Open Source E-learning System Research Articles

Feasibility of Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Panic Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder in Japan: Pilot Single-Arm Trial.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating anxiety disorders. Accessibility to CBT has been limited in Japan due to the shortage of therapists. While an open-source e-learning system can be used to create a simple internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) program, the safety and outpatient acceptance of this treatment approach have not been explored in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate whether outpatients with anxiety disorders could accept and successfully complete the ICBT program with guidance by CBT therapists when implementing therapeutic modules and CBT tasks. Due to being in the initial phase of a novel treatment in Japan, this study was intended for verification with a small sample size. In total, 6 adults, including 4 male participants and 2 female participants, were enrolled in a single-arm trial. The intervention involved guided ICBT comprising 12 sessions, including CBT text, comprehension confirmation tests, and explanatory videos about cognitive behavioral models, accessible through a website. The therapist guided the participants in accessing the ICBT program and answering their questions using a chat tool. The primary outcome was anxiety severity assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait. Secondary outcomes included the Panic Disorder Severity Scale, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form (WAI-SF). Statistical analyses were performed using paired 2-tailed t tests to assess the changes in clinical symptoms. The total WAI-SF score at the final session was used to evaluate the therapeutic alliance. For statistical analyses, mean changes for total State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait, BAI, Panic Disorder Severity Scale, LSAS, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scores were analyzed using the paired 2-tailed t test. The 2-sided significance level for hypothesis testing was set at 5%, and 2-sided 95% CIs were calculated. Most participants diligently engaged with the ICBT program. No adverse events were reported. The mean total scores for the primary outcome decreased by 11.0 (SD 9.6) points (95% CI -22.2 to 0.20; Hedges g=0.95), but it was not statistically significant. The mean total scores for the secondary outcomes that assess clinical symptoms decreased, with a significant reduction observed in the BAI of 15.7 (SD 12.1) points (95% CI -28.4 to -3.0; P=.03; Hedges g=1.24). The mean total scores for PDSS and LSAS decreased significantly, by 12.0 (SD 4.24) points (95% CI -50.1 to 26.1; P=.16; Hedges g=1.79) and 32.4 (SD 11.1) points (95% CI -59.7 to -4.3; P=.04; Hedges g=1.38), respectively. Of the participants, 67% (n=4) showed treatment response, and 50% (n=3) achieved remission after the intervention. The therapeutic alliance, measured using the WAI-SF, was moderate. Guided ICBT may be feasible for the treatment of outpatients with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder in Japan. University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN0000038118; https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043439.

Analysis of Factors to Hinder Self-directed Learning about Medication Education to Patients with Hearing Loss

To improve medication education for patients with hearing loss, pharmacists must better understand hearing loss and provide and collect medication information based on patients' health literacy and communication abilities. However, no systematic educational e-learning systems for hearing loss are currently available. Therefore, an e-learning system based on instructional design, microlearning principles, and multimedia teaching materials was developed. The e-learning system used Moodle, an open-source e-learning system, and included two courses: one for self-directed learning by watching videos and answering quizzes, and another for evaluating medication education after learning. A study was conducted on 84 pharmacists and 36 pharmacy students who took the learning course to investigate the factors that hinder their understanding and progress of self-directed learning. Although they fully understood the content by watching videos, students with no experience in medication education required an explanation to understand how to communicate with patients. As the learning course was self-directed and related to communication lectures, all students completed it; however, the completion rate for pharmacists was approximately 50%. The following factors could have slowed pharmacists' e-learning progress: difficulty accessing the learning course through system login and long-duration content, such as answers to free descriptions. This survey found that this e-learning method can be used for self-directed learning about medication education for patients with hearing loss. Further improvement of the e-learning system is necessary so that recognizing the need to understand hearing loss and take appropriate actions for patients with hearing loss in medication education can lead to self-directed learning among pharmacists.

