Reactive learning Objects for Distributed e-Learning environments

Patrick Duval, Agathe Merceron, Michel SchollComputer Science Department

Engineering School Leonard de Vinci (ESILV-GI)F-92916 Paris La Défense

patrick.duval,agathe.merceron,michel.scholl@devinci.fr

Outline

● Going away from the information transfer approach.

● Reactive Learning Objects.● Architecture model.● Support for (pro)active learning and teaching.● Towards a scenario for distributed e-learning

environment.

Going away from the information transfer approach

● Many current e-learning solutions: make 'passive' course material available on the web.

● What is needed: engage students in activities.– collaborative work.– reactive learning objects.

Reactive learning objects: aims

● Encourage students activity, for example in adopting a learning by doing approach.– exercises.

● Encourage tutors pro activity, for example in offering them appropriate follow up tools.– store the right data about learners.– make appropriate analysis.– display in a convenient way to tutors.

Reactive learning objects (cont.)

● Exercises should not be only 'poor' exercises.– programming exercises should require learners to

write real code and have programs executed.– SQL exercises should require learners to write real

queries and have them executed.● Exercises automatically corrected.

– need of a 'sophisticated' evaluator to check answers.● Integrated into a platform.

Architecture model

E-learningGuided Tour

exercise-idstudent-id

status

course description

exercisedescription

evaluation log

course & exercisedescriptions

evaluationlogs

Learning Object

Evaluation plug-in

studentresponse

responseevaluation

External services

DataBaseinterface

Miningtools

Authoringtools

evaluationreports

Graphical User

Interface

Tutors & Authors Interfaces

Students Interface

Enhanced Learning Objects

Implementation

● Currently two running objects:– SQL course.– introductory programming with Java course.

Support learners activities

● Exercises with immediate feedback.– learn at my pace.

● Automatic correction.– try as many times as needed.

● Store all answers, including mistakes.– consult history, support for reflection.

Example: attempting a Java exercise

Support teachers/tutors (pro) activity

● Tools to follow learners' progress:– what is done, not done, success, trials, failures.

● Tools to follow exercises difficulties:– easy / difficult exercises.

Example: following a student on one chapter

First experiences and limits

● Size of the database (that store all answers including mistakes, time).

● Single server for evaluator.● No support for collaborative work.

Towards scenarios for distributed e-Learning environments

● Learners:– quick access.

● Teachers/tutors: – adaptative automated correction, taking style into

account for example.● Researchers:

– access numerous data for data mining.

Towards scenarios for distributed e-learning environments

● Distribute storage.– notification, query, coherence.

● Distribute computing.– at least 3 different possible policies.

● Web services (whole course, evaluator).– composition of various Web services (like string

matcher for the evaluator).

Other scenarios ? Your suggestions ?

Thank you.