The document describes an interactive teaching system called INCITE. It aims to make education more engaging for students by incorporating technology into classroom lessons. Key features include mobile PCs for teachers, handheld devices for students, and educational software. Lessons can involve interactive simulations, games, and automatic testing. Student work is published online for discussion. The system is designed to be affordable and accessible for schools worldwide. It aims to improve learning outcomes while reducing costs compared to traditional methods.
E-Classroom of Differentiated LearningJohn Macasio
Differentiated Learning respects the readiness, interest, learning styles and gadget use of the learner in aligning the content, process, products and gadgets that teacher provide in the classroom. E-classroom is the platform that allows both the teacher and learners to interactively engage and produce the expected outcome of the curriculum through the use of computer gadgets, Internet, websites and software.
An overview of the Primary Computing Curriculum. In this document I looked at each strand in depth and provided activity ideas, resources and useful links to support teachers.
E-Classroom of Differentiated LearningJohn Macasio
Differentiated Learning respects the readiness, interest, learning styles and gadget use of the learner in aligning the content, process, products and gadgets that teacher provide in the classroom. E-classroom is the platform that allows both the teacher and learners to interactively engage and produce the expected outcome of the curriculum through the use of computer gadgets, Internet, websites and software.
An overview of the Primary Computing Curriculum. In this document I looked at each strand in depth and provided activity ideas, resources and useful links to support teachers.
E=Classroom for Interactive and Connected LearningJohn Macasio
OpenDesk Toolkit Training Guide provides the framework, technology and content to enable all teachers to develop the mindsets and habits of performing inside the e-classroom of interactivity and connectivity.
Connecting Technology with Instruction: Using iPads in Pre-Service Teacher Tr...ohedconnectforsuccess
Connecting Technology with Instruction: Using iPads in Pre-Service Teacher Training
June 27, 9 – 10am, Room: Champaign
In this presentation, participants will hear a case study of undergraduate pre-service teachers enrolled in a four-year private college in northeast, Ohio. Thirteen pre-service teachers were asked to implement iPads into their teaching during an after-school program at a public elementary school. Hear from the research participants on the perceived benefits and challenges of using iPads in the field.
Main Presenter: Carla Abreu-Ellis, Ashland University
Co-Presenter(s): Katherine Davis and Jason Brent Ellis, Ashland University
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI)inventionjournals
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of computer science and electronics. IJESI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Engineering Science and Technology, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online
Scope of Integration Technology Enabled Learning In Academic Programmefaizan faizan
Scope of Integration Technology Enabled Learning In Academic Programme a PhD seminar presented by Faizan Ulhaq Faizan in Agricultural Extension Division at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi India
ICT literacy basically involves using digital technology, communication tools and/or access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge society.
18 educational models for use the DIGITAL WHITEBOARD (DWB)PERE MARQUES
18 educational models for use the DIGITAL WHITEBOARD (DWB).
Includes activities for interactive whiteboard (IWB), document reader and electronic voting systems
interactive white board is a large display that is connected to the computer and a digital projector. it is mounted on a wall or floor stand. most computers are connected to interactive white boards via usb cables some are connected via bluetooth technology
E=Classroom for Interactive and Connected LearningJohn Macasio
OpenDesk Toolkit Training Guide provides the framework, technology and content to enable all teachers to develop the mindsets and habits of performing inside the e-classroom of interactivity and connectivity.
Connecting Technology with Instruction: Using iPads in Pre-Service Teacher Tr...ohedconnectforsuccess
Connecting Technology with Instruction: Using iPads in Pre-Service Teacher Training
June 27, 9 – 10am, Room: Champaign
In this presentation, participants will hear a case study of undergraduate pre-service teachers enrolled in a four-year private college in northeast, Ohio. Thirteen pre-service teachers were asked to implement iPads into their teaching during an after-school program at a public elementary school. Hear from the research participants on the perceived benefits and challenges of using iPads in the field.
Main Presenter: Carla Abreu-Ellis, Ashland University
Co-Presenter(s): Katherine Davis and Jason Brent Ellis, Ashland University
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI)inventionjournals
International Journal of Engineering and Science Invention (IJESI) is an international journal intended for professionals and researchers in all fields of computer science and electronics. IJESI publishes research articles and reviews within the whole field Engineering Science and Technology, new teaching methods, assessment, validation and the impact of new technologies and it will continue to provide information on the latest trends and developments in this ever-expanding subject. The publications of papers are selected through double peer reviewed to ensure originality, relevance, and readability. The articles published in our journal can be accessed online
Scope of Integration Technology Enabled Learning In Academic Programmefaizan faizan
Scope of Integration Technology Enabled Learning In Academic Programme a PhD seminar presented by Faizan Ulhaq Faizan in Agricultural Extension Division at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi India
ICT literacy basically involves using digital technology, communication tools and/or access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge society.
