DRAC (Distributed Remote ACess system) An On-line Open Source Project-based Learning Tool
Project Based Learning is an essential component in modern engineering education. However, it is difficult to implement in a virtual simulation-based approach, and the need of expensive or specialized equipment can make difficult to use this PBL approach in remote learning. In this paper, a web-based portal is presented; it allows remote access to the resources of several PBL laboratories on Electronics, with a significant emphasis on real-time digital and analog processing and multidisciplinary
An Interactive Virtual Global Cultural Course: Building a Real Time Cost Effective Global Collaborat
A virtual collaborative environment was created at East Carolina University, using videoconference technology via regular internet to bring students from 18 different countries, 2 at a time, to the same classroom in real time to learn about each otherÂ’s culture. Students from two countries are partnered one on one,, they meet for 4-5 weeks, and submit a joint paper. Then the same process is repeated for two other countries. Lectures and student discussions are managed with pre-determined topics
Using Web-Based Course to Enhance Educational Process at Jordan Universities – A Case Study
This paper shows that the use of web-based instruction in IT undergraduate distancelearning program is one vivid demonstration of the potential of using technology in instruction. The paper also shows that using web-based course strongly contributed to the effectiveness of distance learning by improving the quality of students' comprehension in areas of critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making ability, aptitude for detail, written communication, knowledge of information, and ability t
Reusing Streaming Contents in Engineering and Education Courses
BolognaÂ’s process and the opening of university teaching to new educational scenarios provide an opportunity for the implementation of innovative and active methodologies.
This paper describes a practice implemented by the share and reuse of learning contents using streaming technology. Streaming technology was used since it promotes the support of pedagogical activity as a dynamic resource and oriented to a model of shared learning.
The motivation beyond this idea was the share of teacherÂ’s e
Providing feedback in web-based learning
In distance learning supported by LMS, it is extremely important to provide automated or partially automated feedback about learning outcomes to students as well as feedback about the efficiency and quality of teaching and learning to teachers and to management of the institution that provides web-based learning courses. In this article, we present the solutions implemented in the LMS eCampus that are theoretically grounded and have been proved in praxis.
New Learning Methodologies and Tools for Corporate
E-Learning
While e-learning has become accepted in large companies as a standard option for training, most corporate e-learning has not produced the hoped-for performance improvement. Yet elearning has a tremendous amount of unrealized potential to provide high-quality, educationally-sound, engaging training that improves employeesÂ’ performance. Corporate elearningÂ’s lack of success seems to be due to the dearth of widely-publicized methods to teach skills needed by corporate employees, and by the percei
Conceptions en santé animale et tutorat assisté par ordinateur
Le travail présenté a été effectué dans le cadre de la validation d'un système expert en santé animal développée par l'INRA. Les conceptions d'éleveurs sont analysées en situation de résolution de problème en élevage porcin afin de les confronter avec celles formalisées dans le système expert porcidact.
Equal study: Lecture based automated video recording system for all
This paper presents a system, which (in one piece) captures the necessary video and sound equipment, interactive streaming video technology and virtual hypermedia environment into a new web based learning environment. In several steps a lecturer can prepare a video supported lecture, which is automatically synchronized with additional media (material, subtitles). Students can watch these lectures live or on demand. Later on additional form of subtitles can be simply added into the video and soun
Efficient object based streaming framework for web-based education
An efficient moving object extraction algorithm suitable for real-time content-based multimedia streaming systems is proposed in this paper. A Motion Vector (MV) based object extraction is used to dynamically detect the objects. To utilize the bandwidth efficiently, the important object can be real time detected, encoded, and transmitted with higher quality and higher frame rate than those of background. In order to meet the real-time requirement, no computationally intensive operation is includ
Surmonter l’interférence culturelle et linguistique à l’aide de CALL
This research project aims to design a CALL system (Computer-Assisted Language Learning). The goal of the system is to help users overcome cross-linguistic difficulties, that is to say, transfer and interference stemming from a native language (L1) in the process of acquiring a second or foreign language (L2). It is built following an ontological engineering methodology, which is well-known in
the artificial intelligence community. In this article, we describe what is cross-linguistic influence,
Designing Instructional Examples to Reduce Intrinsic Cognitive Load: Molar versus Modular Presentati
