Louis R. Chao

An integrated system theory of information security management

With the popularity of electronic commerce, many organizations are facing unprecedented security challenges. Security techniques and management tools have caught a lot of attention from both academia and practitioners. However, there is lacking a theoretical framework for information security management. This paper attempts to integrate security policy theory, risk management theory, control and auditing theory, management system theory and contingency theory in order to build a comprehensive theory of information security management (ISM). This paper suggests that an integrated system theory is useful for understanding information security management, explaining information security management strategies, and predicting management outcomes. This theory may lay a solid theoretical foundation for further empirical research and application.

Ranking Metrics and Search Guidance for Learning Object Repository

In line with the popularity of the Internet and the development of search engine, users request information through web-based services. Although general-purpose searching such as one provided by Google is powerful, searching mechanism for specific purposes could rely on metadata. In distance learning (or e-learning), SCORM provides an efficient metadata definition for learning objects to be searched and shared. To facilitate searching in a federated repository, CORDRA provides a common architecture for discovering and sharing Learning Objects. We followed SCORM and CORDRA specifications to develop a registry system, called the MINE Registry, for storing and sharing 20,738 Learning Objects created in the past five years. As a contribution, we propose the concept of “Reusability Tree” to represent the relationships among relevant Learning Objects and enhance CORDRA. We further collect relevant information, while users are utilizing Learning Objects, such as citations and time period persisted. The feedbacks from the user community are also considered as critical elements for evaluating significance degree of Learning Objects. Through theses factors, we propose a mechanism to weight and rank Learning Objects in the MINE Registry, in addition to other external learning objects repositories. As a practical contribution, we provide a tool called “Search Guider” to assist users in finding relevant information in Learning Objects based on individual requirements.

A knowledge abstraction approach for multimedia presentation

The demonstration of multimedia presentation can be promoted by using multi-vendors tools. The more tools are used, the more complicated communication is needed among these tools. The integration of these multimedia presentation tools is thus important. This paper describes an architecture named tool integration platform (TIP) to integrate tools in a knowledge abstraction way. TIP is composed of a CID (control integration daemon), a CII (control integration interface) and some integration inference rules (IIR) that are applied by the integration inference engine (IIE). The IIR are stored in a repository and used to deduce tool knowledge dynamically. In this way, many tools can be integrated into a cooperative multimedia presentation developing environment. To verify this architecture, a number of multimedia tools are integrated into TIP. Finally, an integration assessing method is used to evaluate the integration status of tools in TIP.

An Adaptive Caching Strategy for m-Learning Based on SCORM Sequencing and Navigation

One of the main problems encountered in the usage of mobile devices as a learning platform is the presence of an impermanent network environment due to insufficient coverage or link failure in wireless communication. On the other hand, a persistent connection is usually offered by cellular phones using a telecommunication protocol, but with a relatively weak computing power and very limited network bandwidth which makes m-learning a time-consuming process. Moreover, learning contents are currently composed of various multimedia resources that induce long latency to display on handheld devices such as smartphones with GPRS. Recently, a lot of m-learning systems and contents have conformed to the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) since it was introduced by ADL in the late 90s. The Sequencing and Navigation (S&N) specification is an important part of SCORM. S&N is defined to prescribe the intended student learning sequence by instructors. In this paper, we propose an adaptive course caching strategy based on the S&N specification in an m-learning environment. The system automatically switches to the corresponding course caching strategies, namely, the virtual memory management (VMM) mode and caching on disk (COD) mode, according to the current networking capability. The proposed mechanism is implemented on an m-learning system—Pocket SCORM—which received the 2005 Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Award in the USA. Our simulation and experiments demonstrate that the proposed course caching strategy ultimately reduces the latency during the learning process and decreases the requests for Internet reconnection.

