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Automatic Textbook Construction and Web Delivery in the 21st Century

           Ingo Dahn

Abstract

Regarding the high dynamics of the technical development in the area of publishing of teaching materials it is hardly possible to predict the situation that will be found by the end of the 21st century. Therefore, the following notes only pretend to summarize the situation that we observe currently and to project some of the apparent tendencies into the near future. Moreover we shall confine ourselves subsequently to the discussion of new possibilities for the use of textbooks in education that arise from the simultaneous availability of electronic media.

We shall start with a discussion of the specific strengths and weaknesses of textbooks and electronic media. Then, recognizing the merits of each form, we shall describe the major parts of Slicing Book Technology which aims to combine printed books and online components. The added value provided by this technology will be described and illustrated by a sample book that appeared recently on the market in Germany.

In the next part we shall compare Internet supported books with Computer Based Training (CBT) systems with special emphasis on the learner modeling components. Finally we discuss possibilities for the electronic combination of learning materials from various textbooks and the European TRIAL-SOLUTION project.

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Last changed: April 16, 2002