There was a
belief in the 1980s that artificial intelligence (AI) must have a part to
play in the development of computer based learning. This belief was born not
only of the enthusiasm with which technology was being embraced, but was
also based upon the success of recent initiatives, mainly academic, that
suggested that AI represented a serious new approach that would have a
bright future in industrial and commercial learning.
In addition
to the funding for AI research through European programmes such as DELTA
(Developing European Learning through Technological Advance) and RACE
(Research and Development in Advance Communications Technologies in Europe),
the Department for Education and Employment set up a number of projects that
explored the applications of AI in education and training. The overall
budget for these projects was £3.2M. Although it was not intended as a
coordinated programme of projects, they were inevitably grouped together and
known as the AI Applications to Learning Programme’ and became the first
concerted attempt to evaluate the place of AI in education and training in
Europe.
The
projects covered a wide range of training requirements and applications,
including:
