E-learning Materials Research Articles

Writing E-Learning Materials for Construction Management Subjects

Our faculty, Szent István University's Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering is currently conducting a project, whose main goal is to develop up-to-date e-learning study materials for Construction Management BSc students. The project is being carried out within the framework of the New Széchenyi Plan; and it is co-funded by the European Social Fund. The start of the project was in March 2012, while the finish will be at the end of 2013.Materials are written for the curriculum's core subjects: Technical Documentation, Building Structures, Construction Technology and Construction Management. They are complete with numerous graphics, tables, videos, even interactive ones and countless examples and tasks in order to facilitate better understanding.This paper introduces the project and describes the elements of the materials written for the above-mentioned core subjects. It also discusses the experience and conclusions of writing such materials.

Motivasi Belajar Mahasiswa terhadap Efektifitas Bahan Ajar Berbasis E-Learning untuk KPB 1 di STAINBatunsangkar

This article discusses university students’ learning motivation on the effectiveness of E-Learning Based material in the KPB 1 classes. The research was conducted to see the effectiveness of E- learning material that had been developed in KPB 1 to deal with students’ learning motivation. In this pre-experimental study, all third semester students of Mathematic Tadris registered in academic year of 2012-2013 served as sample. Questionnaire on learning motivation was used to collect the data which was later analyzed through simple statistic. The research shows that students’ learning motivation was not successfully improved after the implementation of E-Learning material. It suggests then that such material has not been effective in the KPB 1 learning. Copyright © 2014 by Al-Ta'lim All right reserved DOI: 10.15548/jt.v21i1.69

Online faculty development for creating E-learning materials.

Faculty who want to develop e-learning materials face pedagogical challenges of transforming instruction for the online environment, especially as many have never experienced online learning themselves. They face technical challenges of learning new software and time challenges of not all being able to be in the same place at the same time to learn these new skills. The objective of the Any Day Any Place Teaching (ADAPT) faculty development program was to create an online experience in which faculty could learn to produce e-learning materials. The ADAPT curriculum included units on instructional design, copyright principles and peer review, all for the online environment, and units on specific software tools. Participants experienced asynchronous and synchronous methods, including a learning management system, PC-based videoconferencing, online discussions, desktop sharing, an online toolbox and optional face-to-face labs. Project outcomes were e-learning materials developed and participants' evaluations of the experience. Likert scale responses for five instructional units (quantitative) were analyzed for distance from neutral using one-sample t-tests. Interview data (qualitative) were analyzed with assurance of data trustworthiness and thematic analysis techniques. Participants were 27 interprofessional faculty. They evaluated the program instruction as easy to access, engaging and logically presented. They reported increased confidence in new skills and increased awareness of copyright issues, yet continued to have time management challenges and remained uncomfortable about peer review. They produced 22 new instructional materials. Online faculty development methods are helpful for faculty learning to create e-learning materials. Recommendations are made to increase the success of such a faculty development program.

Location Based Security and Message Authentication Services in Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET)

This work presents an XML-based authoring methodology that facilitates the different tasks associated with the development of standards-compliant e-learning content development. The idea is to support a unified authoring process of adaptive e-learning content by adopting the manual writing metaphor. According to this metaphor, which is specially well-suited for technical domains, instructors are compelled to view e-learning material as the manuals normally written and used to teach a particular subject. The methodology is supported by the DocBook document model (an XML application) which has a number of tools associated that facilitate the implementation of the methodology. Other tasks such as the packaging of contents or publishing in the Learning Management System (LMS) can be automated from these manuals.

Development and Practice of Design Guidelines for e-Learning Materials in Blended Learning for Chinese as a Second Foreign Language

Development and Practice of Design Guidelines for e-Learning Materials in Blended Learning for Chinese as a Second Foreign Language

Free-access open-source e-learning in comprehensive neurosurgery skills training.

