Ivan Madjarov

Adaptive Learning Sequencing for Course Customization: A Web Service Approach

We discuss a learning model that enables the creation of optimal learning strategies that suit learnerspsila needs. A customized learning content is delivered to learners as managed sequences of learning activities which form a hierarchical structure that can be modeled by means of Petri Nets. Learning content customization is a dynamic process supported by a set of standards-based data models. The approach we adopted is implemented as Web services in a service-based learning architecture. Learning objects are sequenced according to learnerspsila responses to exercises and questions.

An Agent- and Service-oriented e-Learning Platform

This paper presents an e-Learning Web-reachable hypermedia system as the foundation of a course content development toolset. Course content, developed in XML, is stored in native XML databases and propagated via Web services. A helper agent delivers the learning objects that compose a course based on a pedagogical strategy pre-defined by the course author. The agent dynamically establishes the learning objects delivery order. The sequencing of Web pages in the proposed system relies on a Petri Net analysis of incoming events such as student responses to exercises.

Learning Content Adaptation for m-Learning Systems: A Multimodality Approach

The ubiquitous availability of mobile communication devices which are connected to the Internet makes it possible to dedicate small amounts of spare time for mobile learning. The limited screen size and resolution makes current mobile devices quite hard to visualize multifaceted Web pages, so this kind of content could be adjusted to meet the device needs. Adjustment in e-Learning means the contextualization of learning contents for m-Learning usage. In this paper, we present a design and implementation of a Web service-based system for adapting, displaying and manipulating learning objects on small handheld devices. A speech solution allows learners to turn any written text into natural speech files, in using standard voices. Our approach allows generation of text and audio based learning material dynamically for m-Learning and ubiquitous access. The deployment of audio data to the Web user via progressive download is also presented.

Multimodality and Context Adaptation for Mobile Learning

The new e-Learning 2.0 approach combines the use of social software, complementary tools, and mobile Web services to support the creation of ad hoc learning communities. The ubiquitous availability of mobile communication devices which are connected to the Internet makes it possible to use small amounts of spare time for mobile learning. The limited screen size and resolution makes current mobile devices quite hard to visualize multifaceted Web pages, so this kind of content could be adjusted to meet the device needs. This means the contextualization of learning contents for m-Learning usage. A Web services-based framework is presented for adapting, displaying, and manipulating learning objects on small handheld devices. A speech solution allows learners to turn any written text into natural speech files, using standard voices.

Responsive Course Design : An Adaptive Approach to Designing Responsive m-Learning

The ubiquitous availability of a wide range of Internet connected mobile devices makes possible to dedicate small amounts of spare time for mobile learning. The limited screen size makes current mobile devices quite hard to visualize multifaceted web pages, so this kind of content could be adjusted to meet the device needs. CMS-based websites, in general, are designed for large screens and when users go online with mobile phones, smartphones and tablets they feel some discomfort. The usability and user experience may be reduced when interacting with learning platforms that are not optimized for such features. A possible solution has arisen with recent advances in Responsive Web Design specifications. This adaptive web design technique advocates a single self-adaptive interface and avoids thereby multiplication of information sources and technical supports and promotes the possibility to design adaptive e-Learning courses and adaptive e-Learning mobile applications. In this paper we discuss about the possibilities of Responsive Web Design technique to adapt a learning content compared to an adaptive service-based approach to design responsive learning contents for m-Learning usage.

Cloud-based Mash-up Authoring Tools for e-Learning

The objective of an e-Learning authoring tool is the creation of an accessible and reusable pedagogical content that is conforms to the existing e-Learning standards. We argue that this objective can be extended when the learning content is created on a multimodal SaaS authoring and publishing platform with an XML-based language for content and metadata description to satisfy instructional designers for a responsive interactivity coupled with rich and informative substance. This position paper presents a Cloud-services based solution for building a virtual and personal learning environment that combines a wide range of technology and tools for learning-content mash-up authoring and diffusion. The proposed service-based framework is intended to support lifelong learning content creation and to enable mash-up of various learning services and applications by adapting learning objects on desktop and small handheld devices.

Cloud-based framework for mobile learning content adaptation

Mobile Web browsing usually involves a lot of horizontal and vertical scrolling, which makes page consultation painful. The main challenge of mobile networking is the context-aware content adaptation. This paper discusses the problem of content adaptation for mobile devices. The adaptation considers the context of the client and the environment where the client request is received. A device independent model is developed in order to achieve automatic adaptation of the content based on its semantics and the capabilities of the target device. A service-oriented Framework, as part of an e-Learning SaaS Cloud, is presented for adapting and displaying learning objects on small handheld devices, including a text-to-speech solution for learners in moving. Some aspects of e-Learning services integration of in Cloud computing environment are also discussed.

Towards a Service-Based Framework for Environmental Data Processing

Scientists are confronted with significant data management problems due to the huge volume and high complexity of environmental data. An important aspect of environmental data management is that data, needed for a process, are not always in the adequate format. In this contribution, we analyze environmental data structure, and model this data using a semantic-based method. Using this model, we design and implement a framework based on Web services for transformation between massive environmental text-based data and relational databases. We present a mapping model for environmental data transformation to be used in the scenario devoted to the methodology for development of stochastic models for prediction of environmental parameters by application of Gaussian processes.