A cloud-based solution for OpenCourseWare to meet the need

of cross-platform learning behaviors via various devices in

the ubiquitous environment

Hui-Chun, HungInstitute of Information Systems and Applications, National Tsing Hua University

Shelley Shuw-Ching YoungInstitute of Learning Sciences, National Tsing Hua University

Outline

New technologies and new opportunities

The Open Educational Resources (OER) movement is driven by rapidly changing information and communication technologies.

In the ubiquitous learning environment educational audiences should feel free to choose

or switch their learning devices based on their personal needs and different environments.

New technologies and new opportunities

The rise of new handheld technologies, such as smart-phone, iPad, tablet PC, notebook…, requires new mobile learning behaviors: multi-touch screen with zoom-in & out function, different

operating systems, lack of keyboard and mouse…..

The content of conventional OCE might not be compatible with mobile devices.

This study aims to apply the cloud-based solution for OpenCourseWare system to meet the need of learning via various devices.

OCW of National Tsing Hua University

National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) launched the OpenCourseWare (OCW) project using Moodle platform in 2008.

To enlarge educational audiences and extend the reach of OCW, NTHU updated the system with the cloud-based solution in 2010.

OCW of National Tsing Hua University

The NTHU OCW adopted the cloud-based platform

Cloud-based Platform

Table PC

Laptop & PC

iPod

smart phone

Web serverMedia server

Internet acesss

Database server

OCW of National Tsing Hua University

The OCW files were created in various formats suitable for different devices. The videos published in multiple formats can ensure

the accessibility of learners with different devices.

Method

This study used web metrics tool -the Google Analytics (GA)- as the primary research instrument to discover the user’s perspectives with different devices.

This study interviewed with the production team of NTHU OCW, including faculties, instructors, and teaching assistants, to understand the process of preparing learning materials in the initial moodle version and updated cloud-based version.

Results

A flexible and efficient way to publish the video course

The cloud-based solution is more flexible and efficient than moodle version. Save 30% working hours

Moodle-based NTHU OCW (2008) Cloud-based NTHU OCW(2010)

The working hours in the production progress (producing a 3hours lecture video)

A platform to match the users’ needs with various devices

In the course, NTHU OCW provides five video formats to match the end users’ needs with various devices. flv (HQ), flv (LQ), wmv, mp4 (HQ), mp4 (LQ)

A platform to match with the end users’ needs with various devices

The platform supports several different operation systems and devices.

Learner can feel free to choose or switch their devices

iPhone (iOS) Android phone

A platform to match with the end users’ needs with various devices

iPad(iOS) Android Pad

Top 20 Mobile Device Info Visits percentagel

1 Apple iPad 5,154 39.32%

2 Apple iPhone 2,486 18.97%

3 (not set) 1,298 9.90%

4 SonyEricsson LT15i Xperia Arc 602 4.59%

5 Samsung GT-I9100 Galaxy S II 449 3.43%

6 Apple iPod Touch 241 1.84%

7 SonyEricsson LT26i Xperia Arc HD 197 1.50%

8 Samsung GT-N7000 Galaxy Note 176 1.34%

9 HTC Desire HD 154 1.17%

10 Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy SIII 107 0.82%

11 Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 85 0.65%

12 HTC S710E Incredible S 83 0.63%

13 HTC Wildfire S 78 0.60%

14 HTC SensationXE Beats Z715e Sensation 77 0.59%

15 HTC Desire 66 0.50%

16 HTC 001HT Desire HD SoftBank 64 0.49%

17 Asus Eee Pad TF201 Transformer Prime 61 0.47%

18 HTC Sensation Sensation 57 0.43%

19 HTC S510e Desire S 52 0.40%

20 Google Nexus 7 49 0.37%

Top 20 Country / Territory Visits percentage

1  Taiwan 11,217 85.58%

2  China 519 3.96%

3  Malaysia 379 2.89%

4  Hong Kong 304 2.32%

5  United States 262 2.00%

6  (not set) 106 0.81%

7  Singapore 44 0.34%

8  South Korea 41 0.31%

9  Macau 35 0.27%

10  Canada 28 0.21%

11  Japan 27 0.21%

12  Sweden 23 0.18%

13  Australia 21 0.16%

14  United Kingdom 21 0.16%

15  Germany 18 0.14%

16  France 16 0.12%

17  New Zealand 7 0.05%

18  Indonesia 5 0.04%

19  Switzerland 4 0.03%

20  Thailand 4 0.03%

Any Devices Anywhere

The stable growth of the number of visits via mobile devices

Conclusion

We expect the NTHU OCW was perceived to be a usable, useful and desirable tool to support video learning and also for gaining new contextual and cultural knowledge.

The result indicates that (1) The cloud-based platform can provide a flexible and

efficient workflow for publishing open educational video resource

(2) The cloud-based solution provides a greater accessibility for different mobile devices.

Thank you

NTHU OCW Cloud-based system

Web Server

NASDatabase Scheduling

Cloud Computing(Transcoding)

command

uplaod

read/write

read/write