Comparison and Selection of Open Source E-Learning Systems Based on Users’ Emotional Preferences Regarding Its Interface

Comparison and Selection of Open Source E-Learning Systems Based on Users’ Emotional Preferences Regarding Its Interface

The Study of E-Learning User Interface Analysis Based on Emotional Perceptions Using Kansei

Kansei words are adjectives or sentences which shows the emotion of respondents regarding the appearance of application user interface. So it have important role of Kansei Engineering in order to what kind of emotions to be considered and implemented during developing an application user interface. Without considering user’s emotions it would be difficult to develop an suitable application user interface that fullfills user’s emotional requirements. In this study we proposed a Kansei Engineering to explore Kansei Words related to user interface and analysis the relationship between them. We used eight Kansei Words, and we found there are one strong relationship between Kansei Words of “simple” and “clear”. It means that we can consider these two Kansei Words as alternative emotions in order to develop an application user interface. This paper focuses the discussion about the relationship between Kansei Words and user interface of the most popular of open-source E-Learning system.

Software System Selection for Open University System

Software quality assessment is one of the key factors for the success of universities, so this study focuses on the study of technical quality. Measurement factors apply to universities in information systems, including software quality. The novel model is used to test whether the implementation of e-learning system in higher education institutions will succeed or fail. The scope of this investigation is free and the evaluated universities have open source e-learning systems that measure and evaluate quality according to our proposed software quality model. Educational Information System (AIS), which combines many software quality standards to help system analysts, system developers, and systems. Programmers in their AIS projects. Quality model, six quality characteristics are shown as the minimum requirements for creating a new model. This has been further enhanced by the expansion of the standard approach to measuring the quality of AIS based on a combination of several. Software quality standards used in these educational systems with new features. Using the novel model to test whether e-learning is implemented, the system will succeed or fail in higher education institutions. Our contribution and development will be discussed on this. The new model aims to guide educational institutions that are in the process of creating their e-learning system to evaluate and select the right software. Features that are essential for the success of the entire system. In addition, this paper provides several reviews of current methods used to select AIS components and outlines their disadvantages in terms of our advanced models.

Emotional Preferences Towards E-Learning Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Kansei for Decision Making

Users in software world play key role in determining whether a software, including e-Learning system, has a long time of use or not. Past literatures have highlighted the importance of incorporating emotional requirement into software systems. It is important to consider what users need related to software. One of the critical component of a software systems that directly interacts with users is the interface. Users interface design (UID) could induce critical emotional experience and impression to users the first time they execute a software system. Kansei Engineering is adopted as a methodology to analyze users emotional experience towards the software UID. This research implemented a combination approach of Kansei Engineering and Analytic Hierarchy Process in order to analyze students’ emotional experience as users of e-Learning in higher learning institution, and then determines which of an open source e-Learning system that suits their positive emotional experience. This paper reports an attempt to discover the relationship between UID and users’ emotional experience in e-Learning systems. The research found that there were two critical students’ emotional factors, which are “clear” and “pleasant”. These two factors had a big impact in the selection of an e-Learning system, with factor of clear has larger impact. The research result then suggests the preferred e-Learning system for students based on those that evoked positive emotional experience to students. The result will benefit higher learning institution in promoting e-Learning, to extend the outreach potential of e-Learning among students.

Emotional Preferences Towards E-Learning Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Kansei for Decision Making

Users in software world play key role in determining whether a software, including e-Learning system, has a long time of use or not. Past literatures have highlighted the importance of incorporating emotional requirement into software systems. It is important to consider what users need related to software. One of the critical component of a software systems that directly interacts with users is the interface. Users interface design (UID) could induce critical emotional experience and impression to users the first time they execute a software system. Kansei Engineering is adopted as a methodology to analyze users emotional experience towards the software UID. This research implemented a combination approach of Kansei Engineering and Analytic Hierarchy Process in order to analyze students’ emotional experience as users of e-Learning in higher learning institution, and then determines which of an open source e-Learning system that suits their positive emotional experience. This paper reports an attempt to discover the relationship between UID and users’ emotional experience in e-Learning systems. The research found that there were two critical students’ emotional factors, which are “clear” and “pleasant”. These two factors had a big impact in the selection of an e-Learning system, with factor of clear has larger impact. The research result then suggests the preferred e-Learning system for students based on those that evoked positive emotional experience to students. The result will benefit higher learning institution in promoting e-Learning, to extend the outreach potential of e-Learning among students.

