Toward Design of a E-Learning Platform in Grid Environments

Proceedings of the First International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies, 2005

Large-scale cooperation support for learners becomes even more important, when e-Learning is implemented in scalable, open, dynamic and heterogeneous environment. This paper presents how to realize collaborative learning support in distributed learning environments based on grid technology. Our approach fills the existing gap between current cooperative platform and complex, cross-organization infrastructure. We propose the grid architecture for establishing collaborative platform for e-Learning, where grid middleware and CSCW services are provided. A Learning Assessment Grid, abbreviated as LAGrid, is built on top of these services and provides collaborative learning in large-scale crossorganization environment.

Online learning or e-learning is not only an important cost saving measure for corporations to train their staff and customers but it provides the flexibility and opportunities to reach out to a much larger audience. Schools and institutions have been using it to complement their existing classroom lectures. Unlike corporations where contents and materials are driven by business and profits, schools may not have the resources to design and develop these materials. Furthermore, setting up and maintaining an e-learning system may not be an option for many because of the lack of IT resources or the lack of funds. As a result e-learning adoption, although well publicized, has not been widespread and in most cases, the true benefits of e-learning have not been realized. This paper proposes an e-learning grid (EGRID) to address some of the shortcomings of the existing e-learning systems. EGRID is a novel implementation of global networked computers to form a learning community. It allows all schools and users to focus on teaching and learning without having to manage their own hardware and software. The system allows information and learning contents to be shared or retained as proprietary materials for the individual school. It allows all users to interact and grow with the learning community, sharing ideas and ways to manage learning and project work. The paper highlights the grid architecture used and the key features of the grid

International Journal of Distance …, 2008

In recent years, with the rapid development of communication and network technologies, distance learning has been popularized and it became one of the most well-known teaching methods, due to its practicability. Over the Internet, learners are free to access new knowledge without restrictions on time or location. However, current distance learning systems still present restrictions, such as support to interconnection of learning systems available in scalable, open, dynamic, and heterogeneous environments. In this chapter, we introduce a distance learning platform based on grid technology to support learning in distributed environments, where open source and freely available learning systems can share and exchange their learning and training contents. We have envisioned such distance learning platform in heterogeneous environment using grid technology. A prototype is designed and implemented, to demonstrate its effectiveness and friendly interaction between learner and learner resources used.

2009

Dezvoltarea sistemelor de e-learning a fost un domeniu ce a evoluat continuu în ultimii ani. Proiectarea acestor sisteme a fost bazată pe arhitecturi client-server, peer-to-peer sau mai recent pe servicii Web, cu unele limitări în scalabilitatea, disponibilitatea sau puterea de procesare şi stocare distribuită. Aceasta lucrare încearcă să îmbunătăţească această situaţie, aducânduşi contribuţia prin propunerea unei analize de sistem în vederea proiectării sistemului ţinând cont de etapele ciclului de viaţă al sistemului şi definirea specificaţiilor precum şi utilizarea reţelelor grid în contextul sistemelor de e-learning. Proiectarea sistemelor de elearning ţinând cont de specificaţii şi standarde este prezentată în secţiunea 2 a lucrării, în timp ce avantajele utilizării arhitecturilor de tip grid sunt analizate în sectiunea 3.

2005

Grid technologies promise to improve the way we think about e-learning allowing wide-scale learning resources sharing in heterogeneous and geographically distributed environments consenting, in this way, the implementation of distributed learning spaces where different organizations and individuals are able to cooperate in pursuing similar and complementary learning and training objectives. But is the e-learning ready for this evolution? In this paper we try, starting from an existing e-learning platform named IWT, to sketch a possible migration path toward a Grid based environment. IWT was selected because it presents a flexible, service-oriented, layered architecture suitable for migration in an OGSA compliant environment. The new approach will provide more flexibility, in fact, it will possible to leverage on the resources distributed across the Grid in order to build the learning experience that best fit student requirements. A use case scenario is also provided in order to emphasize differences between the two approaches. After a brief introduction of Grid and Learning technologies (section 1), a brief summary of IWT is given and the execution scenario is shown (section 2). A possible OGSA-based deployment of IWT is then sketched together with the new version of the execution scenario (section 3). Some conclusions are, then, presented (section 4).