MERLINGO - the adaptation and accessible distribution of study materials on the basis of rich-media for the support of the learning process in students with special needs

MERLINGO (MEdia-rich Repository of LearnING Objects) project based on the rich-media technologies application in the eLearning environment is aimed at the building of the central repository of multimedia learning objects in the distributed environment containing teachers' presentations accessible on-line and on-demand within the national academic computer network CESNET2. The article presents integration of its services with the chosen Accordent Media Management System programming system and the possibilities of this new technology. The support of integration of students with special needs into a learning system is a brand new aspect of MERLINGO project activities being currently aimed at the area of the methodology development enabling the adaptation of study materials developed by rich-media technologies, their accessible distribution for students with specials needs and pilot implementation of those adapted study materials, expansion of services of the central repository MERLINGO by a possibility of the indexation and browsing in audio records, the introduction of accessible multi-channel audio-visual communication service and finally, the expansion and improvement of services provided by support centers for students with special needs across participating universities.