upcoming challenges in e-learning & online learning environments

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

mcastro@ieec.uned.esElectrical & 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 Castromcastro@ieec.uned.es

IEEE Education Society President

Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (DIEEC)Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)