www.e-society.mk Developing new Learning Environment: SEE University Solution Ms. Lejla Abazi-Bexheti, MSc. Mr. Adrian Besimi, MSc. Mr. Visar Shehu, MSc. South East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia

Content LCMS definition SEEU experience in supporting E-learning LCMS solutions In house development of LCMS at SEE University Conceptual Design LCMS’s Architecture Implementing Experience Strengths of the System Questions www.e-society.mk

LCMS definition

SEEU experience in supporting E-learning

LCMS solutions

In house development of LCMS at SEE University

Conceptual Design

LCMS’s Architecture

Implementing Experience

Strengths of the System

Questions

LCMS definition Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is an environment where developers can create, store, reuse, manage and deliver learning content from a central object repository, usually a database. LCMS generally work with content that is based on a learning object model. These systems usually have good search capabilities, allowing developers to find quickly the text or media needed to build training content. www.e-society.mk

Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is an environment where developers can create, store, reuse, manage and deliver learning content from a central object repository, usually a database.

LCMS generally work with content that is based on a learning object model. These systems usually have good search capabilities, allowing developers to find quickly the text or media needed to build training content.

SEEU perspective At the very beginning 2001/2002 a campus intranet networking was set up, with an open access for all campus inhabitants to this network, 5 MB for each student and 70 MB for each staff member. Part of the intranet memory that is for public use - the public domain contained folders for each course and housed electronic copies of the learning materials for each course. In the academic 2005/2006 SEEU-university has begun the implementation of commercial LCMS-“ANGEL”. Although there is usually an adjustment period for most students and professors, as they learn the rhythm and patterns of online communication, the interest for using ANGEL has grown from year to year. Till now there were added around 1100 sections in ANGEL, and the current number of users is 7700. www.e-society.mk

At the very beginning 2001/2002 a campus intranet networking was set up, with an open access for all campus inhabitants to this network, 5 MB for each student and 70 MB for each staff member. Part of the intranet memory that is for public use - the public domain contained folders for each course and housed electronic copies of the learning materials for each course.

In the academic 2005/2006 SEEU-university has begun the implementation of commercial LCMS-“ANGEL”. Although there is usually an adjustment period for most students and professors, as they learn the rhythm and patterns of online communication, the interest for using ANGEL has grown from year to year. Till now there were added around 1100 sections in ANGEL, and the current number of users is 7700.

Research project: Design and Development of Learning Content Management System for SEE University define the features that would cover our needs explore the strengths and limitations of online learning management systems in general design a LCMS for our University that would comply with the actual trends in this area www.e-society.mk

Design and Development of Learning Content Management System for SEE University

define the features that would cover our needs

explore the strengths and limitations of online learning management systems in general

design a LCMS for our University that would comply with the actual trends in this area

LCMS solutions Commercial limitations: price, support, future development Open source limitations: integration, modules, future development In house Development and its advantages Design according to our needs Successful integration with the existing e-systems from our university (schedule system, e-service…) Availability of the source code for future development Modular approach allows easy upgrade in near future Switching between databases In house support Less expensive www.e-society.mk

Commercial

limitations: price, support, future development

Open source

limitations: integration, modules, future development

In house Development and its advantages

Design according to our needs

Successful integration with the existing e-systems from our university (schedule system, e-service…)

Availability of the source code for future development

Modular approach allows easy upgrade in near future

Switching between databases

In house support

Less expensive

Conceptual Design LCMS.Common –used for defining application entities (ex. Users, Courses, Resources etc.); LCMS.Operational –used from application for mail operations; LCMS.BusinessLogic –is responsible for all actions that are going on behind the scene; LCMS.DataTier – is used from LCMS’s BusinessLogic for extracting and storing data. www.e-society.mk

LCMS.Common –used for defining application entities (ex. Users, Courses, Resources etc.);

LCMS.Operational –used from application for mail operations;

LCMS.BusinessLogic –is responsible for all actions that are going on behind the scene;

LCMS.DataTier – is used from LCMS’s BusinessLogic for extracting and storing data.

LCMS’s Architecture Today’s most web-based applications use three-tier client/server model. This approach clearly divides the presentation layer from content and data storage. This kind of system decomposition enables us develop large-scale software systems and reduce overall development time. www.e-society.mk

Today’s most web-based applications use three-tier client/server model.

This approach clearly divides the presentation layer from content and data storage. This kind of system decomposition enables us develop large-scale software systems and reduce overall development time.