18 educational models for use the DIGITAL WHITEBOARD (DWB)PERE MARQUES
18 educational models for use the DIGITAL WHITEBOARD (DWB).
Includes activities for interactive whiteboard (IWB), document reader and electronic voting systems
interactive white board is a large display that is connected to the computer and a digital projector. it is mounted on a wall or floor stand. most computers are connected to interactive white boards via usb cables some are connected via bluetooth technology
The presentation shares the advantages of educational technology today. It enumerates the top 9 educational technology that one can use this new normal.
IEEE 13th International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies / Interactive Video enhanced learning-teaching process for digital native students
How Edtech is Transforming the Classroom?Kavika Roy
Edtech is also helping educational institutions streamline their classrooms to make them more inclusive and student-friendly. Inclusive learning is fast gaining prominence and is being adopted by various schools and establishments. Technology makes inclusive learning possible by bridging the gap between educators and students. Educational institutions with inclusive classrooms will find easy acceptance in society, given the increase in awareness about diversity and inclusivity on a global level.
https://prepai.in/blog/how-edtech-is-transforming-the-classroom/
EdTech With A Purpose: An Introductory Guide to Education Technology for NYC ...iZone
Across the New York City public school district (NYC Schools), educators are successfully using education technology (edtech) to support instructional objectives and student learning. These schools demonstrate that edtech is not a “silver bullet” or teacher replacement, but can be used enhance good teaching practice when integrated into instruction. We created this guide to support educators with small-scale implementation of instructional edtech tools by sharing insights, tips, and lessons learned from real-life cases of integrating education technology.
Similar to INCITE - INtegrated Components for Interactive TEaching (20)
Connector Corner: Automate dynamic content and events by pushing a buttonDianaGray10
Here is something new! In our next Connector Corner webinar, we will demonstrate how you can use a single workflow to:
Create a campaign using Mailchimp with merge tags/fields
Send an interactive Slack channel message (using buttons)
Have the message received by managers and peers along with a test email for review
But there’s more:
In a second workflow supporting the same use case, you’ll see:
Your campaign sent to target colleagues for approval
If the “Approve” button is clicked, a Jira/Zendesk ticket is created for the marketing design team
But—if the “Reject” button is pushed, colleagues will be alerted via Slack message
Join us to learn more about this new, human-in-the-loop capability, brought to you by Integration Service connectors.
And...
Speakers:
Akshay Agnihotri, Product Manager
Charlie Greenberg, Host
DevOps and Testing slides at DASA ConnectKari Kakkonen
My and Rik Marselis slides at 30.5.2024 DASA Connect conference. We discuss about what is testing, then what is agile testing and finally what is Testing in DevOps. Finally we had lovely workshop with the participants trying to find out different ways to think about quality and testing in different parts of the DevOps infinity loop.
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
Builder.ai Founder Sachin Dev Duggal's Strategic Approach to Create an Innova...Ramesh Iyer
In today's fast-changing business world, Companies that adapt and embrace new ideas often need help to keep up with the competition. However, fostering a culture of innovation takes much work. It takes vision, leadership and willingness to take risks in the right proportion. Sachin Dev Duggal, co-founder of Builder.ai, has perfected the art of this balance, creating a company culture where creativity and growth are nurtured at each stage.
Kubernetes & AI - Beauty and the Beast !?! @KCD Istanbul 2024Tobias Schneck
As AI technology is pushing into IT I was wondering myself, as an “infrastructure container kubernetes guy”, how get this fancy AI technology get managed from an infrastructure operational view? Is it possible to apply our lovely cloud native principals as well? What benefit’s both technologies could bring to each other?
Let me take this questions and provide you a short journey through existing deployment models and use cases for AI software. On practical examples, we discuss what cloud/on-premise strategy we may need for applying it to our own infrastructure to get it to work from an enterprise perspective. I want to give an overview about infrastructure requirements and technologies, what could be beneficial or limiting your AI use cases in an enterprise environment. An interactive Demo will give you some insides, what approaches I got already working for real.
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Let's dive deeper into the world of ODC! Ricardo Alves (OutSystems) will join us to tell all about the new Data Fabric. After that, Sezen de Bruijn (OutSystems) will get into the details on how to best design a sturdy architecture within ODC.
JMeter webinar - integration with InfluxDB and GrafanaRTTS
Watch this recorded webinar about real-time monitoring of application performance. See how to integrate Apache JMeter, the open-source leader in performance testing, with InfluxDB, the open-source time-series database, and Grafana, the open-source analytics and visualization application.
