Models, Languages and Tools for Managing Virtual eLearning Communities

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Models, Languages and Tools for Managing Virtual
e-Learning Communities

• Stanley Y. W. Su Gilliean Lee
• PGL Workshop on e-Learning Objects and Systems,
  June 3-4, 2004
• su, glee_at_cise.ufl.edu

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Outline

• Introduction
• Related Works
• Learning Object Models
• Learning Object Definition Languages
• E-learning Service Infrastructure for Virtual
  E-learning Communities
• Conclusion and Future Work

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Introduction

• Web Resources
• Internet contains a lot of multimedia learning
  assets.
• Scattered, unstructured for learning gt Structure
  is necessary.
• Internet-based Learning
• Enable learning anytime and anywhere.
• Learners interact/collaborate with people.
• Computer Mediated Communication Tools e-mail,
  discussion boards, video conferencing and
  Internet Messenger.
• Learning Technology Initiatives
• Advanced Distributed Learning.
• IMS Global Learning Consortium.
• Open Knowledge Initiative.
• IEEEs Learning Technology Standards Committee
• Schools Interoperability Framework

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• Introduction (conti.)
• Systems at two ends of a spectrum
• Learning Object Repositories
• MERLOT, Educational Object Economy (EOE),
• Co-operative Learning Object Exchange (CLOE)
• Provide directories for different subject
  categories.
• Only manual search is supported
• Learning Management Systems
• WebCT, Blackboard, e-College, LON CAPA
• Provide facilities for course development,
  delivery and
• management
• Sophisticated, heavy weight systems

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Motivation Vision

• e-Learning should not be restricted to formal,
  course-based instructions
• Virtual e-Learning Communities
• Internet users with a common interest are members
  of a community
• They share information and knowledge useful for
  decision-making and problem-solving
• Light-weight system to enable general Internet
  users to participate in lifelong instruction and
  learning

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Research Focus

• Learning Object Models Languages
• Learning Content Definition Model Language
• Learning Process Definition Model Language
• Active, Flexible, Adaptive, Customizable and
  Collaborative e-Learning Service System
• e-Learning Service Infrastructure
• Tools for community members playing different
  roles
• Facilities for the registration, discovery,
  binding and invocation of learning objects
• Systems for the delivery of contents, and the
  assessment of learners progress and achievement

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Related Works

• Flex-EL
• L3
• KnowledgeTree
• Ciscos Reusable Learning Object
• Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)

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Flex-EL, L3, KnowledgeTree

• Flex-EL
• Workflow process model defines the sequence of
  learning contents, and the coordination/collaborat
  ion among people involved in learning.
• L3
• Separates learning process model from strategies
  (i.e., navigation rules).
• Navigation rules attached at runtime refer to
  meta-tags on learning process elements to
  navigate a learning process.
• KnowledgeTree
• Learning goals, preferences and knowledge of
  individual learners are used to select the most
  appropriate learning materials at runtime.

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Reusable Learning Object

• Introduced by Cisco
• Two-level architecture
• RIO (Reusable Information Object)
• Has the actual contents.
• Consists of Content Items, Practice Items,
  Assessment Items
• RLO (Reusable Learning Object)
• Consists of Overview, Summary, Assessment, and
  five to nine (7 - 2) RIOs.

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Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM)

• Introduced by the ADL (Advanced Distributed
  Learning) program of DoD White House
• Features
• Tree-structured learning process model
• Rule-based Sequencing Definition Model
• Sequencing control modes choice, flow, forward
  only, etc.
• Sequencing rules pre- and post-activity
  sequencing rules.
• Rollup rule decides whether a parent activity is
  satisfied based on the status of its child
  activities.

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SCORM (Contd)

• Limitations
• The definition of a learning object in SCORM does
  not explicitly distinguish content, practice,
  assessment items.
• Only leaf activity can make reference to learning
  objects.
• Not flexible in specifying where assessment can
  be conducted.

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Learning Object Models

• What is Learning Object?
• Meta-data of Learning Objects
• Learning Resources
• Learning Content Definition Model
• Learning Process Definition Model
• Learning Content Definition Language
• Learning Process Definition Language

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What is Learning Object (LO)?

