A WebEnabled System For Distance Learning

1
A Web-Enabled System For Distance Learning

• Dr. Yifei Pan
• Professor of Mathematics
• Sun Certified Programmer for Java2
• Director of Java Technology Laboratory

2
Goal of Project

• Build a web-enabled system as modules for
  teaching Mathematics on the Internet.
• Students can access it anywhere, anytime by
  browsers.
• Students use programs to visualize concepts and
  theorems.
• Students use servlets to do numerical computation
  of existence theorems and methods.
• Students can take quizzes online and be graded
  and recorded real-time.

3
continued

• Students can submit projects online using the
• communication between applets and servlets.
• Students can take surveys monthly online so that
  faculty has the timely input.
• Students can check their course progress online.
• Students can have chat rooms for discussion
• using WebCT.

4
Technologies

• Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition
• (Component TechnologiesEnterprise JavaBeans,
  Servlets and Java ServerPages)
• Oracle database
• WebCT
• XML for math presentation on the web.
• MathML, OpenMath

5
continued

• Java 2 Technologies
• JavaMail API
• JavaPrinting API
• Java Swing
• JavaAdvancedImaging API
• JDBCdatabase connection
• Java 2D, Java3D---Graphics
• Java Web Start
• Win32 API and Visual Basic (Microsoft!)

6
Hardware

• An Intel Server running Windows 2000
• A Unix server (Sun Ultra workstation from Sun
  Microsystems Inc.) running Apache, Tomcat and
  Solaris 8 operating system.
• Gateway PC 933 MH.

7
Software

• Jbuilder 4
• Apache server (free)
• Tomcatservlet container
• Oracle 8---School of Engineering
• WebCT
• Oracle 2000 Developer

8
Benefits

• Enhance students understanding of mathematics
  and stimulate their interest in mathematics.
• Students can do lot of work at home or workplace
  that saves time travel to campus.
• System can be served as a platform for
• students of computer science for the exposure
• of industrial-strength programming.
• System can be well adapted for programming
  courses.
• As a prototype for external funding.

9
Architecture Three-Tier Model

• Client Tier
• Applets, HTML, XML, JavaScript
• Middle Tier
• Servlets, JSP Pages, XML, JavaMail, JavaBean
• Backend Tier
• Database Oracle8, JDBC

10
Database
Client Tier
Internet
Oracle 8i
HTTP
Middle Tier
JDBC JavaMail Servlets JSP
Applets HTML XML JavaScript MathML
Servers Solaris 8 Windows 2000
11
Implementation Client Side

• Much of work has been done and tested in
  classroom. www.ipfw.edu/math/pan
• Applets are used to visualize concepts, methods
  and theorems.
• GUI friendly user interface.
• Applets communicate with server through servlets
  for submitting and saving project work to
  students email address.

12
Continued

• Java ServerPages is used to simplify HTML
  presentation from server to client.
• MathML is used to for mathematical symbols on the
  web.
• OpenMath is used to interpret math equations to
  servlets for computing
• JavaBeans are used for Applets and Servlets
  development GraphBean

13
Implementation Server Side

• Servlets technology is used for heavy computing
  numerical, graphical.
• JSP is used for dynamical HTML content.
• JavaMail is used for sending students email to
  their account.
• JavaBeans are used database access for server
  side.
• Java Web Start technology is used to deploy Java
  Applications from server to clients for easy
  updating with any browser.

14
Continued

• TestServlet--- it communicates with TestApplet
  for saving data to database and returning results
  to TestApplet
• SurveyApplet to allow students evaluate course
  progress on real-time using a chart Bean.

15
Ideas of development

• GraphBeanused for all applets and GraphFunction
  servlet

Function Font Size Dimension Color
The JPG graphics Image of function
16
Core Components of System
TestServlet
TestApplet
MailServlet
FileServlet
Student
Server
17
Reusability of Components

• The system can be used for other courses
  especially for computer science
• TestApplet and TestServlets can be used
• for online practice for the understanding of
• Concepts and theory of object technology
  courses.
• Actually for any content????

18
Students participation

• The process of developing the system provides an
  ideal environment for upper level students to
  participate and to be exposed to
  industrial-strength programming from client to
  server side.
• Several students had participated in the project.
• Applets and Servlets developed in the project can
  be given to students as course projects in
  advanced Java programming.

19
Java Technology Laboratory

• This is a joint effort with Professor Sedlmeyer
  to build a Java Research Lab
• For developing software components for
  Interactive material on the Internet (J2EE)
• For developing prototype systems for IT industry
  applications.
• For local corporation training in Java
  Technologies.
• For external funding from state and national
  agencies for education on Internet

20
Continuing Education in Java 2 Platform

• J2EE and Java 2 Platform Certification Series
• Course I Java 2 Platform fundamentals
• Course II Java 2 Certification Training
• Course III Java Servlets and JSP Technology