Development of Large eLearning Applications

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Development of Large e-Learning Applications
Dr. Nicolas Apostolopoulos, Norbert Herrmann
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E-learning at the Free University, Tasks CeDiS

• FU Competence Center e-Learning
• Strategic development and implementation of
  media- and computer-based teaching at FU
• (Stearing Comittee)
• Consulting / support in realization of
  e-learning activities
• Supply of development environments
• (Authoring, CMS, LMS)

FU Berlin, CeDis
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E-learning Projects at FU
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Current Projects
Full course in undergraduate statistics
(content)
MBA
Internationalization of studies
Consulting and support
e-Learning infrastructure
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Awards
Neue Statistik StatistiklaborMedida-Prix 2003
Statistik Statistik interaktivdigita
2000Investitionsrechnung IRS digita
1998BWL-Marketing ODI digita 1997
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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From Individual Development to Manufacturing
Content Production

Coordination/ Integration
Production
Individual Output
Standardised Output
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Project Learning Net

• Support for authors
• Learning Module Editor
• Production procedure
• Content Management
• Content repository
• Learning Platform
• Pilot installation,adaption,expansion
• Content Distribution
• Distributed proxies,cashes
• Sponsoring DFN-Verein

FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Project Learning Net
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Creation of Materials Technical Aspects

• Structuring of learning materials
• Separation of content and layout/design
• Content independent from special
• data format or CMS/LMS
• Recombination and reusability
• XML, meta data, e-learning-standards

FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Didactic structure
Learning Module
Theory Motivation
Examples
Examples
Examples
Exercises
Exercises
Exercises
Further study material
Meta Data
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Creation of Material Learning Module Editor
(LME)
Theory Motivation
Motivation
Theory
Example
Exercise
Further study material
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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The Course building process
Author
Instructor
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Editing Glossary
Editing Literature
LMS
User
Course
Course
Course
Course
Course
Course A
FU Berlin, CeDiS
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Demands on a Learning Management System

• Wide compliance with standards (IMS, SCORM)
• High extensibility and adaptability
• (Building Blocks)
• Easy use
• Good support and cooperation
• Possible use as learning platform for the whole
  university

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Development of large e-Learning Applications

• Authoring
• Repository
• Courses

0
3
FU Berlin, CeDis
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0
3
FU Berlin, CeDis
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Partners

• FU Berlin
• HU Berlin
• TU Berlin
• FHTW Berlin
• Universität Trier
• Universität Würzburg
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Project Objectives

• Development of a multidisciplinaryonline
  curriculum foreconomics, computer
  science,media and communication science
• Transformation of traditional learning content
  into multimedia learning modules
• Providing material for a virtual environment
  (Learning management systems)
• Using the multimedia learning modules in
  different disciplines andlearning scenarios

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Production
Project
Author

• - Coordination
• - Fixing of content
• - Composition of guidelines and didactic
  structure
• Development of software, support
• Support in media production
• Quality and quantity assurance
• - PR and marketing

1. Step Collection of necessary mono- and
multimedia items to create content for
learners 2. Step Development of further
multimedia material as add on to traditional
material 3. Step Creating learning modules by
combining all sorts of media material by usage
of the Learning-Module-Editor 4. Step
Compilation, academic editing, proof-reading, poli
shing, additional material, case studies, ...
FU Berlin, CeDis
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Production (1. and 2. Step)

• Decomposition of material along a didactic
  structure
• Core components, secondary components
• Conception of media elements
• better understanding of complex
  interrelations
• Strengthening the touchiness of the
  material
• Interactive learning

(C)
FU Berlin, CeDis
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Learning Module Editor (3. Step)

• LME consists of a MS-Word-document with
  additionalmacros (Visual Basic) and dynamic
  toolbars.
• Learning components according to the didactical
  structure
• (inserted via click)
• Media elements (inserted via click)
• Glossary and literature
• Directives can be included as
• comments

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Learning-Modul Editor, Main Features

• Integration of media elementsflash, gif, jpg,
  mp3, mpeg, bmp, ram,formulars, java-applets,
  html-sites
• Layout 4 standard-Layouts plus additional
  free-layout
• Fast single-component-preview
• Meta-data (self-generating plus editable)
• Automatic generation of navigation
• Structurized and standardised XML-Output,
  html-output, IMS-Content-Package output

2 out of approx. 630 Learning Modulesin New
Economy
FU Berlin, CeDis
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The Learner
Learning Module (B)
Learning Module (A)
Additionals
Core theory(main components)
Additionals
(secondary components), According to the
didactic structureComments, examples,
exercises, open questions,
FU Berlin, CeDis
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Assisting Tools and Software

• Learning Module Editor (LME)(Incl.
  online-documentation plus .ocx for IMS-CP)
• Corporate design plug-inns for application
  software (Photoshop/Flash)
• Media production support materials such as
  icons, Flash-players, Flash-library, adapted
  media-players
• Modifyable exercice files (Flash, XML)Multiple
  choice and drag n drop

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Assisting Tools and Software

• Interface to convert x-metal output
• inner project publishing (4. step)
• Generating pdf-files
• LME mass-production of wbt-output
• Content and publishing managementsystem to
  generate complete courses

FU Berlin, CeDis
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Preliminary Results

• Sometimes hard to realize the value added of
  e-learning, not every content can reasonably be
  illustrated (social science)
• Wbt is not cbt
• Wysiwyg necessary for the author even in mass
  production (preview)
• Students need to learn how to e-learn and
  Teachers need to learn how to e-teach
• Surveys are necessary to evaluate the outcome of
  e-learning
• Corporate identity necessary (large consortiums)
• Look and feel
• Content
• Didactic structure
• Production

FU Berlin, CeDis
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I do not believe that the NewEconomy broke
down. There are certainly things that did break
down, which is good! But all serious factors
indicating aforward motion prove that the New
Economy is consolidated.
http//www.internetoekonomie.org/
Prof. Dr. Axel Zerdick ( 2003)
FU Berlin, CeDis
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Thank you for your attention!
Dr. Nicolas Apostolopoulos, Norbert
Herrmann CeDiS Competence Center e-Learning and
Multimedia http//www.cedis.fu-berlin.de napo_at_cedi
s.fu-berlin.de herrmann_at_cedis.fu-berlin.de
FU Berlin, CeDis