The Akogrimo Mobile Grid Framework as Enabling Technology for Next Generation eLearning Paradigms

The next generation of eLearning will be represented by mobile learning (mLearning). This consideration is justified by the observation that the next dimension of learning and training is the development of wireless communication and wireless learning in our society over the coming years. Future is becoming ever more wireless and at the eLearning domain there is an increasing effort to put in place wireless solutions to replace the wired computer scenarios of today’s eLearning. At the same time, there is a significant effort to introduce an enhanced learning approach, based on a paradigm that focuses on the learner and on new forms of learning: the learner will have an active and central role in the learning process and the learning activities will be aimed at facilitating the learner’s construction of knowledge and skills. Grid technologies can have a leading role in this approach since they are able to provide, in the next generation, the suitable features to achieve this vision. Mobile and Grid Technologies provide complementary features that can address the requirements of next generation eLearning applications and therefore the merging of both Technologies is a relevant challenge to be accomplished. The result of Akogrimo project will be a platform based on both mobile and Grid technologies. This platform will be able to support different application domains and it will be validated through an eLearning application as well. This paper describes a hypothetical mLearning scenario and how Akogrimo will support it [1