VRI Solutions Pvt. Ltd - Information technology solutions

Special thanks to Mr. Rajiv Nekkanti and Mr. Wade Chatam for assiting in prepari
Daniela Marghitu
Computer Science and Software Engineering
Auburn University, Auburn AL 36849
daniela@eng.auburn.edu
Information Technology Solutions to
Improve the Teaching, Learning and
Coordinating Process in a Computer
Fluency Course
PHITS 2004

Information Technology Solutions to Improve
the Teaching, Learning and Coordinating
Process in a Computer Fluency Course
ContentContent
Introduction
Training, Testing and Assessment IT Academic Solutions
– Past
– Present
– Future
Integrating Training, Testing and Assessment IT Academic
Solutions into your course syllabus
Integrating Training, Testing and Assessment IT Academic
Applications with University Software Administrative
Systems

Introduction
The Information Technology (IT) solutions for training,
assessment, testing, Web-based Course Management and
Web-based Integrated Learning Environments are becoming
more and more part of the Computer Information Technology
(CIT) academic programs.
There are a lot of pros and cons about when and how to use
these applications in an academic environment.
The technological and pedagogical value in many of the IT
solutions for CIT programs have increased considerably in the
past three years.

It is also true that many times IT solutions are coming
fully correlated with very good academic text books and
offer solutions of integration with Universities and
Colleges Software Administrative Systems and Databases.
Can IT solutions, even by far, eliminate the human
instructors or should they just be considered as extremely
helpful tools in a more and more self paced learning
process allowing the human instructor to better use their
knowledge and experience?
Can IT solutions be fully integrated with Universities and
Colleges Software Administrative Systems and Databases?

In this session, based on our experience in developing,
beta testing, and integrating IT solutions into CIT
programs, we will try to find some answers for these
questions.

Training, Testing and Assessment Academic IT
Solutions: Past, Present and Future
￭ The Past
– The approaches were rather technology-driven using simple
technology and were often inconsistent, planned or by accident.
– The applications did not provide much interaction, and feedback
was lacking to help students judge the effectiveness of their
learning.
– Often, the training systems were simply presenting a
computerized version of a textbook, which often is much less
useful than the actual book.

– The early Training and Assessment IT solutions were also lacking
tools for managing the classroom.
– They weren’t portable but tied to a specific platform or network.
– No crash recovery option was implemented
– Single user floppy disks and later on CD-ROMs were the state of
the art.

￭ The Present
– Tools have been improving pedagogically quite a bit.
– They are interactive and help students judge their own progress and
how effective their learning is.
– The current systems excel at helping manage the classroom in
various ways:
 the systems record the dates when the tutorials or tests were taken
 automatically grade tests and record the results helping the instructors to
“peek over the students’ shoulder” in order to see if they are doing the
work, and if they are on track, e.g., by checking how much time the
students spend on taking a tutorial and how good their test results,
eliminate also the large amount of time spent in past by instructors on
grading tests.
– The reports for the training sessions are still not as detailed as
instructors need them.

– Almost all systems are networked or web-based and have many
integrated functions.
– Integrated learning environments have had quite an impressive
recent evolution:
 fully integrated web based or networked training and assessment
application: using pre-assessment, training and assessment
toward a minimally and linear adaptive learning path, they
don’t allow for much exploration, i.e., they are quite linear
forcing the students to go along one of the few predetermined
paths.
 web based or networked training and assessment application
fully integrated with texts or e-texts content
– Not all applications allow restricted access to tests, based on the IP
address of a lab.
– The test crash recovery features have been implemented but there is
still room for improvement.

– The procedures for setup and the maintenance are quite
complicated. So it might be difficult to find the faculty and staff to
run such a system in a non-technical department (in many states
and Universities using a training and assessment application from a
vendor server is not allowed, concerns regarding security in
handling students’ personal information).

￭ The Future
– What would we like to see in the future based on our experience
with these tools in the classroom and based on studying some related
issues from a more research point of view?
– We would like to see more adaptive tutorials based on preassessment
and other feedback from the student with the goal of keeping the
student in the zone of proximal development.
– This would result in more individualized courses, more effective
learning, and allow more self-directed path through the learning
material.
– If the student is kept in the zone of proximal development, it will
also result in a more interesting, challenging and less frustrating
learning experience for the student.