Since the end of last century, technology has taken a front seat in dispersion of medical education. Advancements of technology in neurosurgery and traditional training methods are now being challenged by legal and ethical concerns of patient safety, resident work-hour restriction and cost of operating-room time. To supplement the existing neurosurgery education pattern, various e-learning platforms are introduced as structured, interactive learning system. This study focuses on the concept, formulation, development and impact of web based learning platforms dedicated to neurosurgery discipline to disseminate education, supplement surgical knowledge and improve skills of neurosurgeons. 'Neurosurgery Education and Training School (NETS), e-learning platform' has integration of web-based technologies like 'Content Management System' for organizing the education material and 'Learning Management System' for updating neurosurgeons. NETS discussion forum networks neurosurgeons, neuroscientists and neuro-technologists across the globe facilitating collaborative translational research. Multi-authored neurosurgical e-learning material supplements the deficiencies of regular time-bound education. Interactive open-source, global, free-access e-learning platform of NETS has around 1) 425 visitors/month from 73 countries; ratio of new visitors to returning visitors 42.3; 57.7 (2); 64,380 views from 190 subscribers for surgical videos, 3-D animation, graphics based training modules (3); average 402 views per post. The e-Learning platforms provide updated educational content that make them "quick, surf, find and extract" resources. e-Learning tools like web-based education, social interactive platform and question-answer forum will save unnecessary expenditure of time and travel of neurosurgeons seeking knowledge. The need for free access platforms is more pronounced for the neurosurgeons and patients in developing nations.

PC Med Learner: a personalised and collaborative e-learning materials recommendation system using an ontology-based data matching strategy

It is important, in collaborative learning environments, to understand and assess the intrinsic knowledge of a learner and to share the knowledge within a learning community, in order to improve the learning process. This paper illustrates a framework and a method to recommend learning materials based on the learner's competencies and a domain ontology, in a collaborative setting. The approach is demonstrated in a learning scenario from medical organisations, when training their prentices. It aims at improving the learning processes by making personalised suggestions on the learning materials. The implementation of the system, the Personal and Collaborative Medical Learner (PC Med Learner) contains three main components: 1) a collaborative knowledge base; 2) an information visualisation tool; 3) an ontology-based data matching strategy, providing the evaluation methodology. Our approach can be adapted by corporate and educational organisations from various application domains, although we select the medical domain for the paper demonstration.

Developing an assessment-centered e-Learning system for improving student learning effectiveness

This research used Web-based two-tier diagnostic assessment and Web-based dynamic assessment to develop an assessment-centered e-Learning system, named the ‘GPAM-WATA e-Learning system.’ This system consists of two major designs: (1) personalized dynamic assessment, meaning that the system automatically generates dynamic assessment for each learner based on the results of the pre-test of the two-tier diagnostic assessment; (2) personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation, meaning that the system annotates the e-Learning materials each learner needs to enhance learning based on the results of the pre-test of the two-tier diagnostic assessment and dynamic assessment. This research adopts a quasi-experimental design, applying GPAM-WATA e-Learning system to remedial Mathematics teaching of the ‘Speed’ unit in an elementary school Mathematics course. 107 sixth-graders from four classes in an elementary school participated in this research (55 male and 52 female). With each class as a unit, they were divided into four different e-Learning models: (1) the personalized dynamic assessment and personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 26); (2) the personalized dynamic assessment and non-personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 28); (3) the non-personalized dynamic assessment and personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 26); and (4) the non-personalized dynamic assessment and non-personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation group (n = 27). Before remedial teaching, all students took the prior knowledge assessment and the pre-test of the summative assessment and two-tier diagnostic assessment. Students then received remedial teaching and completed all teaching activities. After remedial teaching, all students took the post-test of the summative assessment and two-tier diagnostic assessment. It is found that compared to the e-Learning models without personalized dynamic assessment, e-Learning models with personalized dynamic assessment are significantly more effective in facilitating student learning achievement and improvement of misconceptions, especially for students with low-level prior knowledge. This research also finds that personalized e-Learning material adaptive annotation significantly affects the percentage of reading time students spend on the e-Learning materials they need to enhance learning. However, it does not appear to predict student learning achievement and improvement of misconceptions.

E-Learning for Expanding Distance Education in Tertiary Level in Bangladesh: Problems and Progress

<p>E-learning has broadly become an important enabler to promote distance education (DE) and lifelong learning in most of the developed countries, but in Bangladesh it is still a new successful progressive system for the learning communities. Distance education is thought to be introduced as an effective way of educating people of all sections in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Open University (BOU), the only distance education provider in Bangladesh, has been trying to adopt the use of various e-learning materials for its distance delivery. This paper has tried to describe the current progress of quality e-learning for expanding distance education, identifying the major problems of e-learning in distance education at tertiary level in Bangladesh, with special reference to BOU, and finally to put forward some valuable recommendations for solving the problems. The study is based on both primary and secondary sources. It is observed from the research that e-learning is going to ensure its bright prospect as an alternative mode of education at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. There are several problems that are identified and can be mitigated and solved through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development, greater acceptance by learners, and much research in this sector in Bangladesh to face globalization.</p>

