Lectia 1 Modul 1

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Technical University of Cluj Napoca
ELECTRONIC PLATFORMS FOR E-LEARNING
Laura Grindei, Aurel Vlaicu, Bogdan
Orza Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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CONTENTS

• Introduction to e-Learning
• E-Learning professional platforms
• On-line courses design
• Interactive multimedia applications design
• On-line evaluation strategies
• Conclusions and future developments

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Continuous and distance education
1. Introduction to e-Learning

Continuous education (CE) also known as life
long learning and comprises all the education
activities that aim knowledge, skills and
competencies enhancement, from personal, social,
civic and/or employment capability point of
view Distance education (DE) comprises various
study forms, that do not take place under
professors surveillance in class rooms, but that
benefit of plans, guidance and assistance of an
organization or an educational institution. DE
types
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DEFINITIONS
1. Introduction to e-Learning

• E-Learning planned experience of
  teaching/learning offered by an educational
  institution, DE type that gives educational
  materials in sequential and logical order in
  order to be assimilated by students in their own
  manner.
• Characteristics
• Accessibility on Internet always, from everywhere
• Educational materials having interactive
  multimedia format
• Interaction and collaboration between students
  and tutor
• On-line monitoring and administration
• Technologies
• Synchronous (participant oriented) chat, video
  conferences, whiteboard
• Asynchronous (computer oriented) www, email,
  FTP, newsgroup

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EDUCATIONAL SCENARIO FOR E-LEARNING
1. Introduction to e-Learning

P R A C T I C E
T H E O R Y
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MODELS
1. Introduction to e-Learning

Database
Content
Web page
1. Individual
Interactive presentations
Content management
Web Server
Internet
Audio-video
Agenda
2. With communication facilities
3.Advanced
AV streaming
Communication server
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USERS
1. Introduction to e-Learning

Evaluation of results
recording
eLearning
assistance, evaluation
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Advantages
1. Introduction to e-Learning

Disadvantages

• Online accessibility 24h a day/ 7 days a
• week
• Personalized learning systems
• Various pedagogical methods
• On-line administration
• Less study time
• Low cost distribution and maintenance
• Asynchronous and synchronous
• interactions
• Dynamic and interactive technologies

• Relatively high abandon rate, if the students are
  not motivated enough
• Students need experience in computer handling
• High design costs

Conclusion E-learning does not substitute the
traditional classes Improvements ? more
attractive, dynamic, flexible, interactive and
efficient education.
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Designing e-learning platforms (ELP)
1. Introduction to e-Learning

• ELP the ensemble of programs and equipments that
  facilitates content
• resource distribution and management,
  as well as collaboration for on-
• line courses
• ELP designing stages
• Learning needs analyze and definition
• Design and implementation
• Platform launch on Internet
• Platform evaluation
• Necessary knowledge for ELP development
• pedagogy
• programming

• information security
• standardization

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Designing e-learning platforms (ELP)
1. Introduction to e-Learning

Access
Design
Components for ELP design and functionalities
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E-LEARNING STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
1. Introduction to e-Learning

De facto standards
voluntary usage
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E-learning standards and specifications
1. Introduction to e-Learning

• Ensure
• Interoperability ELP may be used on other
  hardware software configurations as well
• Re-usage teaching objects and resources can be
  used with various programs/ settings/ profiles
  for various clients
• Management information on content and users
• Accesibility quick access to platform and
  content
• Durability ensures periodical update of the
  content
• Scalability capability to extend the courses
  for other fields and other types of users

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ELP USAGE IN ROMANIA
1. Introduction to e-Learning

• Institutions that regulate DE and CE
• MEC H.G. 1011/2001 Standards for DE
• CNFIS regulations regarding permanent education
• CNFPA regulations regarding professional adults
  formation providers authorization .
• Companies offering support for ELP design and
  development
• Timsoft, Siveco, Sofwin, Expert Learning System,
  Comsys, Learning Systems, QCT Connect, Media
  eLearning, Data Business Center, Academia
  On-line, etc.
• ELPs offered by universities
• University of Bucharest, Technical University of
  Timisoara, Transylvania University of Brasov,
  Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Gh. Asachi
  University of Iasi and UBB Cluj Napoca.
• Portals offering online education
• SEI, Timsoft, Forum, ScoalaOnline, Training.ro,
  etc.

