Development Of E-learning Systems Research Articles

Importance of Dynamic Identification of Learning Style on the Efficacy of Adaptive e-Learning Systems

This article presents an ongoing research project on the development of adaptive e-Learning systems in relation to the theory of learning style. Previously, a literature review has been conducted on learning style modeling methods, the Felder-Silverman learning style model (FSLSM), and the main problems encountered with the current traditional adaptive e-learning system (TAES). In this work a proposed intelligent adaptive e-learning system (PIAES) is designed to dynamically detect students’ learning styles, and to inform appropriate learning material design. An experiment was conducted in order to validate the system’s ability to detect students' learning styles and to enhance their academic achievements relative to those of a traditional adaptive e-learning system (TAES). Twenty-three students from the University of Jordan completed the Index of Learning Style (ILS) questionnaire and used the PIAES. The precision in learning style detection was satisfactory. The study also used a quasi-experimental design to validate the effectiveness of the PIAES in enhancing academic achievements relative to those of the TAES. A group of 110 students were recruited from the University of Jordan and randomly assigned to a control (56 students) or experimental group (54 students). Students in the experimental group (PIAES) showed better academic achievement relative to that of students in the control group (TAES). These results show that the proposed adaption strategies presented in the PIAES could improve student achievement because it adapts to each student’s learning style and dynamically tailor learning material based on learner responses.

Challenges and prospects in development of e-learning system for IT students

The purpose of this research is to determine the IT competence, willingness and readiness of students to use distance learning system to fulfill their learning goals. To implement the objectives of the study, we used the results of a students' survey conducted to determine the opinion on the use of information technology as a means to improve the learning process. We concentrated our efforts on a target group of IT students, whose IT background knowledge enabled them to easily master new software tools and technologies. In this paper, the creation, implementation and operation of a distance learning system in DSTU is discussed. Also stated are general requirements for distance learning system and administrative actions that should precede the process of its implementation.

数式で解答するeラーニングコンテンツを活用した工学基礎教育の実践

This paper describes a development of e-Learning system which supports computer-aided assessment in numerical expressions and a fundamental engineering education using the system. We utilized this in assignments of lectures, verifications of calculation in laboratory activities and pre-entrance education program. Using numerical expressions in contents, various type of questions can be available.

A Fuzzy Tree Matching-Based Personalized E-Learning Recommender System

The rapid development of e-learning systems provides learners with great opportunities to access learning activities online, and this greatly supports and enhances the learning practices. However, an issue reduces the success of application of e-learning systems; too many learning activities (such as various leaning materials, subjects, and learning resources) are emerging in an e-learning system, making it difficult for individual learners to select proper activities for their particular situations/requirements because there is no personalized service function. Recommender systems, which aim to provide personalized recommendations for products or services, can be used to solve this issue. However, e-learning systems need to be able to handle certain special requirements: 1) leaning activities and learners’ profiles often present tree structures; 2) learning activities contain vague and uncertain data, such as the uncertain categories that the learning activities belong to; 3) there are pedagogical issues, such as the precedence relations between learning activities. To deal with the three requirements, this study first proposes a fuzzy tree-structured learning activity model, and a learner profile model to comprehensively describe the complex learning activities and learner profiles. In the two models, fuzzy category trees and related similarity measures are presented to infer the semantic relations between learning activities or learner requirements. Since it is impossible to have two completely same trees, in practice, a fuzzy tree matching method is carefully discussed. A fuzzy tree matching-based hybrid learning activity recommendation approach is then developed. This approach takes advantage of both the knowledge-based and collaborative filtering-based recommendation approaches, and considers both the semantic and collaborative filtering similarities between learners. Finally, an e-learning recommender system prototype is well designed and developed based on the proposed models and recommendation approach. Experiments are done to evaluate the proposed recommendation approach, and the experimental results demonstrate the good accuracy performance of the proposed approach. A comprehensive case study about learning activity recommendation further demonstrates the effectiveness of the fuzzy tree matching-based personalized e-learning recommender system in practice.

