Upcoming Challenges in E-Learning & Online Learning
EnvironmentsMohamed Tawfik, Elio Sancristobal, Sergio Martin, Rosario Gil, Alberto Pesquera, Felix Garcia, Maria Jose
Albert, Clara Perez, Gabriel Diaz, Juan Peire, Manuel Castro
[email protected] & Computer Engineering Department (DIEEC)
Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)
In a knowledge society, constant demand for learning and for information is indispensable
Lifelong learning, continuing education, and vocational education are some of the terms originated from initiatives that aimed to answer this demand
Despite the availability of information and the variety of programs at universities and institutions, it’s not quite simple for most of the people to acquire them owing to the today’s rapid lifestyleThe actual economic crisis in some countries has forced even undergraduate students to
have a part time job concurrently with studyingAdding to this, many other factors might hinder mobility or classroom assistance for some
people such as disability, geographical consideration, or inflexible work schedule
E-Learning is the Solution!
Distance Education
Information Technologies
E-Learning
Shifting the education paradigm from teacher-centered to student-centered
Bringing knowledge to learners from anywhere and at any time and adapting the educational curricula to their needs has been the main focus for learning providers
Upcoming Challenges in E-Learning & Online Learning Environments
Shedding light on the most prominent challenges in many aspects of E-learning technologies
going to Blended Learning
Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
Provided Services
• Administration Tools• Synchronous and
Asynchronous Communication Tools
• Multimedia sharing Tools• Evaluation and Tracking
Tool
Standard Compatibility
• Shareable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM)
• IMS for content packing • IMS QTI (Question and
Test Interoperability)Learning Object Metadata (LOM)
• Dublin Core
Proprietary Solutions
• Blackboard • SharePointLMS• JoomlaLMS
Open Source Solutions
• Moodle • dotLRN • Sakai • Claroline
Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
Interoperability with heterogeneous LMSs at other Institutions
Access to remote laboratories
Access to Web 2.0 components and other online services
Access from and synchronization with other learning platforms and smart devices
Service-oriented LMS
What’s next?
Online Laboratories
Virtual Laboratories Remote Laboratories
Plugins dependent solutions: Flash & Java Applets
Plugins independent solutions: HTML 5 & Ajax
What’s next?
Remote Laboratory Management System (RLMS)
USERS
RLMS
Lab ServersEquipments
…...
…...
Diferent Remote Lab Systems(could be at different institutions)
Common Access Portal Management Administrative Tools Communication Tools .. Other
Remote Laboratory Management System (RLMS)
……….……….
Institution 1
Exp A
Exp B
Exp CRLMS
……….……….
Institution 2
Exp X
Exp Y
Exp ZRLMS
Standard Interface
Users
Users
What’s next?
Mobile Learning (M-Learning)
Location-based AR
Enriched ebooks
iBooksU
Mobile Learning (M-Learning)
Mobile Learning (M-Learning)
What’s next?
Upcoming frameworks should leverage new mobile devices, such as new Smartphones and Tablets (e.g., iPhone, iPad, and Windows tablet), and should be based on a loosely coupled architecture in order to facilitate their integration with new e-learning platforms and services
The implementation of unplug-in based applications (e.g., applications based on HTML5 and
JavaScript) is another important factor in order to guarantee the long term compatibility with different operating systems such as iPhone OS, Android, RIM, Windows and Symbian
Online Authentication Models
Trad
ition
al
Mod
el
Online Authentication ModelsBiometrics
What’s next?
Online Authentication ModelsFace Recognition
What’s next?
So far, both technologies, image processing and biometrics, are fairly new in e-learning applications with few literature evidences. Nonetheless, both seem to cope well with the new e-learning application generation and by the time they are gaining more interest
Online Authentication ModelsBiometrics &Face Recognition
So far, both technologies, image processing and biometrics, are widely used in other emerging applications. For instance, image processing are used in remote sensing, bioengineering, and mobile applications, while biometrics are used in e-health applications, border access, mobile applications, and smart house appliances
However, they are fairly new in e-learning applications with few literature evidences. Both seem to cope well with the new e-learning application generation and by the time they are gaining more interest
Conclusions• Learning Management Systems • Remote and Virtual Labs integration• User and access Federation
• Mobile Learning• Integration of location and user based actions• New framework and deploying
• Authentication• New biometrics systems• Federation and web based certification
(multiple identitites)
Research on Technologies for Engineering Education
http://ohm.ieec.uned.es/
Thanks for your Attention!
Manuel [email protected]
IEEE Education Society President
Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (DIEEC)Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)