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Accessing tools
2. Professional E-learning platforms

Web browsers
Media players and viewers
Client applications
online meetings
pools
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Distribution tools
2. Professional E-learning platforms

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PROFESSIONAL ELP EXAMPLES
2. Professional E-learning platforms

IBM LOTUS LMS SOLUTION
BLACKBOARD ACADEMIC SUITE
E-LEARNING AEL PLATFORM
E-LEARNING IeL PLATFORM
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IeL PLATFORM
2. Professional E-learning platforms
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IeL PLATFORM
2. Professional E-learning platforms
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IeL PLATFORM
2. Professional E-learning platforms
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Design stages
3. Online courses design

• Establishing course content and dividing it into
  modules and units (chapters, lessons).
• Selecting the data presentation media (text,
  audio or video) and the formats.
• Establishing what platforms and software will be
  used to distribute the online courses
• Establishing online activities (exercises,
  problems, practice and projects).
• Testing and evaluating the course content by
  professionals.
• Elaborating an activity guide and/or a study
  guide for students that shows how to utilize it,
  to realize the practical activities and the
  online activities.
• Making online evaluation tests (as surveys,
  multiple answers).
• Publishing the courses on the web site or on LMS

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PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
3. Online courses design

1. Course Authoring Tools
TRAINERSOFT 8
MACROMEDIA 7 AUTHORWARE
WEB COURSE BUILDER
LECTORA INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING
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PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
3. Online courses design

2. Web Authoring Tools
MACROMEDIA DREAMWEAVER MX
MICROSOFT FRONT PAGE
3. Multimedia files editing tools (animation)
MACROMEDIA FLASH
MACROMEDIA DIRECTOR
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PROFESSIONAL TOOLS
3. Online courses design

3. Multimedia files editing tools (video)
MICROSOFT MOVIEMAKER
ADOBE PREMIERE
MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATION

• Tools for
• Content conversion in web format
• Database and dynamic web pages creation
• Equations editing in web format
• Creating real time dynamic charts

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Databases
3. Online courses design

DYNAMIC WEB PAGES DESIGN
Client server architecture
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DYNAMIC WEB PAGES DESIGN
3. Online courses design

MySQL and PHP
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TEF and CEM online courses implementation

3. Online courses design
Integrated educational materials

• Presentations tutorials, documentation
• Theoretical applications and virtual labs
• On-line self evaluation tests and final
  evaluation tests (different formats)

Developed and integrated components

• Graphic interfaces (Macromedia Dreamweaver MX,
  Microsoft PPT, Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Flash
  and GIF Animator, CSS)
• Browser menus (PHP and Java Script)
• Dynamic web pages (databases MySQL, PHP)
  glossary of terms, virtual library, on line final
  testing)
• Interactive web pages (JavaScript, Java)
  theoretical applications, online evaluation
  tests, virtual lab

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3. Online courses design

• ELECTRONIC COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN Phare
  Multicountry Programme for DE designed by T.U.
  Sofia Professor Elena Shoikova

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TEF and CEM courses implementation
3. Online courses design

The Theory of Electromagnetic Field online course
Course content
Lesson 1 module 1 tutorial
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TEF and CEM courses implementation
3. Online courses design

TEF online course (The Theory of Electromagnetic
Field)
Study agenda module 1
Lesson 1 - content
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TEF and CEM courses implementation

3. Online courses design
TEF online course (The Theory of Electromagnetic
Field)
Glosar de termeni
Biblioteca virtuala
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TEF and CEM courses implementation
3. Online courses design

CEM (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) online course
Student guide
Assistance
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TEF and CEM courses implementation

3. Online courses design
CEM online course (Electromagnetic Compatibility)
Module 1 - objectives
Chapter 1, module 1 - tutorial
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3. Online courses design

TEF and CEM courses implementation
Integrating the courses within IeL
User configuring tutor for CEM course
Activities configuration for the CEM Course
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PROFESSIONAL TOOLS FOR DESIGN
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

• Dynamic multimedia applications
• Animation, movies
• Dynamic banners
• Dynamic web pages
• Server side scripting languages PHP (Hypertext
  Preprocessor), Perl (Practical Extraction and
  Report Language), ASP (Active Server Pages -
  Microsoft) and JSP (Java Server Pages Sun
  Microsystems).
• Client side scripting languages Java Script
  (Netscape), Jscript (Microsoft) and VBScript
  (Visual Basic Script- Microsoft).