Semantic Web Architecture and its Impact on E-learning Systems Development

The Semantic Web is the next giant step of the current web technology. The use and application of the Semantic Web in E-learning has been explored with regard to two areas: 1) software that supports instructors to perform their tasks in flexible online educational settings, and 2) software that interprets the structure of distributed, self organized, and self-directed web-based learning. These two application areas and related tasks require a semantic representation of educational entities and pedagogical material, specifically the structure and the techniques of the teaching-learning process. In most E-learning systems users are able to manage and reuse learning contents according to their needs without any access problems. The main objectives of this study are: how can e-learning take advantage of Semantic Web technology, and how to integrate the Semantic Web technologies with e-learning systems, taking into consideration the standards and reusable learning objects (LO), and to show the advantages of improving the descriptions of content, context and structure of the learning material. The main goal of this article it to introduce an updated E-learning model based on the latest Semantic Web architectures.

A Conceptual Culture-Oriented e-Learning System Development Framework (e-LSDF): A Case of Higher Education Institutions in South Africa

A Conceptual Culture-Oriented e-Learning System Development Framework (e-LSDF): A Case of Higher Education Institutions in South Africa

An ECM-ISC based Study on Learners’ Continuance Intention toward E-learning

E-learning has been developing rapidly in recent years; however, as the student number and market scale are growing fast, there is also a growing concern over the issue of high dropout rates in e-learning. High dropout rate not only harms both education institutions and students, but also jeopardises the development of e-learning systems. Understanding the behavioural mechanism of students’ continuance learning in online programmes would be helpful for reducing the dropout rate. In order to explain students’ continuance intention toward e-learning, his study combines theories from the fields of information management and pedagogy. By adding two constructs, namely academic integration and social integration, from the theories of dropout as antecedent variables, an improved ECM-ISC model for e-learners’ continued learning intention was put forward. Results from structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrate a stronger explanatory power of the new model. Based on the results from empirical analyses, corresponding suggestions are proposed in the end of this paper.

Design and Development of a Multi-Agent E-Learning System

In this paper the authors present the design and software development of an E-learning system based on a multi-agent (MAS) architecture. The multi-agent architecture is established on the client-server model. The MAS architecture is combined with the Dynamic Content Manager (DCM) model of E-learning developed at Bergen University College, Norway. The authors first present the quality requirements of the system before they describe the architectural decisions taken. They then evaluate and discuss the benefits of using a multi-agent architecture. Finally, the MAS architecture is compared with a pure service-oriented architecture (SOA) to observe that a MAS architecture has a lot of the same qualities as this architecture, in addition to some new ones.

Proposal: A Design of E-learning User Authentication System

The user authentication is very crucial in developing an e-learning system. Emerging standards for distance learning and education influence in a major way the development of e-learning systems. E-learning system must be secured against manipulation from the side of the students and also it protects user's privacy. This paper examines privacy and security issues associated with e-learning. It presents the basic principles behind privacy practices and legislation. Concrete solutions for improving the degree of security achievable are shown. A design of an e-learning user authentication system is introduced. This framework prevents manipulation from the side of the students during learning, thus allowing a reliable control of learning success.

E-learning Systems Based on Cloud Computing: A Review

Today and during the recent years, the Internet is a place to read web pages that allow users to environmental education and implementation of software applications that is changing. As with rapid growth of the cloud computing architecture usage, more and more industries move their focus from investing into processing power to renting processing power from a specialized vendor but education field is no different. E-learning systems usually require many hardware and software resources. Cloud computing technologies have changed the way applications are developed and accessed. They are aimed at running applications as services over the Internet on a scalable infrastructure. Now, Cloud computing that introduces efficient scale mechanism can let construction of E-learning system be entrusted to suppliers and provide a new mode for E-learning. Therefore, an E-learning system based on Cloud computing infrastructure is feasible and it can greatly improve the efficiency of investment and the power of management, which can make E-learning system development into a virtuous circle and achieve a win-win situation for suppliers and customers.