– More pedagogical detailed reports for students’ training
– Support for content authoring.
 This should allow, eventually using Template_Based Authoring
Systems, easier modifications and reuse of course material and also
have the option to embed teaching and learning strategies within the
program.
 In this way educators will be able to customized Training and
Assessment IT solutions applications based on their courses’ needs,
goals, technical and pedagogical characteristics.
– Increased security
 Restricted access to tests based on IP address of computers/local
networks.

– Intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) seem to be no longer
“untouchables”.
 It has long been the objective of many Training and Assessment IT
solutions developers to combine system's self-paced interactive
learning and assessment environment with "intelligence" that tailors
training learner's needs and allows voice-based interaction. And with
significant recent advances in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI)
and voice recognition technology, the goal of intelligent tutoring
systems, as it is known in research circles, is fast materializing.
– An increased implementation of the government’s Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and World Wide Web Consortium’s
(W3C) standards for accessibility.

Criteria in evaluating and selecting an IT
Training and Assessment application
Real Application versus Simulated Environment IT
Solutions
More and more IT Solutions are working in a simulated
environment. Some of the advantages of working in a
simulated environment are:
– easier installation and setting
– can be run without the presence of the real application
 higher speed
 lower price of using it

Local, Network or Web-Based IT Solutions?
With the improved speed for internet connection and faster
computers, web-based IT applications may seem to be the
best solution because they allow students to access the same
resources and learning anywhere and any time they want.
Besides, textbooks in electronic form and software bundles
integrated as part of the web can be made available to the
students on the web.
This would eliminate the problems raised by some of the
“what-if” questions such as what if a student wants to do
extra work at home but does not have a computer to install
the software bundles, or what if a student could not afford to
buy sometimes quite expensive textbooks and/or software
bundles for the class.

Web-based IT applications are also “the solution” for the
distance learning.
However, security it’s becoming an issue especially when
handling confidential information (SSN, grades …).
Single user CD based release, especially for the training
applications, is still very useful for students that do not have
Internet access at home.

Integrated Learning Environment, the ultimate
Solution?
There are instructors that are very much against the use of
IT solutions considering that this type of application can
alter the pedagogical aspect of the educational process.
A well proportioned use in class of IT training and
assessment solutions proved already to be extremely
beneficiary allowing human instructors to use their
knowledge and experience when it is really needed and
irreplaceable.

Integrated Web-based Learning Environment incorporates
almost all old-fashion teaching methods, such as paper
textbooks, paper syllabus, paper test, etc., into the computer
system as electronic form.
Same situation with the class syllabus and class learning
schedule which students would forget to bring them or lose
them somewhere, sometime during the academic term.
– This also applies to the exam situation when students knew but
forgot to bring scantrons and a pencil on the exam day. Students
could just take the exam on-line when they go to class and they
could even know their grades right after they take them.

In other words, integrated Web-based Learning
Environment could eliminate some of the tedious things
students do and let instructors have better use of their
knowledge and experience.
Support for content authoring that should allow, eventually
using Template_Based Authoring Systems, easier
modifications and reuse of course material and also have the
option to embed teaching and learning strategies within the
program is still lagging.
– In this way educators will be able to customize Training and
Assessment IT solutions applications based on their courses’ needs,
goals, technical and pedagogical characteristics.

Privacy and Security Issues
There are always big issues about privacy and security
when it comes to the network and internet systems because
of shared resources by the general public or by students in
an educational setting.
– Hackers and computers virus-writers are all around, waiting for their
opportunities to mess up the system. There is always so much we could do
about the security to protect the privacy of students.
– Schools should always keep updated back-up copies on their
database systems
– Many schools also do not accept using Web-based Training and/or
Assessment tools from other companies’ dedicated servers for the
same privacy and security issue.

Training, Technical Support and Maintenance for
the IT Applications
Training
– The IT academic applications become more and more sophisticated.
Training for the instructors and the university technical support team
becomes mandatory. Training is many time organized on university
campus (specially for large universities) or at IT seminars organized and
sponsored by publishing companies.
Technical Support and Maintenance
– Publishing companies need to provide technical support for all IT
academic applications (for installing the applications and for all
further maintenance and setting needs). This type of service are in
the long run beneficial for all students, universities and publishing
companies.