• Interactive multimedia application
• Java Scripts,
• Java applets,
• Flash/Shockwave technologies

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INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS FOR CEM AND
TEF
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Theoretical applications for TEF course
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Interactive multimedia applications developed for
online courses
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Theoretical applications for the TEF course
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Interactive multimedia applications developed for
online courses
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Theoretical applications for CEM courses
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VIRTUAL LABS
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Advantages

• Essential for online courses in the technical
  domain
• Useful to illustrate certain functionalities of
  devices, processes, phenomena not accessible for
  students in any other way
• Offer means and solutions to implement
  interactively some practical activities that
  allow viewing in various conditions and
  hypothesis processes, devices or equipment
• Reproducibility they can be repeated several
  times, if necessary, by the students, without any
  effort from the professors or tutors
• Do not need expensive lab equipment or devices

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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course
(Electrostatic 3D)
Sequence from an application using the
Electrostatic 3D software (electrostatic
fields spectrum for 2 conductor surfaces
situated close to a separation surface between 2
media having different material constants)
Sequence of an application that use the
Electrostatic 3D software (3D representation of
electrical field)
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course
(Electrostatic 3D)
Sequence of an application that use Electrostatic
3D(3D representation of electric potential)
Sequence of an application that use Electrostatic
3D (electrostatic field spectrum of 2 point like
charges next to a conductor surface)
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course (Maxwell
Ansoft 3D)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
MaxwellAnsoft 3D (equipotential surfaces)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
MaxwellAnsoft 3D (electrostatic field spectrum)
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course (FEMLAB 3D)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
MaxwellAnsoft 3D (electric field spectrum of 2
conductor cylinders and an insulator enclosure)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
MaxwellAnsoft 3D (defining analyzed geometry)
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course (FEMLAB 3D)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
FEMLAB 3D (electric field spectrum of 2 conductor
cylinders )
Sequence from a solved application that uses
MaxwellAnsoft 3D (electric field spectrum of 2
conductor cylinders )
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for TEF course (FEMLAB 3D)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
FEMLAB 3D (field lines and equipotential
surfaces)
Sequence from a solved application that uses
FEMLAB 3D (electric field spectrum of 2 conductor
spheres)
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VIRTUAL LABS FOR TEF AND CEM COURSES
4. Interactive multimedia applications design

Practical applications for CEM course (Java)
Window from an interactive application
Transmission line with loss Time dependent
tension, power, current charts
Window from an interactive application
Transmission line with loss Line settings,
charge, Generator
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Online students evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Characteristics

• ACCESIBILITY - offers information on the
  students assimilation degree.
• RELIABILITY - obtained scores consistency same
  test given at different time, leads to similar
  results.
• TRANSPARENCY - students precise information on
  the evaluation process.
• EFICIENCY - an efficient test suppose easy
  development, administration, grading and
  interpretation.
• FLEXIBILITY - tests capability to measure a
  large scale of gained knowledge and aptitudes.

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Online students evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Tests types

• Tests with true/false answers
• Chart type tests
• Correct answer association tests
• Quiz tests with several answers
• Short answer tests
• Essay type tests

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Tests design tools
5. On-line evaluation strategies

MACROMEDIA COURSE BUILDER
HOT POTATOES
QUIZROCKET CREATOR
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Contributions to online students evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Self evaluation tests for TEF course
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Contributions to online students evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Final evaluation tests for CEM course
Quiz test configuration (IeL)
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Contributions to online students evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Final evaluation tests for CEM course
Quiz testing and grading (IeL)
Correct answers at final test (IeL)
Final online evaluation test (IeL)
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Online course evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Quality control guarantee criteria
Content to be teach information structure,
thematic deepness level of the content, notions
correctness, informations up to date and
interest degree, users specifications Platform
technology tools, used technology (robustness),
guarantee of an e-learning management portal,
curricula structure, users registration, browsing
tools, web browsers compatibility, multimedia
elements integration and communication medium
speed. Multimedia presentation user interface,
easy text browsing, image quality, sound quality,
video quality, animations impact, easy use of
tests, interactive tools quality. Pedagogical
and educational aspects pedagogical principles
that are at the e-learning programs basis,
teaching aims have to be the same as learning
aims.
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Contributions to online courses evaluation
5. On-line evaluation strategies

Quiz for CEM course
Quiz for TEF course
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Future development perspectives and strategies
6. Conclusions and future developments

• Online courses content
• Finalize all the modules from the 2 online
  courses TEF and CEM
• Extend the theoretical applications area, by
  including several types of applications done with
  interactive multimedia technologies.
• Increase the interactivity level of the courses,
  by integrating databases for various other
  activity types (applications, course evaluation)

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• THANK YOU