Pedagogical Experiences in a Highly Populated Undergraduate Programming Course


 
 
 Teaching how to develop medium size information systems in courses with high matriculation rates is a complex task. In Latin America this is an important issue because, due to high matriculation rates and scarce resources, Schools of Engineering have, in general, very low graduation rates and high drop-out rates. This paper presents the experiences of a team of teachers, during a period of eight years.
 Two strategies were proposed to cope with high drop-out and low graduation rates, and they were implemented and analyzed in two stages. At the initial stage, key roles were defined for each of the members of the teaching staff, focusing on programming assignments and the development and usage of e-learning support systems, such as a course web page and a newsgroup list. At the second stage the main goal was to consolidate the results from the previous stage, but also to make the contents on-line evolve, in order to improve the communication with students and among them. In this second stage it was also important to address the problem of high drop-out/abandon rates, trying to find out the causes and reduce their effect.
 This work proposes a decentralized form of organization of the teaching staff and shows how this makes a difference to make better use of the resources. It also shows that practical work on a project and the transformation to a semi-distance learning course had the effect of lowering the drop-out rates and increasing the approval rates. Finally this experience and the results have an inspiring effect on teachers and educational institutions to improve courses with similar characteristics.
 
 

To use or not to use? SDM utilisation in the development of LMS in South Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to determine if Systems Development Methodologies (SDMs) are being utilised effectively in the development of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in South Africa. With e-learning being a critical component of modern educational systems, it has become essential to ensure that LMSs of a high standard are being developed. In the field of SDMs, much research has been done and the value of SDMs is proven and documented. To enhance the chances of developing LMSs of outstanding quality, it is crucial that SDMs are applied efficiently, as they can have a significant impact on the development process. Design/methodology/approach – A positivistic research approach was followed. By utilising a survey as the main research method, quantitative data were generated. By statistically analysing the dataset, meaningful results were obtained. Findings – This study shed some light on how LMS procurement and development is being done in South Africa and revealed that the use of open-source systems currently exceeds the use of proprietary systems. The results of the research showed that SDMs (e.g. Rapid Application Development) are being used effectively in the development of e-learning systems. Strong relationships exist between many of the SDM factors identified (e.g. performance expectancy and the perceived support of the methodology) and the quality and productivity of the development process. This, in turn, has a strong influence on the impact SDMs have on the quality of LMSs. Originality/value – The study made a contribution to the discipline of information systems and, more specifically, LMSs, by providing insights with regard to the factors affecting the use and effectiveness of SDMs in developing LMSs. As far as could be ascertained, this study generated the first empirical data on the procurement and development of LMSs in South Africa.

Design, Development, and Evaluation of an Automated e-Learning Tutorial System to Instruct Pre-Service Special Educators in the Malay Braille Code

This paper reports on the design, development, and evaluation of an online e-learning tutorial system to instruct pre-service special educators in Malay braille code. The technological pedagogical content knowledge framework (TPACK) was employed to integrate expertise in content, pedagogy, and technology to design and develop this system. A directive, automated e-learning architecture was created from applying the principles of TPACK. Evaluation of the system was carried out using a multi-step evaluation framework. Seventy seven pre-service special educators at a university in northern Malaysia learnt braille through this system and evaluated the system using a survey instrument. The findings showed that the learners were satisfied and confident of using the system, and the system was also well accepted in terms of perceived usefulness and ease of use. In terms of design, features that apply mastery learning, extrinsic motivation, practice-feedback in direct instruction, and clarity of graphical interface were the most highly rated. Content-based features, ease of use and perceived usefulness together, explain 65 % of the variance in learner satisfaction. Content- and pedagogy-based design features together significantly predicted learner confidence. The findings indicated that the system (http://ekodbraille.ses.usm.my) is viable to support independent braille code instruction online. This work also suggested that TPACK can be a powerful framework for e-learning systems development. The design steps described in this paper also serve as a prescriptive template for future designers attempting to use TPACK for design purposes.

\'E-courses Unified Process\' For Development of Online Courses

With the advancement in computers and technology, traditional way of education has changed from being confined to a classroom to an open anytime, anywhere learning. The system of education and learning has been changed with the introduction of E-Learning system. Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous growth in the development of E-Learning system and applications. There is an increased importance associated with the E- Learning courseware for the successful implementation of educational process. In spite of the importance, there are still some E-Learning courseware that fail to meet the teaching and learning objectives and expectations. These failures can be overcome by the introduction of software development methodology in the development of E- Learning courses. Keeping this idea in mind, this study proposes E-courses unified which is a modification of well-known software development model; the unified process. This proposed process is based on five activities or workflows; requirement gathering, Analysis and design, Content development and assessment, production and implementation and test and Evaluation. Each of these activities is carried out with the four phases of the Unified process which are inception, elaboration, construction and transition.