Implementing Experience International Data Corporation, a premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the IT and telecommunication industries defines Learning Content Management System as a system that is used to create, store, assemble, and deliver personalized e-learning content in the form of learning objects. However, not all LCMSs are the same. Providers of these systems differentiate their offerings via unique features and functions, the ease with which they integrate with other systems, and the degree to which they customize their offerings for an enterprise’s needs. Despite their differences, they do share the components depicted in next Fig. www.e-society.mk

International Data Corporation, a premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the IT and telecommunication industries defines Learning Content Management System as a system that is used to create, store, assemble, and deliver personalized e-learning content in the form of learning objects.

However, not all LCMSs are the same. Providers of these systems differentiate their offerings via unique features and functions, the ease with which they integrate with other systems, and the degree to which they customize their offerings for an enterprise’s needs.

Despite their differences, they do share the components depicted in next Fig.

Modules Below we present the modules of the system. In the first stage of the system development are included the key features of today’s LCMS, and in the future the system will be probably upgraded with new additional modules. User Management Course Management www.e-society.mk

Below we present the modules of the system. In the first stage of the system development are included the key features of today’s LCMS, and in the future the system will be probably upgraded with new additional modules.

User Management

Course Management

User Management Enrollment Students are enrolled automatically from another existing University Schedule system; Teachers and administrators can move students to another group if necessary. Roles Roles for specific participants can be defined for each course and resource; Instructors can assign user roles to other users enrolled to the course; Instructors can create content and assign privileges. www.e-society.mk

Enrollment

Students are enrolled automatically from another existing University Schedule system;

Teachers and administrators can move students to another group if necessary.

Roles

Roles for specific participants can be defined for each course and resource;

Instructors can assign user roles to other users enrolled to the course;

Instructors can create content and assign privileges.

Course Management Flexible array of course activities – Quizzes, Resources, Assignments, Messaging, Mailing, Events ; Most text entry areas can be edited using an embedded Coolite HTML editor – WYSIWYG Editor; All grades for Assignments can be viewed on one page (and downloaded as a spreadsheet file); User logging and tracking is available upon request; Mail integration - copies of Messaging, if desired, are mailed in HTML or plain text to the users. www.e-society.mk

Flexible array of course activities – Quizzes, Resources, Assignments, Messaging, Mailing, Events ;

Most text entry areas can be edited using an embedded Coolite HTML editor – WYSIWYG Editor;

All grades for Assignments can be viewed on one page (and downloaded as a spreadsheet file);

User logging and tracking is available upon request;

Mail integration - copies of Messaging, if desired, are mailed in HTML or plain text to the users.

Security Issues Users communicate with the system through a valid secure socket layer (SSL) User credentials are managed by Active Directory and no passwords are stored Content is managed by specific Access Control List which checks for permissions for each download Path to real file is disabled since Physical Directory and file streaming is used Database items are identified by unique GUID keys www.e-society.mk

Users communicate with the system through a valid secure socket layer (SSL)

User credentials are managed by Active Directory and no passwords are stored

Content is managed by specific Access Control List which checks for permissions for each download

Path to real file is disabled since Physical Directory and file streaming is used

Database items are identified by unique GUID keys

Strengths of the System Learning - providing a qualitative learning content which can be easily distributed anywhere Increasing communication through the new LCMS. The system has features which allow normal communication between users by using the messaging module and calendar module. Modular approach – allows future development of modules depending on the needs and trends Interoperability. The system is designed to work on all major browsers that support JavaScript. Security – providing safe data exchange. Future use of the content. The content is stored in a file format and some parts in database. In case of radical changes in the hardware or software, the separation is already done. www.e-society.mk

Learning - providing a qualitative learning content which can be easily distributed anywhere

Increasing communication through the new LCMS. The system has features which allow normal communication between users by using the messaging module and calendar module.

Modular approach – allows future development of modules depending on the needs and trends

Interoperability. The system is designed to work on all major browsers that support JavaScript.

Security – providing safe data exchange.

Future use of the content. The content is stored in a file format and some parts in database. In case of radical changes in the hardware or software, the separation is already done.

Screenshots: Main Page Main Menu Weblogs Global Announcemets Recent Headlines Feedback

Screenshot: After Login

Screenshots: Course Work area Course Menu Course Content Searcb Box

Screenshots: Content Management

Screenshots: Mail Module

Screenshots: Discussion Forum

Screenshots: Blog Module

Screenshots: Feedback

Thank y ou Questions? www.e-society.mk

Questions?