In this webinar, we will review the benefits of leveraging InfluxDB and Grafana when executing load tests and demonstrate how these tools are used to visualize performance metrics.
Length: 30 minutes
Session Overview
-------------------------------------------
During this webinar, we will cover the following topics while demonstrating the integrations of JMeter, InfluxDB and Grafana:
- What out-of-the-box solutions are available for real-time monitoring JMeter tests?
- What are the benefits of integrating InfluxDB and Grafana into the load testing stack?
- Which features are provided by Grafana?
- Demonstration of InfluxDB and Grafana using a practice web application
To view the webinar recording, go to:
https://www.rttsweb.com/jmeter-integration-webinar
Neuro-symbolic is not enough, we need neuro-*semantic*Frank van Harmelen
Neuro-symbolic (NeSy) AI is on the rise. However, simply machine learning on just any symbolic structure is not sufficient to really harvest the gains of NeSy. These will only be gained when the symbolic structures have an actual semantics. I give an operational definition of semantics as “predictable inference”.
All of this illustrated with link prediction over knowledge graphs, but the argument is general.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4
INCITE - INtegrated Components for Interactive TEaching
1. 1
“Politehnica” University Bucharest
Faculty of Automatic Control and Computes
INtegrated Components for Interactive TEaching
Team P.U.B.42 :
Răzvan TĂTĂROIU
razvan784@gmail.com
Dragoş SBÎRLEA
sbarlead@yahoo.com
Vlad Alexandru GEORGESCU
vgeorgescu@gmail.com
Alexandru BADEA
vamposdecampos@gmail.com
Mentor:
Prof. Nicolae ŢĂPUŞ
ntapus@cs.pub.ro
2. 2
1. Executive Summary
Many of us have probably noticed the decreasing interest that students are showing
towards traditional teaching methods and the increasing attention they are paying to new
technologies such as computer games and the Web. This has also been a serious research
subject for sociologists. Studies show that students frequently lose attention during class
after as little as 15 minutes [1], [2]. This directly leads to poor attendance, poor grades
and poor achievement. Research cites „boredom and lack of motivation for learning” and
„school teaching/learning strategies seen as boring” as some of the leading causes of
school dropouts [4]. Periodic polls conducted by the Texas Education Agency show that
lack of attendance due to disinterest is by far the leading cause of school dropout in that
state, and this situation is general [3]. Moreover, others have conducted studies on the
economic impact of school dropout and student underachievement in general.
Consequences for the individual include lowered skill levels, unemployment and personal
disatisfaction. On a larger scale, these reflect into decreased productivity levels, lower
taxation revenue and lower consumption. On the global market, this can impact a
country’s competitivity [4]. Other costs, both economic and social, come from increased
crime rate due to unemployment and drug abuse [4], [5]. It is thus clear that a solution
needs to be found to increase students’ interest in school and their attention during class.
Social scientists suggest that an interactive approach to teaching is effective in keeping
the students focused [2]. They suggest hands-on, team-based activities, as well as
adapting the curriculum to individual student needs. INCITE is a system designed to
facilite this through the use of modern technology. It builds upon young students’ interest
in computers and „gadgets”, inciting them to discover a new way of learning. The
traditional chalk, blackboard, notebooks and test sheets are upgraded to their digital
counterparts. These are networked together and run educational software which often
receives a game-like disguise. This becomes a strong motivation for young students to
interact, learn and share information.
Another problem we address is that of students with disabilities. Because of their great
difficulty integrating in normal classrooms, many of them simply drop out of school [4].
INCITE was designed with accessibility in mind. By using specially designed hardware
instead of the normal interfaces, and because it supports adaptive teaching and
evaluation, the system narrows the gap between students with disabilities and their peers
and helps them integrate and succeed.
Last but not least, INCITE is designed to make educational technology accessible to the
less wealthy, by making full use of low-cost components with efficient software. It
requires little maintanence and has low setup costs.
3. 3
2. System Overview
2.1 Components
INCITE is designed primarily for use in a classroom, where it becomes a captivating
environment for learning. Its main components are:
o the eBox 2300 is a mobile, lightweight PC running interactive educational software
on top of a customized Windows CE image. Each teacher receives an eBox , and each
classroom is fitted with a screen and a projector that the teacher connects their eBox
to.
o the Handheld Devices are small, highly mobile, customized terminals given to each
student, as well as the teacher. They connect to the eBox via Bluetooth and feature a
small screen, 6 buttons and a
laser pointer. They allow
student interaction and
collaboration. The laser
pointers can be concurrently
used on the projector screen,
where they are detected by the
eBox via a webcam and
function much like mouse
pointers, complete with click
and drag, replacing traditional
chalk.
o the Central Server hosts the systems’ remotely accessible components:
o main database, containing student records and other administrative data
o course files that are prepared by teachers and downloaded to the eBox before
class; also accessible by students from home
o students’ virtual notebooks, in the form of a weblog for each student and for each
class. These blogs include results and conclusions drawn from class activity, as
well as snapshots of the class screen. These maintain a degree of interactivity
while embedded in the web browser. The students can take audio notes via their
handhelds at any time during class and post them on their blogs.