Design an Adaptive E-learning Application Architecture based on IEEE LTSA reference model

Adaptivity in the field of e-learning and an innovative framework for personalised adaptive e-learning is often considered to be new or in an early development stage. In this paper, we propose an architecture for development of adaptive e-learning system. This architecture is based on the IEEE 1484 LTSA (Learning Technology System Architecture) reference model. The learner model is based on the learners’ preference and knowledge level. According to these profiles, the learners are served with learning material that best matches their educational needs. Furthermore, we also accomodate the learner feeback regarding to difficulty level of learning material. The design of our proposed models is prepared using UML notation. Our goal is to assist the instructional designers in developing adaptive e-learning system based on the IEEE LTSA models efficiently.

Flexible learning itinerary vs. linear learning itinerary

The latest video game and entertainment technology and other technologies are facilitating the development of new and powerful e-Learning systems. In this paper, we present a computer-based game for learning about five historical ages. The objective of the game is to reinforce the events that mark the transition from one historical age to another and the order of the historical ages. Our game incorporates natural human–computer interaction based on video game technology, Frontal Projection, and personalized learning. For personalized learning, a Flexible Learning Itinerary has been included, where the children can decide how to direct the flow of their own learning process. For comparison, a Linear Learning Itinerary has also been included, where the children follow a determined learning flow. A study to compare the two different learning itineraries was carried out. Twenty nine children from 8 to 9 years old participated in the study. The analysis of the pre-tests and the post-tests determined that children learned the contents of a game about historical ages. The results show that there were no statistically significant differences between the two learning itineraries. Therefore, our study reveals the potential of computer-based learning games as a tool in the learning process for both flexible and linear itineraries.

Myths and Realities of E-Learning: Exploratory Survey of Higher Education Students

The present study seeks to become a positive contribution to the research and development of e-learning systems by conducting an exploratory evaluation of the opinions of the academic community of the University of Porto about various technical and social dimensions present in the conception and deployment of learning management systems, both in the context of supporting face-to-face education and as technical infrastructure to blended and distance learning programmes. A survey by questionnaire was applied to 504 members of the academic community at the university, and it was found that among the participants there is still great scepticism towards e-learning and technologically mediated education, especially among younger students. Participants also considered that learning management systems presenting a plethora of features are not as desirable as systems focused on providing a pleasant and consistent user experience.

A Proposed Architectural Model for an Automatic Adaptive E-Learning System Based on Users Learning Style

It has been established through literature that, if an e-learning system could adapt to learning characteristics of learners, it will increase learning performance and content knowledge acquisition of learners. This paper is a basic research work for knowledge that lay down a foundation for application and implementation. We reviewed trends in adaptive e-learning system development, make an expository on learning-style models towards learners’ learning character and propose an Architectural model of Automatic Adaptive E-learning System (AAeLS) based on learning-style concept/models. The concept it to model an e-learning system that will automatically adapt to learning preference of users’, the system learn about users’ learning style while the user learn the material content of the system; thus the learning process in two ways, the system is learning when the user is learning. We recommend further work on implementation and testing of the model, in an applied research.

E-learning Privacy and Security Requirements: Review

The security is very crucial in developing an e-learning system. Emerging standards for distance learning and education influence in a major way the development of e-learning systems. e-learning system must be secured against manipulation from the side of the students and also it protects user’s privacy. This paper presents a review of e-learning privacy and security requirements. It investigates the more popular e-learning standards to determine their provisions and limitations for privacy and security. The capabilities of a number of existing privacy enhancing technologies, including methods for network privacy, security management, and trust systems, are reviewed and assessed.

The Development of E-Learning Systems Application Based On Cloud Computing For Higher Education

An E-Learning systems used internet technology to provide data base used for the activity of studying for higher education institution. In order to achieve the way of communication through information technology, cloud computing is a new science in the field of informatics that make the activity more fluent and easy to use. Managing students through e-learning will give positive impact to the development of e-learning systems. This paper discusses about the development of E-Learning Systems Application Based On Cloud Computing as an immerge of information technology for higher education. There are some models of E-Learning that can be applied to help students and lectures in the activity of education with terms of collaborating, coordinating and inspecting. The results expected with this paper is that there is more preparation for higher education in providing and building their own systems by installing some important aspects such as security, viability and quick response to make internet as a smart media in achieving the goal of higher eduaction by using internet.