A web solution for Partially Balanced Incomplete Block experimental designs

Heterogeneity in the experimental material is an important problem to deal with the designing of scientific experiments. Block designs are useful in controlling heterogeneity arising due to one source. A Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design is the simplest and commonly used block design. When the number of treatments in an experiment increases, incomplete block designs with smaller block sizes can be adopted. Balanced Incomplete Block (BIB) and Partially Balanced Incomplete Block (PBIB) designs are two important types of such designs. PBIB designs are extremely wide spread in literature. For ready referencing and potential use of these designs, online software for generation and analysis of these designs is highly desirable. This paper describes the development of a complete web solution for generation and analysis of PBIB designs using client–server architecture. An e-learning material on these designs is also prepared that can be used as reference material by researchers and students working in this area. WS-PBIBD is accessible any time from arbitrary platforms through internet. This software would help researchers in planning, designing and analyzing their experiments through web.

An efficient approach to improve the usability of e-learning resources: the role of heuristic evaluation

Optimizing the usability of e-learning materials is necessary to maximize their potential educational impact, but this is often neglected when time and other resources are limited, leading to the release of materials that cannot deliver the desired learning outcomes. As clinician-teachers in a resource-constrained environment, we investigated whether heuristic evaluation of our multimedia e-learning resource by a panel of experts would be an effective and efficient alternative to testing with end users. We engaged six inspectors, whose expertise included usability, e-learning, instructional design, medical informatics, and the content area of nephrology. They applied a set of commonly used heuristics to identify usability problems, assigning severity scores to each problem. The identification of serious problems was compared with problems previously found by user testing. The panel completed their evaluations within 1 wk and identified a total of 22 distinct usability problems, 11 of which were considered serious. The problems violated the heuristics of visibility of system status, user control and freedom, match with the real world, intuitive visual layout, consistency and conformity to standards, aesthetic and minimalist design, error prevention and tolerance, and help and documentation. Compared with user testing, heuristic evaluation found most, but not all, of the serious problems. Combining heuristic evaluation and user testing, with each involving a small number of participants, may be an effective and efficient way of improving the usability of e-learning materials. Heuristic evaluation should ideally be used first to identify the most obvious problems and, once these are fixed, should be followed by testing with typical end users.

Effects of Mobile Augmented Reality Learning Compared to Textbook Learning on Medical Students: Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

BackgroundBy adding new levels of experience, mobile Augmented Reality (mAR) can significantly increase the attractiveness of mobile learning applications in medical education.ObjectiveTo compare the impact of the heightened realism of a self-developed mAR blended learning environment (mARble) on learners to textbook material, especially for ethically sensitive subjects such as forensic medicine, while taking into account basic psychological aspects (usability and higher level of emotional involvement) as well as learning outcomes (increased learning efficiency).MethodsA prestudy was conducted based on a convenience sample of 10 third-year medical students. The initial emotional status was captured using the “Profile of Mood States” questionnaire (POMS, German variation); previous knowledge about forensic medicine was determined using a 10-item single-choice (SC) test. During the 30-minute learning period, the students were randomized into two groups: the first group consisted of pairs of students, each equipped with one iPhone with a preinstalled copy of mARble, while the second group was provided with textbook material. Subsequently, both groups were asked to once again complete the POMS questionnaire and SC test to measure changes in emotional state and knowledge gain. Usability as well as pragmatic and hedonic qualities of the learning material was captured using AttrakDiff2 questionnaires. Data evaluation was conducted anonymously. Descriptive statistics for the score in total and the subgroups were calculated before and after the intervention. The scores of both groups were tested against each other using paired and unpaired signed-rank tests. An item analysis was performed for the SC test to objectify difficulty and selectivity.ResultsStatistically significant, the mARble group (6/10) showed greater knowledge gain than the control group (4/10) (Wilcoxon z=2.232, P=.03). The item analysis of the SC test showed a difficulty of P=0.768 (s=0.09) and a selectivity of RPB=0.2. For mARble, fatigue (z=2.214, P=.03) and numbness (z=2.07, P=.04) decreased with statistical significance when comparing pre- and post-tests. Vigor rose slightly, while irritability did not increase significantly. Changes in the control group were insignificant. Regarding hedonic quality (identification, stimulation, attractiveness), there were significant differences between mARble (mean 1.179, CI −0.440 to 0.440) and the book chapter (mean −0.982, CI −0.959 to 0.959); the pragmatic quality mean only differed slightly.ConclusionsThe mARble group performed considerably better regarding learning efficiency; there are hints for activating components of the mAR concept that may serve to fascinate the participants and possibly boost interest in the topic for the remainder of the class. While the small sample size reduces our study’s conclusiveness, its design seems appropriate for determining the effects of interactive eLearning material with respect to emotions, learning efficiency, and hedonic and pragmatic qualities using a larger group.Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trial Register (DRKS), DRKS-ID: DRKS00004685; https://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00004685.