KANSEI EVALUATION IN OPEN SOURCE E-LEARNING SYSTEM

Many open source web based e-Learning systems are offered to support learning environment over the internet. Academic institutions usually choose to implement systems that meet the needs and characteristics of students. However, only little guide exists to support them in choosing systems that meet the implicit needs of students, thus adoption of e-Learning system is unsustainable. This paper reports an attempt to discover these implicit needs and how it correlates to the design of e-Learning systems by the adoption of Kansei Engineering. The objective is to analyze and choose the desired open source e-Learning system based on students’ implicit needs. Five open source e-Learning system were used as specimen in a Kansei evaluation procedure, employing one hundred subjects from the target user group. The result suggests that Kansei Engineering can be used to determine open source e-Learning systems that meets the implicit needs of targeted users, and thus enable sustainability of the system implementation.

M-Learning: The New Horizon of Learning at SQU

M-learning extends the theory and practice of learning and mobility in converging technological environments. Developing a smart course in order to improve the standard of education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is one of the main aims of the current authors. This proposal requires developing innovative applications for ubiquitous, mobile technologies for learning. This kind of development covers new educational and technological methods and concepts for supporting formal and informal learning. SQU is currently using Moodle as the open source e-learning management system to support and enhance traditional learning. Although elearning in SQU has proven its importance in enhancing traditional learning, it is limited to areas and locations where a personal computer exists. This constraint is a burden to many e-learning users who are staff or students, especially if they live in rural areas of Oman. To overcome this drawback, an investigative survey of the importance of m-learning was designed and distributed to SQU students. The results showed that almost all students favored and supported the idea and requested the implementation of a m-learning application. As a step forward, this paper proposes an extension for e-learning—a new m-learning tool to support learners who use mobile device technologies. Our goal in introducing m-learning at SQU is not to replace e-learning but to complement and improve it so both modalities are available, since each grants certain advantages to users.

A GENERALIZED E-LEARNING USAGE BEHAVIOUR MODEL BY DATA MINING TECHNIQUE

Current study on e-Learning user’s behaviour model obtained the specific models. In many cases, the e-Learning user’s behaviour model for open source e-Learning system such as Moodle, which can predict learning outcome or learning performance is still defi cient and cannot generally apply in many institutions due to the fact that the majority of prediction models were developed particularly for certain institutions. This study proposes to produce a general model that can make a prediction of learning outcome inspired by Skinner’s theory, which explains the relationship between learner, achievement, and learner reinforcement. This study proposes similar patterns in e-Learning user’s behaviour models of different institutions by the data-mining technique based on the learning environment theory. Therefore, this research is conducted in three main phases; include data preparation from weblog of different institutions with the same e-Learning system, data extraction by the accurate classifi er model fi nding process and model verification for generating a verification pattern. The research outcome will be a similar pattern that could be used as a direction for creating a more appropriate e-Learning users’ behaviour model and could be used broadly in other higher institutions.

Implementation of Industrial Automation Laboratories for E-learning

This paper presents an approach to teaching based on an industrial automation laboratory using e-learning. The approach is suitable for both in-class and remote access. It is based on providing remote access to laboratory facilities dedicated to industrial automation. A teaching platform is integrated into Moodle, an open-source e-learning system. Remote desktop programs were developed to allow students to access a remote PC and control the automation equipment. An IP camera is used to verify the operation. Each time a course is completed, or after any other activity in which the remote laboratory is used, a survey is made to assess the student's level of satisfaction and perceived degree of difficulty of the coursework. The results of the surveys from 25 graduate students per year are presented and discussed.

Open Source E-Learning Systems

E-learning applications are becoming commonplace in most higher education institutions, and some institutions have implemented open source applications such as course management systems and electronic portfolios. These e-learning applications initiatives are the first step to moving away from proprietary software such as Blackboard and WEBCT toward open source. With open source, higher education institutions can easily and freely audit their systems. This article presents evaluation criteria that was used by a higher education institution to evaluate an open source e-learning system.

The Role of Perceived System Quality as Educators’ Motivation to Continue E-learning System Use

This study incorporates perceived system quality into the original expectation-confirmation based information system continuance model in order to investigate the role of perceived system quality in users’ motivation to continue e-learning system use. Our proposed model was tested among university educators (n = 175) who use the popular open-source e-learning system, Moodle. The results reveal that perceived usefulness, confirmation of initial expectations, and perceived system quality significantly affected educators’ satisfaction. In addition, perceived usefulness and satisfaction significantly affected continuance intention. Unexpectedly, no direct association between perceived system quality and continuance intention was found. The determinants of continuance intention explain around 64% of its total variance. The paper finishes with conclusions and implications for future research and practice.

