NCEC - Network-Training Collaboration in Europe and China: Developing the Infrastructure

• John Gordon,

• Matti Hämäläinen,

• Zhangxi Lin,

• Chongrong Li,

• Yong-En Chen

• Xinyue Liu

• University of Paisley, – Centre for Communications and Learning

Technologies

• Espoo-Vantaa Institute of Technology– EVITech

• Fujian Economic Information Centre

• Tsinghua University: – Network Research Center of Tsinghua University

• Tongji University: – Institute of Telecommunications

• Ministry of Information Industry: – New Services Development Research Center (NSDRC)

CEC DG XIII

Telecomms, Information Market and Exploitation of Research

Cooperation with Third Countries and International Organisations

Scientific and Technological Cooperation with Developing Countries

INCO-DC

NCEC

A network-based collaborative environment for tutoring,

teaching, conferencing and providing feedback to

learners

• Develop an integrated set of tools for cost-effective production of courseware.

• Develop a set of learning experiments

• Contribute to and aim at making use of the results of parallel international projects.

OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES• Deliver a set of pilot courses including

training of trainers within the network-based learning environment.

• Implementing a pilot of the network-based collaborative environment for tutoring, teaching, conferencing and providing feedback to the learners

A framework for customer driven training

CUSTOMERSLearning needs

preferences,constraints,

profiles

SUPPLIERSCourse & Process

specification

“TrainingBroker”

Presentation Delivery Production

Learning Environment& Support Tools

Production & Delivery Methodology & Systems

COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE(fixed telecomms networks, mobile network, satellite, ...)

BASIC DELIVERY PLATFORMS(Internet, intranets, extranets,…, digital TV, …)

Training support services(assessment, certification)

Learning resourcerepositories

by Matti Hämäläinen

Developing Internet-Based Education and Training in

China

Top ISPs in ChinaChina Education and Research Network

– CERNET - Ministry of Education

China Science and Technology Network

– CSTNET - China Academy of Sciences(CAS)

China Network

– CHINANET - China Telecom

China Golden Bridge Network

– CHINAGBN -Jitong Company

Properties of CERNET

One of the academic networks in China

The first nation-wide network funded by the Government

Objective of CERNET

Link to all the universities ( 1000+ ) and lots of schools

Link to Global Internet

Link to other networks in China

An important base for training high level specialists

An important part of National Information Infrastructure

Topology of CERNET Backbone (1997)

Internetworking with Other Networks in China

CERNET-CSTNET

10Mbps Optical Fibre

CERNET-CHINANET

2Mbps DDN Lease Line

CERNET-CHINAGBN

512kbps Microwave

CERNET-HARNET(Hong Kong)

64kbps DDN Lease Line

CERNET in 2000Upgrade transmission rate

– Backbone: 155Mbps

Set up 8 regional networks (33 nodes)

Connect 1000 universities and institutes

– Link to 1000 schools with campus network

Develop rich Chinese resources and applications

Related Projects

ARIADNE - Alliance of Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe (EU Telematics)

KNIXMAS - Knowledge Shared XPS-Based Research Network realised as Multi-

Agent System (INCO Copernicus)

DeCoSLO - Definition of Common Standards for Learning Objects (ADAPT UfI)

Related Projects - E-commerce research

• electronic markets for learning & education brokers

• collaboration with University of Texas at Austin/Center for Research in Electronic Commerce,

• Ministry for information Industry

• EC Applications in China

Network Learning Projects in China

• Hunan Network College

• Beijing P&T Network University

• Real time two-way distance education and Web School Shanghai

• Interactive teaching based on WWW Peking University

• Distance education system combining with TV

• Java-based courseware authoring tool North Eastern University

Distance Education in China

• Being planned by Ministry of Education

• Objectives

– Upgrading CERNET backbone to 155Mbps

– Improving current TV broadcast system

– Developing courseware

• Funding

– RMB 600 millions ~ 1 billion

• Pilot universities

Distance Education in THU• Infrastructure

– Satellite-based delivery system

– Computer network(CERNET and TUnet)

• Programs

– Education on campus

• Network assistant instruction

– Continuing education

• Distance education for large enterprises in China

Related standardisation and infrastructure work

• EDUCAUSE/IMS standards work • EVITech participates assessment/quiz tools standardization

• EU EC/DGXIII & DGIII (CEN/CENELEC)

• standards for educational resources reuse, sharing and commerce on digital content

• EVITech promotes industry extensions and participates assessment/quiz tools standardization

• DeCoSlo

• Definition of Common Standards for Learning Objects an ADAPT UfI Project England Based

• UP designs and manages system architecture

Structure of the NCEC System

NCEC Basic Structure

Course Provider

Virtual Classroomfor CollaborationStudent

ElectronicCourse Books

NBLE NBCE

CAPS

NCEC

Internet(CERNET, CHINANET)

Courseware Authoring and Production System

author

Title text

Figure model

Title text

Figure model

authoringdocuments with

office tools

authoringdocuments withspecific tools inNCEC TOOLKIT

image

soundanimation

image

soundanimation

Title text

Figure model

Title text

Figure model

Electronic bookcomposed for a course

Course StructureTemplates

Document Templates

Course MaterialRepository

Authoring ProcessAuthoring Process Course Production ProcessCourse Production Process

Repository Pre-Process Component #3

submitter

metadata form wrapsequence form wrapplug-in sequence protocolinstitution protocol wrap

QA and Grid Cell Verification Process

Error Report

incomplete

complete

good

Repository Manager

failed

MS Office

VB Macro set

Deconstructed object set

Parse and prefill data sets

Meta-data Search Engine

• DB2 Based Repository

• IEEE Meta-Data Standards

• Interface to Web Environment

• Developed By TongJi University

Embedding to the Assessor and KWAFU

Published html set

PostIT Script to Navigator

Assessor File Set

HTML Publishing

CMI Learning

EnvironmentKWAFU

Learner and Institution databases

learners

tutors

managers

Login

Student Teacher

NoteDiscussQuizRead

Statistics

Data Base

Materials Excises Records Modify

HTMLDocument

Web Browser Interface

Learning Tutoring & management

Set upTree

ProduceExcises

An Distance Learning SystemKWAFU

Pilot Courses

Introduction to Telecommunications Networks

Internet Technology

• Electronic Documents and Network Publishing

Conclusions

• Project forms basis for

– development of joint courses

– training systems for industry

– RTD Collaboration

– allow conversion of EU programmes to CN context