What Is iClass?

iClass is based on a strategic thought process on technology enhanced learning (TEL) and technology enhanced personal development (i.e., education), which leads to an enlarged vision on the desired technology enhanced learning and personal development for the digital/knowledge/ postmodern society. This process goes systematically all the way towards the realization of a detailed and operational pedagogical model, methodologies and technological platform.

iClass is the project initiated to develop an intelligent cognitive-based open learning system and environment, adapted to individual learners' needs and ensuring their take-up in the education sector at a European level. 

iClass Project is funded under the FP6, the European Community Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration. It is in the Technology-enhanced learning and access to cultural heritage action line, and is one of the two integrated projects in the area of education. 

iClass Project was initiated in January 1, 2004. United under a consortium lead by Siemens Business Services, 22 partners from 11 different countries are working to develop an intelligent cognitive-based open learning system and environment, adapted to individual learners' needs at a European level. The efforts will, by envisioning the educational process of the future, involve the following: (1) extensive research for the definition and design of next generation products and services, (2) the creation and testing of prototypes, (3) and the measurement of the impact to ensure effective utilization of technology in pre-university education.

What Is FP6? 

FP6 is the European Community Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration. It is a collection of the actions at EU level to fund and promote research. FP6 also provides possibilities and funding for organisations from countries outside of the EU, enabling international co-operation.

What Will Be The Output? 

At the heart of the iClass vision is the notion of personalised learning. The understanding of personalization in iClass is: personalisation through and with empowerment. From this understanding stems the emphasis put by the consortium on self-regulated personalized learning, as the key pedagogical process for which iClass system will have to be designed as a support.

A pedagogical framework that rests on a model will be the result of an operationalization of iClass vision, and it will be realized using technology-enhanced learning tools. Besides a set of methodologies for self-regulated personalized leaning is produced, that encompasses the following fields: classroom pedagogy and assessment, school change, content development, dissemination and exploitation, and evaluation. The model and the methodologies will be validated through piloting, involving teachers and practitioners at every stage.

iClass emphasis is on customization by the learner with the teacher's support that requires self-regulated learning. But it does not mean that automated customization is absent. To the contrary, iClass looks at the most meaningful complementarities and interdependencies between both processes.