Access keys Search Skip navigation
Research Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning
Interactive and digital television for learning
Interactive and digital television (iDTV) is a new technology with great potentional for teaching and learning and it could be particularly helpful for improving inclusion and widening participation by taking e-learning directly into people’s homes. For several years we have been following the development of iDTV and carrying out research and development investigating it's possible application.
Earlier LSC/LSDA projects to test the feasibility and effectiveness of using interactive digital television (iDTV) for skills for life learning included development of the easy to use and robust iDTV service Kickstart TV which has successfully attracted large numbers of non-traditional learners. This report describes enhancements made to KickstartTV to provide a pilot service for offender e-learning and reports the findings of research to inform further development and to identify possible advantages of and barriers to the use of iDTV for offender e-learning.
The articles in this publication bring together information, research findings and lessons learned during 4 years of research and development (2003–2006) focussing on the potential of interactive digital television (iDTV) for literacy and numeracy teaching and learning. This research and development initially explored the potential of iDTV for engaging and supporting hard-to-reach learners and encouraging them to attempt basic skills qualifications. This was followed by the development and evaluation of a pilot iDTV service, Kickstart TV, which has proven technical feasibility and an ability to attract to learning viewers not attracted by traditional education or training.
Encouraged by the findings of the earlier research the LSC initiated a pilot project to explore in detail the feasibility of using iDTV to deliver basic skills learning materials and support basic skills learners. The work of this project, led by Paula Taylor, resulted in the launch of Kickstart TV in November 2004 on Telewest and Sky with promotional/motivational films on Community Channel. The Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit (ABSSU, now the Skills for Life team) at the Department for Education and Skills provided extra support for the project, and Ufi provided access to some learndirect learning materials. LSDA provided research and evaluation services, collaborating with John Traxler of the Applied Innovative Digital Technologies Research Group at the University of Wolverhampton. LSN also managed enhancements to the software and carried out, with Wolverhampton, further evaluation as part of an Innovative Technologies research and development project funded by LSC. This publication provides an overview of the pilot project and the findings of the evaluation (also available on paper with a demonstration DVD).
In 2003 we published "interactive TV a learning platform with potential" to raise awareness about the current and near-future developments of interactive TV and the potential role for the TV in bringing more personalised learning opportunities in the home.
Also in 2003 we collaborated with the Institute of Education at University of London to research the potential of iDTV for basic skills learning on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Our researchers concluded:
We feel interactive digital TV presents a tremendous opportunity to reach many adult basic skills learners who have not been previously reached by traditional educational institutions, learning centres or online learning.