e-Learning: Concepts, Usage and Tools

Martin Molhanec

Abstract

What is e-Learning? Concept of e-Learning.

Usage of e-Learning.
Tools for e-learning.

Resources

Malo, R., Motyka, A.: eLearning solution at Mendel University in Brno. E3 Event, Roma 2003 Marcel de Leeuwe http://www.e-learningsite.com/elearning/indelea.htm William Horton Consulting, Inc. http://www.horton.com/html/whcstandardshandouts.as p

Advanced Distributed Learning http://www.adlnet.gov/Scorm/

E-learning, Web-based learning

E-learning is mostly associated with activities involving

computers and interactive networks simultaneously. The computer does not need to be the central element of the activity or provide learning content. However, the computer and the network must hold a significant involvement in the learning activity.

Web-based learning is associated with learning materials

delivered in a Web browser, including when the materials are packaged on CD-ROM or other media. disk.

Online learning, Distance learning

Online learning is associated with content readily

accessible on a computer. The content may be on the Web or the Internet, or simply installed on a CD-ROM or the computer hard disk.

Distance learning involves interaction at a

distance between instructor and learners, and enables timely instructor reaction to learners. Simply posting or broadcasting learning materials to learners is not distance learning. Instructors must be involved in receiving feedback from learners.

Synchronous learning

Within synchronous learning; learning and teaching takes place in real time (same time) while the trainer and learners are physically separated from each other (place shift).
Examples include: listening to a live radio broadcast watching live a television broadcast audio/video conferencing Internet telephony online lectures two-way live satellite broadcast

Asynchronous learning

Characteristic for asynchronous learning is the fact that that the trainer prepares the courseware material before the course takes place. The learner is free to decide when he wants to study the courseware
Examples include: self paced courses taken via Internet or CD-Rom videotaped classes stored audio/video Web presentations or seminars recorded audio tapes Q & A mentoring reading e-mail messages

Examples of asynchronous and synchronous learning

ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING
Fax E-mail Knowledge Base Newsgroups Computer Based Training Quick Reference Guide

SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING
Telephone Screen Sharing Chat Desktop Conferencing Online seminar

Communication

Different ways Within communication we distinguish different directions/ways to communicate:

one

to one one to many many to one many to many

One to one

Situation Learner to learner Learner to trainer Trainer to learner

Examples

chat: private chat in a chat room or the instant messenger e-mail: send mail to a colleague or ask a question to a trainer screen sharing: sharing Microsoft Word, collaborate on a Word document

One to many

Situation

Trainer to learners Learner to learners

Examples

chat: trainer is explaining content to learners video conference: trainer is explaining content to learners via web broadcast screen sharing: using the net for giving learners a tour through PowerPoint slides or web pages newsgroups: posting a question in a newsgroup or discussion forum e-seminar: lecture or presentation over the internet

Many to one

Situation

Learners to trainer Learners to learner

Examples

chat: ask or discuss real-time questions or issues to a learning desk newsgroup: react on a posted message in a discussion forum

Many to many

Situation

Learners to learners Learners to learners and trainers

Examples

chat: discussion where learners can exchange learning experiences or just talk or a discussion led by trainers where students solve a case by collaboration through discussion two-way video conferencing: virtual classroom situation where trainer explains and learners react or meeting where subjects can be discussed telephone conferencing

e-Learning elements

Text Picture/Image Animation Audio Video

Text

The alphabet, words, sentences, paragraphs. Text processing refers to the ability to manipulate words, lines, and pages.
Size

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Font The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Color
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Text

The alphabet, words, sentences, paragraphs. Text processing refers to the ability to manipulate words, lines, and pages.
Size

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Font The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Color
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

Pictures/images

A picture or image is data represented in a two-dimensional scene. A digital image is composed of pixels arranged in a rectangular array with a certain height and width. Each pixel may consist of one or more bits of information, representing the brightness of the image at that point and possibly including color information encoded as RGB triples.

Pictures/images

A picture or image is data represented in a two-dimensional scene. A digital image is composed of pixels arranged in a rectangular array with a certain height and width. Each pixel may consist of one or more bits of information, representing the brightness of the image at that point and possibly including color information encoded as RGB triples.

Animations

An animation is a simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures, or frames. A cartoon on television is one example of animation.
Animation on computers is one of the chief ingredients of multimedia presentations.

Animations can be made with special techniques like Flash or with image applications like Photoshop and Fireworks and exported as animated GIF.

Animations

An animation is a simulation of movement created by displaying a series of pictures, or frames. A cartoon on television is one example of animation.
Animation on computers is one of the chief ingredients of multimedia presentations.

Animations can be made with special techniques like Flash or with image applications like Photoshop and Fireworks and exported as animated GIF.

Audio

Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to humans. On a computer an audio file is a record of captured sound that can be played back. Audio files are usually compressed for storage purposes or faster transmission. In order for users to receive sound in real-time for a multimedia effect, sound must be delivered as streaming sound. The advantage of streaming (instead of downloaded sounds) is that there is no waiting (or very little) from the time you click the mouse until you hear the sound. Well known formats are: wave (.wav) , midi (.mid), MPEG, audio layer 3 (.mp3).

Audio

Audio is sound within the acoustic range available to humans. On a computer an audio file is a record of captured sound that can be played back. Audio files are usually compressed for storage purposes or faster transmission. In order for users to receive sound in real-time for a multimedia effect, sound must be delivered as streaming sound. The advantage of streaming (instead of downloaded sounds) is that there is no waiting (or very little) from the time you click the mouse until you hear the sound. Well known formats are: wave (.wav) , midi (.mid), MPEG, audio layer 3 (.mp3).