2.2 Innovation
INCITE is designed primarily as a lesson enhancement system. It integrates well into the
existing educational system and follows current trends such as collaborative learning,
engaged learning, adaptive testing, while adding innovative features. Other systems
designed to provide technology-enhanced school learning simply lack the advanced
collaborative features, high degree of interactivity, mobility, flexibility and accessibility
that INCITE integrates.
4. 4
INCITE allows and encourages every student to take active part in the lesson and bring
their tangible contribution to the class’ “work in progress” that gets published online.
This allows an opening of the educational process, so that teachers can themselves learn
from each others’ experience and improve their teaching methods and lessons plans.
Students can also share conclusions and discuss their understanding of the lessons,
leading to higher learning efficiency. INCITE provides this without the unjustifiably high
costs of providing each student and teacher with a powerful computer, such as other
projects suggest.
INCITE upgrades the traditional chalk and blackboard to a much more flexible medium
that allows information persistence, ease of use, interactivity and concurrency. The
infrastructure allows simultaneous laser or button use by multiple students.
INCITE doesn’t need a dedicated classroom. Any space that can host a projector can
instantly become a virtual learning environment. Thanks to the system’s high degree of
mobility, it can even be taken out to field trips. Mobile projectors are available, but even
if one is not used, the system still retains its other features.
INCITE is designed to facilitate integration of students with disabilities in normal classes.
The only additional cost is that of customizing the handheld devices for various
disabilities. For instance, a student with motor disability may be unable to write by hand
in a standard classroom. But they may be able to press some large, conveniently-spaced
buttons or take audio notes, which would open up a whole new world of opportunity for
them.
INCITE is not curriculum-specific. It can be applied to teach any subject and allows the
teacher liberty in choosing a lesson plan and managing their class.
INCITE eases administrative tasks such as taking attendance, resulting in more useful
lesson time.
2.3 Usage
Below we summarize a typical usage scenario.
Before class, the teacher prepares materials using a PC and stores them on the server. A
web interface is provided to make editing possible inside a browser. If the classroom does
not have network access, at least the teachers’ lounge should, so the teacher downloads
the relevant materials to the eBox.
At the beginning of the class, the teacher connects the eBox to the projector and places
the webcam on the desk. As the students enter the classroom, their handhelds connect to
the eBox, which takes attendance automatically and downloads their homework.
The lesson may start with a classic presentation with slides, but the teacher can drag
objects, underline text or even make written annotations using their handheld laser.
Students can take audio notes and post them on their blogs via their own handhelds.
5. 5
If this were a Physics class, the teacher may start an interactive mechanical simulation,
and may ask two students to study the collision of two balls launched under different
angles. Then a third student would be asked to draw an additional obstacle in the
simulation. All this is done with the lasers.
For younger students, an educational puzzle game can be run. Three or four students
would move the pieces on the screen trying to form an image relevant to the class, such
as a certain animal in its natural habitat, or a country’s map. The teacher would then ask
questions about that and develop upon the subject.
The system has great potential during Art classes, where its dynamic, graphical nature
can be exploited to the fullest, allowing the creation of collaborative works to be shared
and later discussed online. This is not limited to static drawings, but also animations.
Motion-sensitive, color-changing “jelly” objects can be embedded in the drawing. The
whole creation process of the work can be recorded and played back online.
At some point, the teacher may want to give the students a test, in order to evaluate their
comprehension. Instead of the traditional paper tests that have to be hand-graded,
INCITE offers a more friendly, efficient and flexible solution. The teacher will select a
single- or multiple-choice quiz to be issued by the eBox to the students’ handhelds, with
the questions and answers randomized. The time allocated to each question, or to the
whole test, can be adjusted. The students answer each question displayed on their screen
by pushing the corresponding button(s). The tests are graded and the results are recorded
automatically. In order to stimulate collaboration as well as competition, the teacher may
decide to let students form teams and consult with each other within a team. If some
students constantly perform better than others, in general or in a particular area, the
teacher may enable adaptive testing, in which the eBox computes an optimum set of
questions for each student, depending on their activity and grading history. Ad-hoc
testing may also be performed, where the teacher does not prepare the questions in
advance, but rather speaks them out and presses the correct answer on their own handheld
when the time for the current question expires. The eBox also centralizes and grades the
students’ answers.
