Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Modular Advanced Collaboration System

Distance Learning with MACS

O.Brand, W.Mahalek, D.Sturzebecher, M.Zitterbart

OutlineMotivation & Aims & Experience

Framework & Applications & Structure

Status & Contact

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Motivation

increasing demand on distance learning• university education

• lifelong learning

basic types of distance learning• asynchronous

– web-access

– learning material

• synchronous

– lectures

– seminars

Network

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Aims

learning scenarios• seminar

– few participants (ca. 10)

– equal rights, moderator optional

• classroom

– more participants (ca. 30-100)

– teacher / lecturer has control

requirements• generic applications

• specialized application

• control structures

Network

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Experience

lecture in 1997 using public domain tools and internet• transmitted over MBone (sdr, vic, vat, wb)

– shortcomings as tools not dedicated for distance learning

initiated own developments

lecture in 1998 and 1999 using • MBone tools (sdr, vic, vat)

• MACS whiteboard

seminar in 1999 using• MACS

flexible framework • set of single tools is not sufficient

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

MACS Framework

generic purpose applications• audio & video

• whiteboard

• chat

specialized purpose applications• TelSEE (distributed CASE editor)

MACS framework independent of application content allows easy integration of new applications

implemented in Java portable, platform independent

interworking• MBone

• NetMeeting

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Whiteboard

whiteboard• full featured drawing (e.g. object selection)

• tele-pointer / tele-marker

• graphics and postscript

• object (access) control

page control tele-marker ps import

tools options

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Control

control levels• system (access to microphone, speakers, camera, ...)

• session (user invite, session moderation, ...)

• users (access to slides in whiteboard, ...)

different session types• open (without access control)

• moderated (with access control)

• ...

different access strategies• open (anyone can speak at any time)

• agenda (predetermined order)

• round robin (by demand in dynamic order)

• ...

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Structure

4 horizontal layers variable number of applications

LRMP (Reliable Multicast)

VideoWB AudioTelSEE

Control (incl. ViSCO)

TelSEE-Window

WB-Window

Video-Window

TelSEEPanel

Control-Window

Video-Panel

ControlPanelDisplay

Control Applications Sessions

Tools

Network

AudioPanel

Network Glue

ViSCO

TCP UDP CORBA

Floor-Strategies

Floor-Mechanisms

Control-Interface

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Session List

MACS session list• MACS sessions

• MBone sessions

session list tab

basic operations session description

MACS sessions

MBone session

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Users List

MACS user list• MACS user

• NetMeeting users (via LDAP from a ILS)

user list tab

basic operations user description

MACS users

NetMeeting users

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Seminar

seminar scenario• few participants (ca. 10)

• equal rights, moderator optional

session tab

basic operations chat

visual control

available applications

equipment

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Classroom

beamer

auto-trackingcamera

screen for mouse and whiteboard

projection area

technical assistant

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Classroom

possible implementation

class represented as one entity• student “steps” in front of class

• advantages

+ high scalability

+ easy to realize

• disadvantages

– little feedback for teacher

further visualizations being investigated

teacher with class

student talking to class

D. Sturzebecher, Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks, TU-Braunschweig

Status & Contact

status• demo release V0.3

– classroom scenario under construction

– TelSEE included

next steps• further integration of floor control

• a release with classroom scenario

• test in seminar between Braunschweig and Hannover

further info• flyer

• MACS http://macs.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de

• To/oL http://www.tu-bs.de/afh/albrecht/tool/