It is usually assumed that successful problem solving in knowledge-rich domains depends on the availability of abstract problem-type schemas whose acquisition can be supported by presenting students with worked examples. Conventionally designed worked examples often focus on information that is related to the main components of problem-type schemas, namely on information related to problem-category membership, structural task features, and category-specific solution procedures. However, studying
When are powerful learning environments effective? The role of learner activities and of studentsÂ’
The goal of this chapter is to outline a theoretical and empirical perspective on how learnersÂ’ conceptions of educational technology might influence their learning activities and thereby determine the power of computer-based learning environments. Starting with an introduction to the concept of powerful learning environments we outline how recent developments in information and communication technologies might be used to implement these environments technologically. In the next step we refer t
Goal Configurations and Processing Strategies as Moderators Between Instructional Design and Cogniti
In this article, we propose some augmentations of cognitive load theory (CLT) inspired by evidence from hypertext-based instruction. In particular, we focus on the role of goal configurations and processing strategies as moderators between instructional design and cognitive load. First, we describe pivotal assumptions of CLT and conceptual shortcomings related to these assumptions. Second, we review evidence from our own hypertext-based research that gives reasons for integrating configurations
Collaborative Writing in a Computer-integrated Classroom for Early Learning
This paper describes a collaborative experiment with a special software application supporting the acquisition of initial reading and writing skills embedded in a computer-integrated environment for young children. The NIMIS project has set up three Computer-integrated Classrooms across Europe with appropriate "roomware" environments, i.e. furniture, hardware and software to support early learning. Here, we present a collaborative writing task facilitated by a shared workspace system, that has b
CSCL Scripts: Modelling Features and Potential Use
The design of collaboration scripts is a new focus of research within the CSCL community. In order to support the design, communication, analysis, simulation and even execution of collaboration scripts, a general specification language to describe collaboration scripts is needed. In this paper, we analyse the suitability and limitations of IMS LD for modelling collaborative learning processes. Based on the analysis, we propose a CSCL scripting language. This paper presents the conceptual framewo
Analyzing Sequential Data in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
Representations and changes between them play a major role in cognitive development (e.g., Vosniadou, & Brewer, 1992) and education (e.g., Hewson, Beeth, & Thorley, 1998). By definition, change of representations is also indispensable for collaborative work since a common understanding or shared knowledge can only be achieved by a partial convergence of the knowledge structures of the collaborating subjects. This articles presents and discusses knowledge tracking (KT), viz., an approach to analy
Using Interaction Analysis to reveal Self-Regulated
Learning in Virtual Communities
Aim of this paper is to analyse whether Interaction Analysis can help
investigate the practice and development of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) in Virtual Learning Communities (VLC). Interaction analysis is increasingly used to study learning dynamics within online activities. It proceeds by searching expressions that reveal the aspects under study in the written messages exchanged by the learners. To this end, we devised and classified a number of indicators suggesting the existence of self-re
Quelles machines pour enseigner la langue ?
This paper first presents a history of Computer-Assisted Learning (CAL), setting its origins in the 1920s with the invention of mechanical learning machines. The use of the computer then allowed the development of different types of language learning activities: comprehension tasks, simulations, etc. However, without the contribution of natural language processing (NLP), these activities are of limited use. We address the problem of the integration of NLP in CALL systems while summing up the cha
Blended Learning Technologies in Lifelong Education: Lessons Learned from a Case Study
The combination of the traditional form of education and e-learning activities (blended learning) constitutes an important possibility for the higher education, so that they reach the flexibility which is considered to be necessary for their adaptation to the traineesÂ’ needs within the frame of socio-cognitive needs created by the information society. We present the principles of the application of blended lesson designs in graduate level and of its evaluation by the students. Based on our expe
Innovative pedagogical and psychological perspectives of podcasts
Podcasting, being a new form of audio distribution offering the possibility to be loaded on personal mobile devices from teachersÂ’, studentÂ’, universityÂ’s websites and blogs, is discussed as an activity with potential in learning and teaching. The existing and potential varieties of podcasts represent sources for learning, converging, socializing. In this paper, podcasting is supported as an innovative approach to stimulate university studentsÂ’ reflection, specifically on epistemic quest