Effective Use of Virtual Learning Environment and LMS

A virtual learning environment using the LMS (Learning management system) is now ran affairs. This system is used to support learning and created e-learning course, addresses the administration associated with such verification of student records, course organization, is used store learning content, the possibility of rapid communication through chat. Students will work with this system quickly master, since its operation requires only basic PC skills. The impetus for the introduction of LMS may be the fact that many of these systems are open source and costs are significantly lower. Any such course contains information on the email subject and it contains all the e-learning materials.

Teaching the bioinformatics of signaling networks: an integrated approach to facilitate multi-disciplinary learning

The number of bioinformatics tools and resources that support molecular and cell biology approaches is continuously expanding. Moreover, systems and network biology analyses are accompanied more and more by integrated bioinformatics methods. Traditional information-centered university teaching methods often fail, as (1) it is impossible to cover all existing approaches in the frame of a single course, and (2) a large segment of the current bioinformation can become obsolete in a few years. Signaling network offers an excellent example for teaching bioinformatics resources and tools, as it is both focused and complex at the same time. Here, we present an outline of a university bioinformatics course with four sample practices to demonstrate how signaling network studies can integrate biochemistry, genetics, cell biology and network sciences. We show that several bioinformatics resources and tools, as well as important concepts and current trends, can also be integrated to signaling network studies. The research-type hands-on experiences we show enable the students to improve key competences such as teamworking, creative and critical thinking and problem solving. Our classroom course curriculum can be re-formulated as an e-learning material or applied as a part of a specific training course. The multi-disciplinary approach and the mosaic setup of the course have the additional benefit to support the advanced teaching of talented students.

OP143: Leonardo da Vinci Partnership – A lifelong learning programme to raise awareness of dental and medical professionals within Europe for the early detection of oral cancer – Phase 2

Objective To create cooperation among institutions at an European level in order to raise awareness on oral cancer among dental and medical professionals. To develop educational material for purposes of screening and for the early detection of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders. Methods In order to understand gaps in knowledge and performance, during Phase I of this project we undertook: 1. A review of literature on dentist’s awareness, opinions and behaviors in published studies regarding early detection and prevention or oral cancer in Europe. 2. A Delphi survey among opinion leaders on issues pertaining to defining ways of improving early diagnosis of oral cancer. 3. A review of literature on oral cancer screening programs in Europe. 4. Catalogued and reviewed all available teaching resources (including e-learning) on screening for oral cancer. We set out to develop e-learning materials on the topic of early detection. Results Dentists encounter oral cancer patients infrequently during their life time performance. The diagnostic dilemma is complicated by oral mucosal disorders that may be mistaken for cancer. The reviews of literature confirm fundamental gaps in knowledge and understanding of early signs and symptoms. There are inequalities in screening performances within as well as between European countries largely based on available resources of training. During Phase 1 of the Leonardo Partnership, the group produced a comprehensive e learning package ( www.oralcancerldv.org ) in three languages for Europe wide use. Conclusions The Leonardo da Vinci Partnership will address the failures to implement screening for oral cancer by recommending strategies on involvement of medical and dental professionals. The partnership has a resolute drive to develop further e-learning material to improve skills in early detection and tobacco cessation that could be translated to other European languages. Relevance A three to five year agenda within Europe which will lead to key educational improvements to support dentists’ and doctors’ performance in the early detection of oral cancer and giving advice on tobacco cessation.

In Response to "Education on Prehospital Pain Management: A Follow-up Study"

To the Editor: French et al should be congratulated for reporting their study of the effects of an educational intervention on prehospital care management of pain.1 Following the educational intervention paramedics certainly improved their management of pain– but there remain some unanswered questions on the intervention and the outcome. First of all the intervention was quite substantial and multifaceted. However it is interesting to ask what facet of the intervention caused the positive outcomes. Could a shorter (1 or 2 hour) intervention resulted in a similar outcome? Could the same outcome have been achieved as a result of an e-learning intervention or print-based learning materials? Is it possible that the surveys themselves had an effect on the changed management? These questions cannot be answered from the current results as all learners received the same intervention. Perhaps a further follow up study might be conducted where different groups of learners receive different interventions. In this way more effective and more efficient interventions might be uncovered. Secondly the educational intervention was not costed; nor indeed was any cost utility assigned to the outcomes. Low cost educational interventions that result in more efficient care and as a result lower cost care are obviously the interventions most sought after by educators and educational providers alike. However this is only possible when interventions and their outcomes are properly and thoroughly costed.