Video

Video refers to displaying still images, in such a high speed that our mind interpreters the sequence of images as a movement. You can compare it with animation. The difference is the use of real images (pictures) and most of the time the number of frames per second is higher with video then with animations. The higher the number of frames per second, the more our eyes are interpreting the sequential as real 'movement'.

Video

Video refers to displaying still images, in such a high speed that our mind interpreters the sequence of images as a movement. You can compare it with animation. The difference is the use of real images (pictures) and most of the time the number of frames per second is higher with video then with animations. The higher the number of frames per second, the more our eyes are interpreting the sequential as real 'movement'.

Creating eLearning documents I.

Basic elements of own study text

paragraphs tables pictures lists others objects (sound, video, )

Main parts of eLearning document

title basic information about document motivation, prerequisites, instructions, goals, chapters and sections test glossary literature

Creating eLearning documents II.

Basic elements of chapters

goals of the chapter sections and subsections summary index of terms information sources question for thinking examples and results

recommended elements

eLearning documents are too long for manual creating set of elements which are necessary

Learning Management System (LMS)

Learning management system is software that deploys, manages, tracks and reports on interaction between learner & content and between learner & instructor. In particular, LMS performs student registration, tracks learner progress, records test scores, and indicates course completions and finally it allows trainers to assess the performance of their learners.
Main features of an LMS: Registration - enroll and administer learners online for web-based, instructor-led, and all other learning activities. Scheduling - schedule courses and define curricula to address individual and organizational learning needs. Also off-line resources can be included (classrooms, books, coaches etc.). Delivery - deliver online courses and assessments or schedule instructor-led courses. Tracking - track the progress of the learners and create reports. Communication - communicate by chat, discussion forum, mail, screensharing and e-seminars. Testing - test and assess competency, learning styles and student commitment.

General requirements for LMS system

Support of different possibilities of learning. Integration of solution in the context of IS firm. Wide administration range. Compatibility with standards. The support of the applications of the other suppliers. Possibility of using new technologies so called mobile communication. An access thanks web client. Other functions.

Users and parts of LMS

Two basic types of user

students teachers

LMS consists of three basic types application

applications for learning (documents, examples) testing applications (test, checking of tests) support applications (notepad, discussion forum, chat)

Student interface - functions

Teaching part

teaching materials solved examples lists of questions glossaries auto tests assignments and evaluations message board chat discussion forum notepad links download section

List of tasks and projects

Communication tools

Other tools

Teacher interface - functions

Creating study materials and sources for studies

own study materials glossaries, lists of terms, solved problems exercises, summaries links, recommended sources, ... online test with automatic evaluation offline printed test

Creating tests

Communication tools Assignments of projects and tasks to students

Web tools

E-learning creation tools

Collaboration tools

Media tools and converters

Management systems

Standards organizations

Packaging standard

AICC

AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee)

The AICC (Aviation Industry CBT Committee) develops guidelines for the aviation industry in the development, delivery, and evaluation of CBT and related training technologies.

The objectives of the AICC are to:

assist airplane operators in development of guidelines that promote the economic and effective implementation of computer-based training (CBT) develop guidelines to enable interoperability provide an open forum for the discussion of CBT and other training technologies Although AICC primarily attends to the aviation industry, over 13 years focus on the specifications required to meet this industry's needs has led to a very well developed specifications for learning and particularly for computer managed instruction. As a result, a wide range of learning consortiums and accredited standards groups are in the process of adopting and adapting the AICC guidelines to their own industries.

IMS

IMS (Instructional Management System) Global Learning Consortium

The IMS (Instructional Management System) Global Learning Consortium is developing and promoting open specifications (no standards) for facilitating online distributed learning activities such as locating and using educational content, tracking learner progress, reporting learner performance, and exchanging student records between administrative systems. IMS has two key goals:

defining the technical standards for interoperability of applications and services in distributed learning supporting the incorporation of IMS specifications into products and services worldwide. IMS promotes widespread adoption of specifications that will allow distributed learning environments and content from multiple authors to work together.

Communications standards

Metadata standards

IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC)

One of the most important accredited standards bodies is IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC). This committee consist of over 20 working groups who are covering a large far-reaching topics including learning object metadata, student profiles, course sequencing, computer managed instruction, competency definitions, localization, and content packaging. The mission of IEEE LTSC working groups is to develop technical Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guides for software components, tools, technologies and design methods that facilitate the development, deployment, maintenance and interoperation of computer implementations of education and training components and systems.

Quality standards

International Standards Organization (ISO)

The IEEE LTSC has also recently initiated the move of this work to the full International Standards Organization (ISO) standards by establishing ISO Joint Technical Committee 1 (JTC1) Sub Committee 36 (SC36) on Learning Technology. SC36 Develops International Standards in the areas of Learning, Education, and Training.

ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 130 countries, one from each country. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. ISO's work results in international agreements, which are published as International Standards.

Design standards

Accessibility standards

Learning object

SCORM 2004

SCORM is a collection of standards and specifications adapted from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive suite of e-learning capabilities that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of Web-based learning content.
One of the primary forces behind changes to SCORM has been the evolution of the underlying specifications and standards in SCORM 2004:

IEEE Data Model For Content Object Communication IEEE ECMAScript Application Programming Interface for Content to Runtime Services Communication IEEE Learning Object Metadata (LOM) IEEE Extensible Markup Language (XML) Schema Binding for Learning Object Metadata Data Model IMS Content Packaging IMS Simple Sequencing.

Resume

E-Learning
It is not a cup of web pages! It is a complex learning environment! We need a possibility professionally to create our learning materials. We need a professional LMS system, which is compliment with all e-learning relevant standards. We need a money and peoples! And lot of optimism