• A granule of instruction designed to meet a
  specific instructional objective(s).
• It contains content items and, optionally,
  practice and assessment items.
• It is a reusable object with behavior and
  meta-data.
• It is published as a Web-service.

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Meta-Data of a Learning Object

• Attributes
• Attributes of LO repositories (MERLOT, CLOE,
  etc).
• e.g., title, subject, author, target_age,
  keywords, media format, language, cost, etc.
• Constraints
• Attribute constraints attribute value range
  enumeration
• Inter-attribute constraints If constraint then
  constraint
• Examples
• target_age 8..15
• keywords Relational model, algebra,
  history
• If user.country developing_country then cost
  0
• Used for LO registration with a broker

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Learning Resources

• Learning Asset
• The most basic resources available on the Web.
• Text, image, audio, video clip, complicated web
  page.
• Atomic Learning Object (ALO)
• LO of smallest granularity.
• Learning items meta-data
• Composite Learning Object (CLO)
• Activity Tree (learning process model).
• Activities are either bound to ALO or CLO, or
  contain learning items.

References
Binds to

• Hierarchy of Learning Resources

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Learning Content Definition Model

• A meta-model for modeling Atomic Learning Objects
  (ALOs).
• ALO
• Aggregation of learning items (content items,
  assessment items, practice items)
• Meta-data

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Learning Process Definition Model

• Composite Learning Object
• Activity tree Meta-data
• Modeling constructs of an Activity Tree
• Leaf Activity
• Non-leaf Activity
• Connector
• An added construct for the specification of
  sequencing control mode(s).
• It allows control information to be changed
  without entailing changes to activity
  specifications.
• Edge

• Sample Activity Tree

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Static/Dynamic Binding of LOs

• Leaf activities are bound to LOs
• Static Binding
• Bind to the same LOs in every execution of a
  CLO.
• Business service key is used for binding.
• Dynamic Binding
• LO repositories are not static.
• Binding constraints described in leaf activities
  are used for runtime binding to suitable LOs.
• Variable Binding Constraints
• Binding constraints can be specified at runtime
• e.g. target_age VARlearner_age
• An infrastructure for brokering LOs is necessary.

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Rule-based Execution Model
Pre-activity Event Pre-assessment (if
specified) After-Pre-assessment Event Present
Content items (Overview) Drill-down Event
After-Post-assessment Event Post-assessment
(if specified) Present Content item
(Summary) Roll-up Event
Condition/ Action Rules
Condition/ Action Rules

• Tasks in Non-leaf Activity

Pre-activity Event Bind to a Learning Object
Pre-assessment (if specified) After-Pre-assessm
ent Event Present Content items Present
Practice items Post-assessment (if
specified) After-Post-assessment Event
Condition/ Action Rules

• Tasks in Leaf Activity

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Condition/Action Rules

• if condition, then action, else
  alternative-action
• Learners profile, the statuses of objectives,
  and activity data can be used in the condition
  checking for achieving a flexible execution of
  CLO
• Examples
• Pre-activity Rule
• if another activity is satisfied, then hide this
  activity from choice.
• After Pre-assessment Rule
• if pre-assessment objective is satisfied, then
  skip the activity
• Drill-down Rule
• if the learner did not spend enough time to study
  the introduction, then he/she should retry the
  introduction
• Roll-up Rule
• if any one of the child activities is satisfied,
  then the parent activity is regarded as
  satisfied.
• After Post-assessment Rule
• if not satisfied, then retry.

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Collaboration Support

• ETR provides a general mechanism for
  collaboration
• Allows more effective use of CMC tools
• e.g., Post messages to discussion board, send
  e-mail, schedule a conference with a mentor
• Event notification, filtering and information
  delivery
• CMC tools (e.g. e-mail, web-conferencing,
  discussion board, Internet messenger), WfMS, ERP,
  IT systems can be activated by the
  Event-Trigger-Rule mechanism

CMC Tools (E-mail, discussion boards, etc)
Interesting event occurred.
Executes
Workflow Management System
Notifies
Rules
IT System Components
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Dynamic Properties of LO

• Active conditionally activate operations based
  on the events occurred during the execution of a
  learning process.
• Flexible runtime selection of learning objects
  to suit a learners profile, preference and
  progress.
• Adaptive runtime selection of learning path
  based on a learners progress and level of
  knowledge.
• Customizable runtime modification of the
  sequencing control modes and the structure of a
  learning process instance to suit each individual
  learner.

