The Anatomy of the Learning Grid

Over the last few years, Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) needs have been changing in accordance with ever more complex pedagogical models as well as with technological evolution, demanding for high dynamic and configurable environments for running multiple teaching and learning scenarios.. Grid technologies have started to be very popular even in education due to the advantages that they offer being based on a secure, flexible and coordinated way of sharing resources over Internet as well as on its enormous capability of information processing. A Grid may facilitate learning processes in allowing each learner to collaboratively use the resources already existing online, by facilitating and managing dynamic communication with other people and agents, through the implementation of dynamic Virtual Organizations allowing to share learning resources. Nevertheless, in order to be effectively used in TEL, Grid must be complemented with other technologies bringing to the concept of “Learning Grid” whose description is the object of this chapter.