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E-Learning and the Process of Studying in Virtual Contexts

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E-Learning Paradigms and Applications

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 528))

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Abstract

During the last several decades, the cultural pressures exerted by urban societies on the rural ones have led to a loss of cultural identity in the villages of South-East Europe. We believe that e-learning represents a solution for the preservation and continuation of the cultural identity in rural communities, as defined by traditional technologies and crafts. The present approach is based on a learning-by-playing teaching method and mobile-learning in real and virtual contexts. An original software application was designed for mobile devices making use of Augmented Reality technologies and delivering as main educational content 3D reconstructions of traditional environments and objects. The application integrates AI elements in the form of software agents. In this chapter the authors present the application prototype focusing on the role of software agents for the development of narrative e-learning tools and on the evaluation of the educational outcomes. Conclusions of this research and future work are also presented.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    2006–2007, Grant CNCSIS 945, Space, water, fire. The Hydrostrategies and protechnologies of the traditional habitat, Romania; Gheorghiu [18].

  2. 2.

    2000–2002, Gant World Bank and CNCSIS, The revitalization of ceramic tradition, Romania; 2003–2005, Grant CNCSIS 1612, The revitalization of traditional technologies, Romania.

  3. 3.

    3D reconstructions by Assis. Prof. Alexandra Rusu (National University of Arts, Bucharest).

  4. 4.

    Video footage: Lect. Adrian Şerbănescu (University Spiru Haret, Bucharest).

  5. 5.

    Weaving experiments: Assist. Prof. Alexandra Rusu and technician Elena Haut (National University of Arts, Bucharest).

  6. 6.

    3D reconstructions by: arch. Andra Jipa, Cristina Kudor and Inga Bunduche (National University of Arts, Bucharest).

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank to the editor Professor Mirjana Ivanovic for her moral support during the elaboration of the text, Mrs. Laura Voicu, the principal of the Vădastra school, Vădastra village, Olt county, for the help during the summer campaigns, Professor Andreea Hasnaş, Professor Viorica Slădescu and technician Elena Haut (NUA) for their collaboration and to the art students and children who volunteered in the project. Last but not least, our gratitude goes to Mr. Bogdan Căpruciu for reviewing the translation.

The project was financed by an exploratory research grant PN II IDEI (The Maps of Time. Real communities, virtual world, experimented pasts, Director Prof. Dragoş Gheorghiu).

Images by D. Gheorghiu and A. Şerbănescu.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National University of Arts, Bucharest, Romania

    Dragoş Gheorghiu & Alexandra Rusu

  2. Institute for Computers ITC, Bucharest, Romania

    Livia Ştefan

Authors
  1. Dragoş Gheorghiu
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  2. Livia Ştefan
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  3. Alexandra Rusu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Livia Ştefan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Mirjana Ivanović

  2. Faculty of Education, Science, Technology & Mathematics, University of Canberra, Canberra, South Australia, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

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Gheorghiu, D., Ştefan, L., Rusu, A. (2014). E-Learning and the Process of Studying in Virtual Contexts. In: Ivanović, M., Jain, L. (eds) E-Learning Paradigms and Applications. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 528. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41965-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41965-2_3

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