OUTPUTS There will be six families of learning objects developed by the project. Each will be developed by transnational teams comprising lecturers and specialist staff from at least two countries. Each family of learning objects will comprise the use of one or more of the following techniques:? Use of a 'slide show' with audio commentary accessible via the Internet using a 'streaming server'. - experience elsewhere has shown this to be an effective tool, however it has suffered from problems when the slide show is simply a repeat of that used by the lecturer in the classroom. This project will conduct an analysis of the problems associated with standard slide show delivery and will develop solutions to the problems found.? Use of video clips, again using a streaming server, in conjunction with an audio or audio/visual commentary. The length of video clip may be important as is the ability of the student to review it or replay it if needed. The number of clips used and the amount of information contained in the clips will be studied.? Animated simulation of systems: the analysis of complete systems requires that the student is capable of introducing changes in characteristics of parts of the system and then to predict the resulting effects elsewhere in the system. The animated simulations will be developed to assist in this analysis. The project will investigate the feasibility of varying levels of system complexity that can be offered in this way.? Other methods and techniques that have been developed for learning systems in other types of discipline, such as computer applications: the partners will study existing examples and determine their applicability to high level engineering. Each family of leaning objects will be associated with a pedagogical recommendation as to how the object can be modified and used within an electronically enhanced course delivery. During the systems integration stage, the learning objects will be combined with each other and with conventional courseware to provide coherent courses of study in post-graduate level mechanical engineering disciplines. Each team will produce an interim report on the state of the art in relation to each family of learning objects. (6 in all). There will be guides in the use of the learning objects produced. (6). Each institute will have a web site carrying the learning objects embedded within one or more courses. There will be a final evaluation report on each of the families of learning objects based on the experience gained in the systems integration and field testing stages. The reports will be available in EN, FR, PO and SE. CATEGORIES OF PERSON USING THE OUTPUTS 1. State of the art reports: used by academic staff of the partner institutes in the development phase. 2. Learning objects and pedagogical guides: used by academic staff of partner institutes integrating the objects into their courses. Also subsequently used by other engineering academic staff from these institutes and other HE institutes in Europe. 3. Web sites: These will be largely used by the students participating in the field test of the integrated courses run by each institute. Also available to other academics within the partner institutes and partially accessible by other interested academics elsewhere. 4. Evaluation documents: to be used widely by academics offering high level courses in Mechanical Engineering and other scientific disciplines.The Ultimate target group are the student group described earlier. That is people wishing to learn engineering disciplines at a high level without protracted attendance at conventional course. This will include engineers seeking continuing professional development as well as young graduate engineers enhancing their knowledge and capabilities. The dissemination process will make some of the benefits of the project available to undergraduate students who are not able, or who do not wish, to study by full time attendance at an Institute.Outputs 1-4 listed above will be used in the context of programme development within the framework of electronically enhanced education. The ultimate target groups will be using the outputs within the context of such programmes delivered by the partners and others. IMPLEMENTATION BY PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS It is the intention of the partners to integrate the developments within the everyday teaching work within the institutes involved. Each institute is engaged in delivery of high level engineering programmes to geographically dispersed groups. At present, such delivery entails periodic study periods resident at the institutes. These developments will be used initially to reduce the required attendance time by a target of 50%. Ultimately a further 25% may be saved by extending the concepts developed. The academic staff involved also have responsibilities for full time taught degree programmes at their respective institutions. They will embed the learning objects into their full time programmes, initially to assist in evaluation of the effectiveness of the objects and subsequently to enhance the learning experiences on these courses.