The development of an exemplar e‐module for the continuing professional development of European dentists

To present the development of an exemplar e-module for dental continuing professional development (CPD) provided by dental schools and other dental educational providers. The exemplar e-module covered the topic of 'Sterilisation and cross-infection control in the dental practice' as this is one of the most recommended topics for dental CPD in Europe. It was developed by a group of topic experts, adult learning and distance learning experts and a technical developer. Major concerns were pedagogy, interoperability, usability and cost reduction. Open-source material was used to reduce the cost of development. The e-module was pre-piloted in dental practitioners for usability and then evaluated by experts in the field and dental academics through an electronic questionnaire and an online presentation and discussion at the ADEE 2012 Special Interest Group on DentCPD-Lifelong learning. This facilitated refinement before final production. A Creative Commons License was implemented to ensure the developers' rights and facilitate wider distribution and access to CPD providers. The e-module was developed according to well-defined pedagogical and technical guidelines for developing e-learning material for adult learners. It was structured to promote self-study by directing learners through their study, promoting interaction with the material, offering explanation and providing feedback. Content validity was ensured by extensive review by experts. The next step would be to expand the evaluation to practising dentists in various countries after relevant translations, and adaptations to local policies have been made.

Organizational Approach to the Ergonomic Examination of E-Learning Modules

With a significant increase in the number of e-learning resources the issue of quality is of current importance. An analysis of existing scientific and methodological literature shows the variety of approaches, methods and tools to evaluate e-learning materials. This paper proposes an approach based on the procedure for estimating parameters of local factors and receiving the integral index of usability quality of e-learning modules. We present a mathematical model which serves as a basis for the automated procedures for expertise. The use of fuzzy logic allows to reduce greatly the complexity of evaluating the formation of a repository of e-learning modules. The proposed approach is focused on the situation, when the university − has amassed a large number of e-learning modules that have to be assessed in terms of ergonomics; − is able to use experts in ergonomics and organization of e-learning (the experts can provide, as a rule, qualitative assessment); − is limited in resources on the development of special software for evaluation of e-learning modules; − is forced by the need to reduce the cost of expertise to be limited to considering only the main quality indicators that have the greatest impact on the ergonomics of e-learning modules. For automation of the ergonomic examination procedures a MatLab system is used, in particular Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Application of the well-known mathematical tools and widely used means of processing expert qualitative assessments can significantly reduce the cost of the expertise.

E-learning as a complement to presential teaching of blindness prevention: a randomized clinical trial

OBJETIVO: Avaliar se um material disponibilizado através de E-learning antes de aulas presenciais de prevenção da cegueira (PC) melhora o nível de conhecimento basal dos estudantes, e ajuda a manter esse conteúdo um mês após a aula. MÉTODOS: Estudantes do quarto ano do curso médico foram aleatoriamente sorteados para ter aulas presenciais de PC (grupo tradicional = GT) ou ter aulas presenciais precedidas de material adicional por E-learning (grupo E-learning = GEL). Este material foi enviado por correio eletrônico uma [...]

Early Implementation of Building Information Modeling into a Cold-Formed Steel Company: Providing Novel Project Management Techniques and Solutions to Industry

The ability of building information modeling (BIM) to positively impact projects in the AEC through greater collaboration and integration is widely acknowledged. This paper aims to examine the development of BIM and how it can contribute to the cold-formed steel (CFS) building industry. This is achieved through the adoption of a qualitative methodology encompassing a literature review, exploratory interviews with industry experts, culminating in the development of e-learning material for the sector. In doing so, the research team have collaborated with one of the United Kingdom's largest cold-formed steel designer/fabricators. By demonstrating the capabilities of BIM software and providing technical and informative videos in its creation, this project has found two key outcomes. Firstly, to provide invaluable assistance in the transition from traditional processes to a fully collaborative 3D BIM as required by the UK under the Government Construction Strategy by 2016 in all public sector projects. Secondly, to demonstrate BIM's potential not only within CFS companies, but also within the AEC sector as a whole. As the flexibility, adaptability and interoperability of BIM software is alluded to, the results indicate that the introduction and development of BIM and the underlying ethos suggests that it is a key tool in the development of the industry as a whole.