Implementation of Accessibility Standards in the Process of Course Design in Virtual Learning Environments

This article presents a case study for the project “E-Inclusion to people with disabilities. Implementation of accessibility standards in the process of course design in virtual learning environments”, the objective of the project is to develop an innovative on-line educational program through pilot course experimentation, introducing key competences in the field of digital literacy through Internet. The project seeks to implement various guidelines and recommendations in an Open Source e-Learning system to develop and document a methodology to produce multimedia/interactive content following the main accessibility standards, improving the process of course design in virtual learning environments and complementing actual Instructional Design methodologies. This article is a work in progress document, presenting the motivation and justification of the project, general information, goals and first results. Finally some conclusions and future work activities are presented, including the main activities within the European project ALFA III – ESVI-AL.

E-learning Security Vulnerabilities

Because more and more people are taking online courses, we need to understand the security issues of e-learning. The security aspect is even more important for the companies which use e-learning systems to deliver training courses to their employees. E-learning is a new method of learning which depends on the Internet in its execution, and is well known that Internet has become the venue for a new set of illegal activities, so e-learning environment is exposed to such threats. Information security can be obtained using methods such as cryptography, network protocols and others. In this paper we will discuss the typical threats of e-learning systems and we will see how we can address these issues. We will also discuss the security and privacy vulnerabilities of the most popular open-source e-learning systems, Moodle.

Information security in E-learning Platforms

Security is an important issue in the actual educational context where e-learning increases in popularity and more and more people are taking online courses. There are many important elements that must be taken into account: authentication, access control, data integrity, content protection, etc. Information security can be obtained using methods such as cryptography and network protocols. In this paper we will highlight some key security issues that must be taken into consideration in developing and using an e-learning platform. We will also examine some security aspects of one of the most popular open-source e-learning systems: Moodle.

An adaptive and personalized open source e-learning platform

This paper proposes the implementation of an adaptive and personalized e-Learning system which is based on open source software and technologies. Adaptation and personalization received very little coverage in e-learning platforms. An e-learning course should not be designed without matching students’ and teachers’ needs and objectives as closely as possible, and without adapting during course progression. The proposed open source e-learning system offers profiling and personalization services for the teacher and student while at the same time adapts the educational content and tools in the basis of the acquired user's profile.

E-Learning change management and communication strategies within a HEI in a developing country: Institutional organisational cultural change at the University of the Western Cape

The paper attempts to report on the strides that UWC has achieved in the adoption of eLearning among the campus teaching community, namely the academics from across different faculties, in order to supplement their traditional face-to-face instruction. The qualitative approach was predominantly used. The case study methodology was uniquely applied in this paper because it was used in collaboration with documentary analysis to highlight the achievements and challenges encountered in the adoption and implementation of the existing home-grown Open Source eLearning system. A multi-dimensional non-coercive eLearning implementation approach was used highlighting the various communication and change management strategies that the institution has employed in its endeavours to achieve broad eLearning buy-in within a resistant environment. A generic Instructional Design Model was developed to portray a continuum in the support for a changing organisational culture. The results indicated that the institution has realised a 26% success rate of academics who have managed to have experienced a paradigm shift towards the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in supplementing their teaching practices.

E-learning i blended learning w edukacji. Charakterystyka projektu LAMS WZiEU

The paper presents the basic terms and functions of contemporary education model, itsadvantages and disadvantages and characteristic of e-learning projects. The second part showsfree, open source e-learning system: LAMS (Learning Activity Management System), whichcould be an alternative for commercial tools. The third part describes results of LAMSWZiEU project – implementation of blended learning at the Faculty of Management andEconomics of Services.

E-Learning System Development using an Open-Source Customization Approach

Educational organizations have different methods of deploying E-learning systems, of which is using and developing open-source e-learning systems. One should consider some criteria when choosing a suitable system includes: documentation, usage rate, structure, standards support and educational strategy. In this work an e-learning software system has been elected and five phases of modification has been done to domesticate it, which are: document completion, translation, implementation of Iranian solar calendar, modules modification to support Farsi language and finally preparing Farsi help files. All these phases have been fulfilled at University of Isfahan as a research project. The present paper aims to describe the mentioned work.