Having the ability to automatically identify learning-related information while the learning process occurs is meaningful for both instructors and developers. Instructors may use this continuously gathered information to respond personally to their students and their unique needs, and hence to cope with heterogeneous groups of learners. Developers may build advanced self-responding mechanisms, heading towards adaptive digital learning environments.

The project will be built upon several tasks of research/development, all of which are following the main goal:

• Researching various Web-based learning environments: Different online learning environments might reveal different aspects of the online learner's profile. For this, we would like to examine learners' behavior in various types of environments, such as: educational games, exam systems, fully online courses, asynchronous learning networks, etc. Log files for those environments should be accessible for research.

• Researching different populations. For constructing a model of the online learner's behavior, we would like to research different populations, such as: K-12 pupils, higher education students, life-long-learners, learning within industry, etc…

• Developing software mechanisms. Software should be used for extracting information from the log files, in order to translate it into meaningful learning-oriented variables.

• Applying adaptive methods. In order to apply the knowledge that will be gathered into practical concepts of adapting learning systems, this topic should be well understood beforehand. Research should be conducted regarding the directions which adaptive systems should follow.

• Realizing ethical aspects. Many important ethical issues arise while conducting a research using Web mining techniques. A main focus should be put on shedding light on those issues of concern.

As a result of all of the above activities, software mechanisms for portraying the online learner will be developed. The theoretical knowledge that will stand beyond those mechanisms is another product of the project.

Experts in data mining,

Experts in Web based learning,

Experts in adaptive learning,

Educational software development,

Experts in Ethics

• Empirically researching various Web based leaning environments and different populations in such enviroments

• Developing software mechanisms for analyzing the log files, both in real-time and offline

• Applying adaptive methods and researching them

• Realizing ethical aspects of using the learners' log files both for research and for market