At the end of the lesson, the students receive comments from the teacher regarding their
previous homework, as well as the text for the next one, on their handhelds.
After this, the teacher takes the eBox to the teachers’ lounge and connects it to the
network, uploading materials created during class, such as blog entries containing activity
snapshots, to the server. These snapshots are not simple images, but contain interactive
objects and associated audio comments. This recorded activity has a contribution to each
student’s grade at the end of the semester, and also facilitates information and experience
sharing. Each student’s blog is a virtual notebook, and the class’ blog is a record of their
learning experience.
After class, students can review the notes they took on their blog, as well as the recorded
lesson on the class blog. They can post additional comments and homework on their blog.
This offers unprecedented ease of access to information and facilitates reviewing. It also
6. 6
enables distance learning and helps students who skipped a class keep up-to-date,
although this behavior is not encouraged.
INCITE’s high degree of mobility can be exploited during field trips, where its ability to
assist with written or audio materials, quiz administration and grading, and offline note
taking, works even without a projector. For example, lessons can be held in nature, and
information can be presented on the handhelds during museum trips.
2.4 Cost and Feasibility Analysis
INCITE’s main target are schools. Much effort has been put into reducing the production,
deployment and maintenance costs, such that governments and sponsors can implement
INCITE even in developing countries. It is hoped that through better education we can
help these areas develop more rapidly and increase the standard of living. A cost
evaluation is given below.
System Costs Maintenance Costs Total Cost
eBox 2300: $120 Battery replacement: For a school with 25 classes
Software licenses: $50 eBox: $20
Webcam: $30 Handhelds: $2 * 25 = $50 Acquisition and installation
Handhelds: $24 each Total: $70 / year $20,000
* 25 students = $600 Handheld replacement:
$600/10 years = $60 / year Maintenance
Total: $800 per classroom eBox replacement: $3,450 / year
$120/15 years = $8 / year
Hardware costs are estimated based on prices published on manufacturer or retail store
websites. Stated handheld cost is that of the actual prototype built with off-the-shelf parts.
In mass production, when acquiring large quantities, all hardware costs are expected to be
significantly lower than stated here.
The following items are included in the school’s inventory in many cases; otherwise they
also need to be acquired:
Projector (fixed): $400 or
Projector (mobile): $700
Server: $1000
INCITE’s deployment is easy, as most communication is wireless and most components
are mobile. Synchronization between the eBoxes and server can be done at a single point,
in the teachers’ lounge for instance, eliminating the need for wiring the building.
A perceivable weakness of the system is the reduced set of features the handhelds offer
when compared to a laptop or PDA. Those additional features however bring little
educational value for their high cost.
The system can be implemented either by the schools themselves on their own budgets,
or with the help of sponsors. In view of the fact that better education creates more
valuable employees, INCITE is an investment in the future.
7. 7
To put INCITE’s benefit-to-cost ratio into perspective, let’s note for example that in
2000, the Romanian government bought 500 000 desktop computers for use in schools
[6]. Although we did not find published information about the cost, we can estimate it to
around $300 million. Most of these computers however are used to teach limited aspects
such as word processing and basic programming. As an integrated system, INCITE can
help students learn a much wider variety of subjects more efficiently, at a fraction of the
cost.
Some governments are having trouble implementing modern teaching systems because of
their high cost. INCITE’s moderate price comes as an opportunity, compared to other
solutions that involve assigning each student one piece of equipment. An excellent
opportunity for INCITE can be found in our country Romania and in neighboring
Bulgaria. These countries have recently joined the European Union, which is offering
grants for regional development, including education. [7]
2.5 Design Methodology
We chose Lean Product Development as the design methodology, coupled with Agile
Development practices.
Lean Product Development emphasizes product quality as a design focus point,
encouraging well-thought design decisions. It discourages over-production (waste),
urging the designers to concentrate on a set of essential features at each stage of
development. As the Lean methodology isn’t a specifically iterative approach, it is well
complemented by the Agile practices.
Agile is very well suited for this project, which involves a small team, a pressing
deadline, the need to have a working prototype at all times, and repeated changes as the
system is being refined.
Due to the limited capabilities of the hardware, our project needed repeated performance
testing and subsequent design adjustments in order to maintain acceptable response time
without compromising other aspects of the user experience. This, coupled with the need
to adjust according to user feedback during repeated testing, favors an Agile
methodology.