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Learning Object Definition Languages

• XML-based languages for defining ALOs and CLOs
• Learning Content Definition Language (LCDL)
• Learning Process Definition Language (LPDL)

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e-Learning Service Infrastructure

• Infrastructure for virtual e-learning communities
• Roles of people in a community and their
  functions
• Content Provider develops ALOs.
• Content Composer composes CLOs based on
  learning assets and registered ALOs and CLOs.
• Content Evaluator evaluates LOs.
• Content Learner registered learner.
• Host Administrator manager of Communitys Host
  site.
• Components at Communitys Host Site
• ALO authoring tool
• CLO authoring tool
• LO Repositories
• LO Registry - Constraint-based Broker (UDDI)
• e-Learning Service System
• ETR system
• Learning Process Execution Engine

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Flow of Learning Resources in a
Virtual e-Learning Community
Content Evaluators
Content Providers
Evaluation Tool
Content Composers
ALOs Assets
CLOs
Content Providers
Community Host
Content Learners
Host Admin
Community Rules
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ALO Authoring Tool

• ALO related functions
• Open
• Save
• Edit Meta-data (Constraints)
• Register with Broker
• Learning item related functions
• Add
• Delete
• Modify

• GUI Frame of ALO Authoring Tool

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CLO Authoring Tool

• CLO related functions
• Open
• Save
• Edit Meta-data
• Register with Broker
• Learning item related functions
• Add
• Delete
• Modify
• Dialog Box for each modeling construct

Tree View
Canvas Area

• GUI Frame of CLO Authoring Tool

• Activity, Constraints (meta-data) dialog box

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Structure of e-Learning Service System

• Assessment Component
• Assessment item collection, grading, notification
• UI Component
• Enable communication interaction between LPEE
  and User Client
• Generates Web pages for learners.

• Learning Process Execution Engine (LPEE)
• Event-Trigger-Rule (ETR) Server.
• LO repository
• Apache Xindice XML database
• Can be queried and updated using Xpath and XUpdate

Web-Service (Web, SOAP server)
e-Learning Service System
Learning Process Execution Engine (LPEE)
- LO services - Broker service
Learning Objects (LOs)
ETR Server
UI Component
Assessment Component
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e-Learning Service Infrastructure
UDDI Registry
Register, Lookup LOs
Content Provider
Community Host
Broker
Atomic Learning Object (ALO) Authoring Tool
Register ALOs
Link Assets (URL)
Web-page authoring tool
e-Learning Service System
Import
ALOs CLOs
HTMLs
Link assets (URL)
Learning Assets (video, audio, text, etc.)
Create or Edit ALOs
ALOs
Web, SOAP Server
Request ALOs
Request CLOs
Browse ALOs
Register, Browse CLOs
Web Servers on Internet
Content Composer
Web, SOAP Server
Request, Provide CLO Execution, Content Delivery
service
Composite Learning Object (CLO) Authoring Tool
Create or Edit CLOs
Learning Assets (video, audio, text, HTML, etc.)
User Client
CLOs
Browse CLOs
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Summary

• Learning Content Definition Model, Tool and
  Language
• Learning Process Definition Model, Tool and
  Language
• Dynamic/static binding of leaf activities to LOs
• Inclusion of learning items in non-leaf
  activities
• Addition of connectors for separation of control
  information from activity specifications
• Event-trigger-rule mechanism enables active,
  adaptive, flexible, customizable, and
  collaborative e-learning
• e-Learning Service Infrastructure System
• Authoring Tools, Constraint-based Broker, UDDI
  Registry, LPEE, LO Repository, User Client, ETR
  Server, Web Server
• Additional RD work is needed to realize our
  vision
• All Internet users can engage in lifelong
  instruction and learning

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Thank You Questions?