Integrating Training, Testing and Assessment IT
Academic Solutions into your course syllabus
￭ Developing the course Web site:
– Syllabus is not just a paper handout but is also available on the
course web site.
 Updates to the syllabus, including lab assignments and assignment due
dates, practice tests, lecture schedule and notes and practice materials
are available on the web site, making the latest class information
available to the students instantly
 Wait List for students’ registration
– Resources for instructors are also made available

The COMP1000
Web Site
Homepage

The COMP1000
Make up list
Instructors’ Interface

The COMP1000
Registration Wait list
Students’ Interface

￭ Integrating WebCT
– The managed WebCT server, integrated with the University
administrative server, is used for uploading the lab assignments
 Cuts down on the amount of e-mail and potential argues between
instructor and students:
“I know I turned in the assignment, you must have lost it”
“I emailed you the assignment, you must not have gotten it.”
 Cuts down on the use of lab resources : printers, paper
 Make easier the process of tracking students’ uploading of assignments
 It’s safe and reliable

The COMP1000
WebCT Student
Interface

The COMP1000 WebCT
Lab Assignments Page

The COMP1000 WebCT
Student
Submit Assignment Interface

￭ Integrating Train and Assess IT
– The Train and Assess IT is installed on our course dedicated server
– The Training modules are available to students at all time from the
server as well as from the CD that comes with the custom textbook
– Skill Assessment quizzes are administered for each Microsoft Office
application
 Prescriptive modules are designed for each quiz so student can receive
feedback containing the training modules they still need to work on
ￚ We have seen a constant up-trend in the time spent by students in
training as well as in the average grades for the skill assessment
quizzes

The COMP1000 Train &
Assess IT Administrator
Interface

The COMP1000 Train
and Assess IT student
account

A COMP1000
prescriptive module

Integrating IT Testing and Assessment
Applications with University Software
Administrative Systems
Universities require computer literacy introductory courses
for the majority of their academic programs.
One of the major problems encountered in designing the
syllabus of these courses is generated by the wide variety of
freshman students’ computer background: some of them
have good computer classes in high school so they are ready
for more advanced IT courses while some others have a very
poor computer background.

One way many universities address this problem is
by offering Competency exams for these required
computer literacy courses.
– Upon passing a Competency Exam students can register for more
advanced IT courses that have as prerequisites the required computer
literacy introductory courses.
– Some academic programs also require students to pass a more
sophisticated IT exam before graduation.
IT Testing, Training and Assessment applications
are very good tools for this type of exams.
However, in order to adapt them to university
policies and integrate them with University
Software Administrative System front end and post
end interfaces may be required.

The front end interface is required for registration and
downloading the registration information to the IT
application database.
The post end interface is required to upload the results from
the IT application database into a university database as well
as to give access for AU faculty and staff.
Depending on the hardware and software configuration of
the IT application as well as university software and
hardware resources, policies and requirements, designing
and implementing this type of interfaces can be more or less
challenging.

￭ COMP1@@0, Computer Competency Test
– Was developed using the
Auburn University WebCT managed server that is fully integrated
with the University administrative software system, Oasis.
– Auburn University administrative software system, Oasis, is based
on the SIS Plus software, designed and implemented by SCT Inc.
– If in the future we will need to use the Train and Assess IT, we
have implemented a script that will convert the registration
information downloaded from Oasis (as text coma separated file)
to the format require by the
Train and Assess IT “Import Students” feature (still a text coma
separated file).
– For administrative purposes, we have also developed a
COMP1@@0 Portal.
– Following University policy, the Comp1@@0 system was created
with security and student privacy at the forefront of the system
design.

The COMP1@@0
WebCT Interface

￭ COMP1@@0 database Portal
– Was designed and implemented to house all of the student test
results in a single dedicated table, allowing for easy access and
manipulation of these results by only the designated Comp1@@0
administrators.
– PHP and MySQL were used to develop it.
– Allows its users to download student results into text files, query
the database, backup the database, and modify the user accounts.
– The entire portal is password-protected, and its content is
dynamically generated based on user login for additional security.

Primary
Database
Secondary
Database
Upload
Interface.
Download
Interface.
Backup / Restore
Interface
File from
AUStudy
Delimited File
Main Page
Database Portal
(index.htm)
Query
Interface
The Data and Control Flow
of the Comp1@@0 Database
Portal

Main Menu for
Master Accounts

Main Menu for Non-
Master Accounts

The Upload Interface

The Query Interface

Administration
Accounts Interface

Questions

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