Eduserv Research Grants

Research grant recipients: 2007 starters

We are now in the final stages of awarding grants to the following projects:

SLEUTH – Second Life Educational Undertakings in Theatre History

This 24 month project, led by Richard Beacham (Centre for Computing in the Humanities, KCL), will construct 20 historic theatres in Second Life, creating an extensive, content-rich range of research-based virtual environments, and generating highly innovative, interactive teaching and learning resources. The project will combine the pedagogical, research, technical and methodological expertise of a group of national and international leaders in their fields, including: Hugh Denard (Centre for Computing in the Humanities, KCL); the King's Visualisation Lab; The Higher Education Subject Centres for English, and for Dance, Drama and Music, as well as members of the communities that they serve; David Kaskel (LanguageLab); Mark Childs, consultant in Educational Technology, and King's Digital Consultancy Service.

Learning from Online Worlds; Teaching in Second Life

This 12 month project, led by Diane Carr and involving Martin Oliver and Andrew Burn (all at the London Knowledge Lab) will research and theorise learning in two online social worlds (World of Warcraft and Second Life). The project will use this theory to develop practical recommendations for learning and teaching, and test these by teaching courses in Second Life.

Online Learning with Immersive Virtual Environments using Sloodle

This 12 month project, led by Dan Livingstone (University of Paisley) and involving Jeremy Kemp (San Jose State University), will research and develop pedagogical theories relevant to multi-user 3D virtual worlds and use these to inform and lead the development of Sloodle and to support the growing community of educators using 3D virtual worlds.

Modelling4All – Web services to enable non-programmers to collaboratively build and analyse computer models

Computer modelling is playing an increasingly important role in fields as varied as sociology, epidemiology, zoology, economics, archaeology, ecology, climate, and engineering. This project, led by Ken Kahn and involving Howard Noble (both at the OUCS, University of Oxford), will attempt to make such modelling more widely accessible by developing easy to use Web 2.0 services for building, exploring and analysing models, encouraging the development of an on-line community where models and model components are shared, tagged, discussed, organised, and linked to other resources.  Furthermore, the project will explore the possibilities of providing an immersive first-hand experience of the execution of models within Second Life.

Research grant recipients: 2006 starters

The Foundation has awarded funding to three research projects in the fields of e-learning and identity management.

• Kate Dickens, Eduserv Research Project at the University of Southampton
  Project title: The management, use and re-purposing of language learning objects.
  The project will address three issues in particular:
  • adding context rich metadata to RLOs to assist in resource discovery and material selection
  • streamlining processes in the selection, export and licensing of resources
  • the ease with which RLOs can be re-used or re-purposed.
  The project's deliverables will include open source tools.
  • adding context rich metadata to RLOs to assist in resource discovery and material selection
  • streamlining processes in the selection, export and licensing of resources
  • the ease with which RLOs can be re-used or re-purposed.
  The project's deliverables will include open source tools.
• Steven Furnell, Eduserv Research Project at the University of Plymouth
  Project title: Flexible and non-intrusive user authentication for mobile devices.
  The project seeks to remove the reliance upon a single authentication metric (eg PIN based authentication). An operational prototype will be developed and tested in common usage scenarios, to include use of biometrics with a range of mobile devices.
• Chi Nguyen, Eduserv Research Project at the University of Portsmouth
  Project title: Open source authentication software that uses random questions about user activities to verify identity.
  The project aims to improve accuracy and usability of current authentication methods initially in education institutions by generating random authentication questions from a subset of student information. Software deliverables will be designed for Internet and mobile applications in academic and commercial organisations.

Research grant recipients: 2005 starters

Three projects were awarded funding in this the second round of Eduserv's Research Grants Programme. The funding was intended to support projects that encouraged the application of ICT in education.

• Peter Jeavons, Eduserv Research Project at the University of Oxford.
  Project title: Developing the infrastructure for a distributed e-library of medieval music transcriptions in standardised format.
  The project uses a new coding system for neume symbols to develop innovative software that significantly extends the capabilities for visualisation, comparison, and analysis of chant transcriptions. The project website provides more detail and latest news.
• Jonathan Rosewell, Eduserv Research Project at the Open University.
  Project title: Bayesian keys: biological identification on mobile devices.
  The project will develop identification software using Bayesian statistics and also exploit new mobile technologies. The effectiveness of the system will be evaluated in an educational setting.
• Heather Wharrad, Eduserv Research Project at the University of Nottingham.
  Project title: Cross sector development and delivery of reusable learning objects to support lifeling learning in health sciences and practice.
  The project builds on progress made by an existing successful community of practice and will pursue the creation of high quality e-learning content in the form of reusable learning objects (RLOs).

Research grant recipients: 2004 starters

The Eduserv Research Fellowships and Research Grants Programme for 2003/2004 offered funding for projects in the areas of cognitive science, computer science and educational research. We were particularly interested in research concerning the use and management of online digital resources and the evaluation of e-learning. Four applicants were awarded funding.

• Julie Coultas, Eduserv Research Fellow at the University of Sussex.
  Project title: How compelling is the evidence for the effectiveness of e-learning in the post-16 sector? A systematic review.
  The aim of this project was to assist institutions with future investment decisions concerning e-learning technology and infrastructure. The project used expert seminars to gather information and to communicate directly with interested parties.
  
  The project website is at http://www.reveel.sussex.ac.uk. The project has now ended and the final report on its findings is expected to be available soon.
  
  
• Diane Carr, Eduserv Research Fellow at the Institute of Education, London.
  Project title: Digital technology: learning and 'game formats'. Computer games, motivation, and gender in educational contexts.
  Diane's research aims to investigate the actual and potential benefits of computer game formats in educational settings.
  
  The project website provides further background information as well as details of forthcoming conferences and events with which Diane is involved.
  
  
• Raquel Morales, Eduserv Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge.
  Project title: Collaborative eLearning.
  Raquel's project investigates the collaborative development of reusable learning objects (RLOs). Her work builds on earlier progress made in this area by UCeL (Universities' Collaboration in eLearning), based at Cambridge. UCeL's multi-institutional approach contributes to its HE-wide perspective.
  
  UCeL's website at http://www.ucel.ac.uk/ includes information about GLOs (generative learning objects), one of Raquel's areas of interest.
  
  
• Graham McAllister, Eduserv Research Project at Queen's University Belfast.
  Project title: Multi-modal interfaces for Internet access.
  Graham and his colleague Wai Yu are developing ways for visually impaired individuals to interact better with the Internet. The research focuses on touch and audio methods to increase accessibility, paying particular attention to navigational issues.
  
  The project website is available at http://www.web4blind.org/