The document outlines the system architecture of an interactive e-learning platform called inlearn, which integrates Web 2.0 technologies to enhance teacher-student interactivity through activities like surveys and quizzes. Key features include real-time discussions, instant data analysis, and a user-friendly interface, accommodating various question types and supporting multiple operating systems. Future developments involve improved user interfaces and new functionalities, further enriching the learning experience.

1. The system architecture of an
interactive e-Learning
platform integrated with
Web 2.0 technologies
Vincent Tam
& team members
in the Dept. of
EEE, HKU

2. * Acknowledgements
This work is in collaboration with Sr.
Margaret Wong and her team in St.
Paul Convent School (SPCS).
Some of the features covered in the
subsequent presentation is suggested
by the SPCS team.

3. An Overview…
Our inLearn System for Interactive
Learning
 Introduction
 System Features
 System Architecture & Web 2.0
 Future Work

4. About inLearn
inLearn is targeted to reshape learning
experience through increasing “interactivity”
between teachers and students thru’ predefined
“activities” such as surveys or quizzes to
initiate discussion !! User-friendly Help Facility !
Registration
For LOGIN !
Brief System Descr.

5. A Glimpse of inLearn
Multi-lingual supports !
Instantly Updated Discussion
Using Web 2.0 !!

6. System Features
 Web 2.0 technology (AJAX) is integrated into
various functions of our inLearn system.
 Instant data analysis for students’
feedbacks/answers.
 Real-time discussion forum for students or
teachers to exchange ideas in answering
questions. Discussions can be recorded for later
reviews.
 Different Types of Questions (M.C., fill-in-the-
blank, etc.) supporting Various Subjects.

7. Interactive Discussion
 Students (and even teachers) are
able to exchange with each other
while they are attempting or
analysing certain questions.

8. Different Question Types
 3 different question types : multiple-choices,
fill-in-the-blanks, and scatter-plot-based
questions are available at the moment.
 They can be mixed in each set of questions.
 Each question can be defined with or without a
model answer. For an open-ended question
(without a model answer), it will be automatically
treated as a survey question in our inLearn
system.

9. Other Functions in inLearn
 Backend database stores all the users’ answers
for further analysis and generation of real-time
result distribution charts.
 [User-Admin Function] : A well-defined user
hierarchy system to manage guest, student and
teacher accounts.
 [Course-Admin Function]: Easy-to-use facility for
uploading users’ info, questions, and simple
user interfaces to edit questions.
 Full supports on any O.S. platform including the
Microsoft™, Linux or MacOS (iPod or iPhone).

10. Hierarchical Organization of
Users & Course Admin. in inLearn!!
inLearn
Enrolled into
Course G
Student X
………
Administrator creates
creates
Activity Activity
1 ……. N
(Survey or Quiz or Mixed !)
Teacher A

11. Function for User Administration

12. Question Editing under the Course
Administration in inLearn

13. inLearn on Desktop/Notebook PCs !

14. The iPod Touch Running our inLearn
System
A Quiz/Survey Question
Course Overviews

15. Blog – to share
Latest Version of inLearn experience in
enrolled courses !!
Personalized
Calendars (MSN-like)
With event Messenger
reminders !! to pop up
reminder
message on
Your desktop
or notebook
Real-time PC
(RSS)
Feeds generated
By Courses or friends

16. AJAX – Core Web 2.0 Technologies
 Ajax stands for “Asynchronous JavaScript
and XML);
 Essentially a group of interrelated web
development techniques used on the client-
side to create interactive web applications;
 With Ajax, web applications can retrieve data
from the server asynchronously in the
background without interfering with the
display and behavior of the existing page.

17. System Architecture & Web 2.0

18. Future Work
 Numerous aspects of inLearn for
future development:
 Enhancing the user interface;
 Implementing more sophisticated
visualization techniques;
 Forum-based student essay
system;
 Many others….

19. Thank YOU !
Q & A….