2.6 Planning and Team Organization
We identified three milestones and worked in two rotating pairs to achieve each one of
them:
1. Digital blackboard implementation
1-A eBox webcam driver with pointers
1-B eBox educational software framework
2. Complete virtual classroom
2-A handheld devices, communication protocol
2-B eBox interactive lesson
8. 8
3. Web integration
3-A management infrastructure (web services, databases)
3-B web front-end (interactive blogs, teaching resources)
Completion Jan,15 March,15 May,15
Team Member 1-A 1-B 2-A 2-B 3-A 3-B
Dragos ● ● ●
Vlad ● ● ●
Razvan ● ● ●
Alex ● ● ●
At present, the first feature-complete version of INCITE is ready. More work is
scheduled regarding performance improvements, scalability, adaptability, user interface
enhancements and actual educational content. These enhancements will be driven by
performance data and user feedback obtained through testing and by consulting education
specialists.
All code was developed by pair programming, which led to higher code quality and
reduced debugging time. Pairs were assigned based primarily on team members’
specialization and were reassigned upon completion of each milestone in order to assure
a continuous, flowing development. Thus, each member has working knowledge of the
whole system, which helps achieve good component integration. Code is collectively
owned, which facilitates review and further improves collaboration.
The team keeps in touch at all times and collaborates using instant messaging, a mailing
list and a wiki. Weekly face-to-face meetings are also held to perform live testing and
discuss the current status and further development.
3. Implementation and Engineering
Considerations
3.1 Design Objectives
In order to develop a competitive product, we designed INCITE with the following
objectives in mind:
- User-friendliness. INCITE should have an intuitive user interface and require
minimal prior technical knowledge. Teachers should not require extensive training,
and students should be able to use the interfaces in a short amount of time. Any
subject should be equally easy to teach using INCITE.
- Accessibility. Hardware and software interfaces should be easy and cheap to
customize according to a large variety of special needs.
- Safety. Chance of eye injury due to lasers should be minimized.
- Security. The system should protect personal information and prevent identity
theft. Additional attention should be paid to securing student records.
9. 9
- Performance. The system should be able to run all applications in real-time. All
animations and interactions should be fluid. At least 30 users should be supported.
- Reliability. INCITE should have a high uptime and low failure rate. In case of
failure, maintenance should be quick and easy.
- Cost. To make INCITE an attractive package, a low cost per feature is essential.
- Mobility. INCITE should be easy to set up and move to any location.
- Extensibility. INCITE software should be easily updateable.
3.2 System Architecture
INCITE is based on the following components: the eBox 2300, the handheld devices and
the central server.
eBox 2300
At the center of the system is the eBox 2300 VESA PC. It is a low-cost embedded system
that has all the necessary hardware requirements for INCITE’s purpose: adequate
computing power, permanent storage, graphical capabilities, Ethernet connectivity, USB
support and audio support.
The eBox comes in a thin, lightweight, portable package. Fit for industrial use, the eBox
2300 has a robust, fanless design and is more reliable than consumer devices such as
laptops, which can have failure rates as high as two per year [9], especially under heavy
use. A battery can be fitted to enhance mobility.
The eBox runs a custom Windows CE 6.0 image (built with Platform Builder), which
includes:
- the .NET Compact Framework 2.0, used by the INCITE applications
- wired LAN and Bluetooth PAN support for network and handheld connectivity
- Internet Explorer 6 for Web access, particularly to the central server
- Windows Media Player, Windows Media Audio, MP3 and MP4 support for
multimedia content
- DirectDraw, for graphical applications
- Local Authentication Sub-System, to prevent unauthorized use
- OBEX support, for Bluetooth Object Exchange
In addition to these components, the following were developed:
- webcam driver with laser recognition
- INCITE Virtal Classroom application
- sample educational applications utilizing INCITE technology
10. 10
Laser recognition
A webcam driver was developed for Windows CE 6.0.
The driver has an image capture mode that is slow due to hardware limitations, and a
real-time laser pointer recognition mode. In order to minimize USB image transfer time
and image processing time on the eBox, a feature present on most webcams is creatively
used. The gamma correction function allows adjustments in the light level response curve
and is normally used to improve an image’s dynamic range. On many webcams this is
done by the camera hardware and is controlled by the driver on the host computer. By
programming the gamma function to a step instead of a smooth curve, and adjusting
sensor exposure time, we can isolate the laser pointers
from the rest of the image, resulting in a black frame
with small white spots. As images are usually sent to the
computer via USB using JPEG compression, this method
allows very small, fast transfers. Decompression
performed on the eBox also becomes faster, as there is
much less information in the frames than in usual
pictures and the algorithm is optimized to take advantage
of this specific frame structure. This is very important, as
most eBox processor time should be dedicated to the
actual applications, allowing us to meet the objectives of
performance and low hardware cost.
Identifying the pointers’ positions is simply a matter of translating the spots’ coordinates
from image to screen using a pre-adjusted transformation. The adjustment is easily
performed from the management application once the camera is set up and consists of
pointing a laser to the four corners of the projected image. Clicking is implemented by
dimming the laser spot for the duration of 1.5 frames to ensure the event is caught.
