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ARIADNE
The ARIADNE project was an influential EU project that developed a cost-effective learning environment based upon open standards, interoperability and a repository of re-useable learning objects.
The system enabled exchange of educational resources through a distributed database known as the Knowledge Pool System, and allowed simple creation of online courses. Such courses incorporate, in a simple session paradigm, both learning content taken from the KPS and communication resources, referenced by an URL.
The follow-on project UP-ARIADNE aimed to further boost re-usable and interoperable learning approaches through (i) establishing and expanding an ARIADNE Foundation, (ii)further developing the ARIADNE tools and (iii) ensuring the ARIADNE Foundation's economic feasibility during the first three years, after which it should reach self-sustainability.
It is not clear what is the current state of this initiative.
There is further information at ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/ist/docs/ka3/eat/UP-ARIADNE.pdf
See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne_%28software%29.
Note that there are other projects called ARIADNE. For the range of uses of the term see the Wikipedia disambiguation page on Ariadne.