Web-based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice

About the Contributors
Toshio Okamoto graduated from Kyoto University of Education in 1973, obtained Master of educational
psychology from Tokyo Gakugei University in 1975, PhD from Tokyo institute of Technology
in 1989. He worked at Kanazawa Institute of Technology as lecturer and at Tokyo Gakugei University
as an associate professor. He is currently a professor at the University of Electro-Communications,
Graduate School of Information Systems from 1992 and a director of the Center for e-Learning Research
and Promotion. His research interests include artificial intelligence, knowledge computing, educational
technology and learning science, theoretical and application studies/design of e-Learning, computersupported
collaborative learning systems and curriculum development in Information Education. He
standardizes collaborative technology in learning technology as a convener of WG2 (Collaborative
Technology) of LTSC/ISO SC36 (Learning Technologies Standards Committee). He is a president of
Japanese Society for Information and Systems in Education, and also a president of Japanese Association
for Education of Information Studies.
Kiriakou Panagiotis is a graduate of the Computer Engineering & Informatics Department in the
University of Patras. He is a member of the e-Learning sector of the Research Academic Computer
Technology Institute (RACTI). He has published award-winning papers in national conferences and
participated in national and European research projects. His research interests include knowledge management
systems, human computer interaction and Web-based information systems.
Micaël Paquier is a software engineer. He has worked on implementation of several platforms related
to information systems and webservices interoperability, including widgets. He is also interested in the
problematic of structured documents production and reuse. He is currently working on the IST/IP/Palette
project as scientific assistant. He is responsible for the platform of DocReuse Evolution and Portal.
Maria Pouliopoulou has graduated at 2003 from the department of Computer Engineering and Informatics
at the University of Patras. Since then she has been working at the Hellenic Open University
as a computer engineer, supporting and administering the university’s portal, developing web courses
and engaging in research work about e-learning. At 2007 she received her MSc in Informatics from
Edinburgh University with specialism in Knowledge Representation and Reasoning, having received
an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) scholarship. She is currently working
as a computer engineer and a researcher at the Research Academic Computer Technology Institute
in Patras, Greece.
Kevin Quick is a research fellow in the Knowledge Media Institute at the Open University (UK). His
work focuses on the development and research into new collaborative multimedia tools, and their application
into various types of online communities. His current works forms part of the ProLearn European
Network of Excellence. Current areas of investigation include the FlashMeeting video conferencing
tool, FlashVlog video blogging tool and Hexagon video presence tool. In addition to his knowledge in
new media systems Kevin also has a background in electronics and a PhD in new material technologies
from Imperial College, London.
Hannu Salmi works currently as a professor of science centre pedagogy in Finland at the University
of Helsinki, Department of Applied Sciences in Education. Before that he held a position of Professor
of Science Communication in Sweden at the University of Dalarna. For more than two decades (since
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