A possible problem is when two laser spots meet and overlap, which can cause their
corresponding software cursors to interchange. This risk is mitigated by tracking each
pointer’s moving direction and speed over the last few frames and assuming these
variables have a finite rate of change, due to mechanical inertia.
INCITE Virtual Classroom Application
The INCITE Virtual Classroom (IVC) is the main application that runs on the eBox and
acts as a control center from where the teacher manages all aspects of their lesson. It has
the following functionality:
- Handheld communication: the IVC back-end manages the Bluetooth connection with
the handheld devices and exposes high-level functionality to the rest of the
application.
- Server communication: whenever a network connection is available, the IVC tries to
connect to the central server in order to upload any new materials created during
class, or other pending data. It will also download materials from the server at the
11. 11
teacher’s request, such as new applications, presentations, multimedia files prepared
beforehand.
- Student record management: the IVC authenticates each student’s handheld device
versus the student database, takes automatic attendance and uploads everyone’s
assigned grades to the server. It also displays student information and activity history
at the teacher’s request.
- Test administration and grading: the IVC allows the teacher to give students tests on
their handhelds. It also centralizes the results and issues grades.
- Data storage and tagging: materials created by the teacher and students (such as audio
annotations via the handhelds, application snapshots or test results) are stored
alongside metadata which identifies the author and the object it is related to. These
will be later uploaded.
- Web integration: the IVC facilitates the posting of stored materials on the students’
blogs or on the class blog.
- Container for educational applications: the IVC hosts third-party educational
applications, as well as the sample applications. These are compiled as loadable
modules (dynamic-link libraries). The IVC provides these applications with a unified,
managed interface to the students’ handheld devices.
Summarized IVC application framework
The IVC uses the eBox display (projector) as an output device, but can also use the
teacher’s handheld device when the above is occupied. Input can be via normal keyboard
and mouse, or via the teacher’s handheld through a simplified, menu-driven interface.
12. 12
Educational Applications
INCITE provides a framework for educational application development. Applications
using INCITE technology are able to offer a high degree of interactivity and ample
opportunities for collaboration. To demonstrate this, a set of “samples” is provided. With
each of them, the emphasis is on multiple students interacting with the application
simultaneously and collaborating to achieve a goal.
Mechanical Simulator allows students to insert simple mechanical objects in a
simulation and impart motion on them. The objects have differing shapes and properties
(density, elasticity).
Puzzle allows an image to be selected by the teacher and transformed into a puzzle of
selectable complexity. The image is assumed to have relevance towards the subject being
taught. Shown are a photo of Puzzle running on the eBox, and a screenshot of a blog
entry embedding the same interactive Puzzle.
13. 13
Canvas allows students to create a virtual painting. Students can select from a range of
brushes and can apply digital effects.
The IVC and sample applications are written in C# and use the .NET Compact
Framework 2.0. The sample applications use DirectDraw Mobile for graphical output.
Handheld devices
The handheld devices are designed to be
user-friendly, lightweight, low-cost, and fit
for mass-production. They are built around a
microcontroller and employ a graphical LCD
screen, a Bluetooth module, a microphone
and a laser pointer. A small RAM is used for
temporary file storage, and a SD card slot is
provided for optional mass storage. They are
powered by rechargeable batteries.
Their software implements Bluetooth
communication (including file transfer via
Object Exchange), a menu-driven command
interface, support for test taking, and a
simple document viewer.
Each handheld has a unique serial number
that is associated in the server database with
the student or teacher to whom it is assigned.
This allows automated attendance taking,
and in a future version may allow student
tracking.
Central Server
The central server hosts the following:
- an SQL Server 2005 database that holds student records and blog contents
- an ASP.NET 2.0 Web Service that the eBox uses for synchronization
- an ASP.NET 2.0 role-based website that allows: viewing student grades, uploading
and downloading class materials, and accessing the blogs. Implementation was
facilitated by the following ASP.NET 2.0 features: Master Pages, Themes, Web
Parts, as well as the new security model. Atlas, Microsoft’s AJAX implementation,
provides enhanced user experience.
3.3 Testing
INCITE was repeatedly tested upon completion of each feature. In order to measure
performance in a realistic environment, the system was tested in a number of classrooms
at our faculty, with differing positioning and under various lighting conditions. Except for
14. 14
very high light levels such as direct sunlight, the laser recognition worked as expected.
Four laser pointers were used.
In accordance with initial performance goals, a frame rate of 10fps was achieved for laser
detection and for graphical output, which provides acceptable motion fluidity.
It was verified that handheld batteries do not need recharging for the duration of a normal
school day.
