage all relevant parties to explore how they might contribute to the efforts of the ADB global team.”
John Costa, chair, IEEE ADB Committee will be presenting the latest information on the development, design and functionality of the ADB at the upcoming 69th Frankfurt Book Fair to be held 11-15 October 2017.
For information on how to join, contact the IEEE ADB team.
To learn more, visit the IEEE SA Industry Connections Actionable Data Book web page.