The portability of computer-related educational resources : an overview of issues and directions

The portability of educational software is defined as the feasibility of software usage, with or without adaptation, in an educational environment different from that for which the software was originally designed and produced Portability is a desirable characteristic of educational software from scientific, practical, and economic considerations. Many factors can affect portability; an overview of clusters of technical and human factors is given. The factors are further organized in a way that shows their interdependence. Research questions relating to educational software portability are given and illustrated with a seven-level analytical model. The chapter serves as an overview to this Special Issue in that the research questions and factors influencing portability that are defined within it are taken up, in various ways, by the authors of the following chapters. The concluding chapter of the Special Issue refers again to this opening chapter, as well as to a synthesis of the intervening work