Bluetooth connectivity worked as expected with the 2 handheld prototypes we currently
have. Traffic data indicates that the system is able to scale up to the required 30 devices.
Web service connectivity and operation, as well as database functionality, were tested by
simulating a number of lessons.
3.4 System limitations
As a low-cost system, INCITE had to be designed with some compromises. Following
the Lean Product Development methodology, a reduced number of well-implemented
features was preferred over a large number of poorly-functioning or partially-
implemented ones. Care was exercised not to degrade the user experience and focus was
put on those features which bring the most educational value.
Educational applications running on the eBox cannot currently display elaborate 3D
graphics or perform advanced processor-intensive simulations. This however is not a
significant obstacle in teaching through lightweight applications that focus on a particular
aspect of the subject. Applications can have rich, appealing graphics even if these fall
short of realistically-shaded 3D objects, and motion is fluid enough to be perceived as
real-time interaction. INCITE is focused on efficiently and attractively teaching concepts,
without unnecessary embellishments.
The same philosophy applies to handheld design. Being the most numerous devices, these
also have to be the simplest in order to keep cost down. No powerful applications can run
on these devices, and they act mainly as input/output devices for the eBox, with the
addition of limited local storage. However, they are perfectly suited for viewing text and
graphical content generated on the eBox, audio note taking, answering tests, and of
course, as virtual chalk by means of the embedded laser. The OBEX transfer protocol
used over Bluetooth is a well-established and supported standard, so the handhelds can be
ultimately replaced with more capable devices such as smart phones or PDAs as their
cost decreases.
4. Measuring Success
We have strong reasons to believe that INCITE has great potential for improving
education for a very large number of students, and for making a significant positive
impact on society. This ideal has to be confirmed in practice by implementing INCITE as
a pilot-program and measuring its actual success. Data gathered during this program
15. 15
would be used to find INCITE’s weak points and correct them. Should INCITE be found
valuable and implementable according to its design and purpose, plans for large-scale
deployment can start.
The system’s success in the field can be assessed using the following indicators,
measured before and after experiencing INCITE:
- average student grades
- average attendance
- subject comprehension and student involvement in lessons, as indicated by teachers
and measured through specially designed tests
- student opinion on class attractiveness and teaching efficiency, measured through
questionnaires
- student self-assessment, including knowledge gained and off-class study time
Social integration of students with disabilities in class, as well as their involvement in
lessons and comprehension, will be measured by a set of indicators designed by
specialists.
5. Further Development
A feature-complete alpha version of INCITE is ready. For the beta version, a number of
improvements need to be carried out:
- replace the handheld prototypes with more compact designs; add optional SD
memory support, improve graphics support in software
- improve sample educational applications with more elaborate graphics
For a commercial version more features would be added, such as integration with smart
mobile devices, a collaboration framework that connects central servers from different
schools, as well as support for real-time distance learning through audio-video streaming
and a version of the handheld-eBox protocol that is encapsulated over the Internet.
6. Conclusions
INCITE is a novel, attractive, user-oriented system that enhances school learning and
personal development. It allows information to be presented and shared with
unprecedented clarity and ease and it facilitates student interaction and collaboration.
INCITE is easily deployable, highly mobile cost-effective and easily maintainable. It is
robust and extendable. This and its innovative features such as online integration and
accessibility, make INCITE stand out on the educational systems market and give it a
competitive advantage.
16. 16
References
1. University of Texas at Austin, Papers of the Faculty Innovation Center
http://fic.engr.utexas.edu/files/KeepingAttention(FIC).pdf
2. Joan Middendorf, Alan Kalish, Indiana University - TRC Newsletter, Fall 1996
http://www.indiana.edu/~teaching/allabout/pubs/changeups.shtml
3. Texas Education Agency, Report on Public School Dropouts
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/research/dropout95/dropout.toc.html
specifically http://www.tea.state.tx.us/research/dropout95/dropout.gifs/Table5.gif
4. Michael Brooks et. al., ARTD Management and Research Consultants,
Underage School Leaving - A report to the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme
http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/VIA/youthpubs/$File/underage_leave
rs.pdf
5. Obot IS., Anthony JC. at Johns Hopkins Univ., School dropout and injecting drug use
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uid
s=10920595&dopt=Abstract
6. Romanian Parliament’s Education Commission, September 12th talks
http://www.cdep.ro/comisii/invatamant/pdf/2001/pv0912.pdf (in Romanian)
7. EU Calls for proposals for grants regarding education
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/calls/grants_en.html
8. Steve McConnell, Code Complete 2nd edition, Microsoft Press 2004, pg. 850
9. PC World Magazine, Reliability and Service Report Card
http://www.pcworld.com/zoom?id=112915&page=4&type=simplechart&zoomIdx=1