Adaptive Object Re-Ranking Mechanism for Ubiquitous Learning Environment

Ubiquitous Learning (U-Learning), as an emerging learning paradigm, makes it possible for learners to carry out the learning activities at any places and at anytime. With the advantages of the devices, learners can obtain a variety of supplementary materials from the Internet. In the scope of distance learning, LOR (Learning Object Repository) stands for managing and sharing of learning related materials (known as learning objects). However, some challenges may raise while performing these activities. For instance, a huge amount of learning objects may appear while learners utilize the search service provided by LOR. Learners have to spend time on collecting relevant resources for specific purposes. This situation may discourage the reusability of learning objects especially in a ubiquitous environment. In this paper, based on systematic re-examination of reuse scenarios, an adaptive mechanism, as a resource discovery and search middleware, was proposed to assist learners in obtaining possible objects under ubiquitous environment. Achievement of the proposed mechanism can produce search results adaptive to specific situations in order of similarity degree based on the mixed information. We try to filter out some irrelevant results by using the past usage history, current geographical information and input query, so as to enhance the efficiency of learning objects retrieval in a ubiquitous environment. As a pilot test, Apple iPhone was utilized to be the major client testbed.

Weighting and Ranking the E-learning Resources

The use of learning objects is necessary in distance learning environment. Lots of repositories provide only search service for the users. Users have to sift and collect the learning objects they really need. In previous works, we have constructed the reusability tree based on CORDRA architecture for the repository users. In this paper, we further collect and record the citation numbers of learning objects and then propose a formula to calculate the weight for each learning object. The basic concept is based on the social network of Web 2.0 and takes Google Page Rank mechanism into consideration. After getting weight values, we also integrate the similarity mechanism into our formula and rank these learning objects.

Developing the Outdoor Game-Based Learning Environment by Using Ubiquitous Technologies

The outdoor experience game could help learner to learn the course knowledge by interact with real world learning activities. In this paper, we proposed the web based outdoor experience game-based learning system by using the Geography Information System (GIS), Global Position System (GPS), wireless and mobile technologies. The outdoor game-based learning system could help learner and instructor easily to learn/develop the learning content/related environment setting.

Adaptive learning resources search mechanism

Ubiquitous Learning (U-Learning), as an emerging learning paradigm, makes it possible for learners to carry out the learning activities at any places and at anytime. With the advantages of the devices, learners can obtain a variety of supplementary materials from the internet. In the scope of distance learning, LOR (Learning Object Repository) stands for managing and sharing of learning related materials (known as learning objects). However, some challenges may raise while performing these activities. For instance, a huge amount of learning objects may appear while learners utilize the search service provided by LOR. Learners have to spend time on collecting relevant resources for specific purposes. This situation may discourage the reusability of learning objects especially in a ubiquitous environment. In this paper, based on systematic re-examination of reuse scenarios, an adaptive service, as a resource discovery and search middleware, was proposed to assist learners in obtaining possible objects under ubiquitous environment. The achievement of proposed mechanism can reorganize the search results in order of similarity degree based on the mixed information including the usage history, geographical information and query criteria. It may make resource retrieval more efficient in u-learning environment. As another contribution, the emerging ubiquitous device, Apple iPad/iPod, was utilized to be the major end-user testbed.

A Semiautomatic Content Adaptation Authoring Tool for Mobile Learning

A lot of studies about automatic content adaptation have been done and are proposed to overcome the drawbacks of browsing regular content with handheld devices such as pocket PCs and smartphones. But we argue that the total automatic adaptation algorithm designed by an engineer to transform Web Page presentation is still appropriate to be applied on educational content. Therefore, this paper proposes a learning content adaptation tool that provides different adaptation templates to help the author automatically and efficiently reproduce high-quality learning content for specific handhelds. Furthermore, the author will not only be able to preview the adaptation result before publishing the course but also be able to adjust the template parameters manually to affect the process if they are not satisfied with the current result. Finally the new adapted content can be packaged with original content as a multi-version learning course.

Extending CORDRA for systematic reuse

The SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) specification defines metadata of learning objects, which are used as the elementary reusable components in distance learning. The CORDRA (Content Object Repository Discovery and Registration/Resolution Architecture) specification provides a common architecture for the resolution, discovery, and sharing of these learning objects. They define standardized ways in which learning objects can be discovered and reused by content designers. However, the current CORDRA and the definition of objects in SCORM only allow an object to be copied, updated, and re-organized in a new content aggregation, which is used as a delivery package to end users. This paper proposes a revised CORDRA architecture and a reusability mechanism to make instruction design easier. We propose a structure called a reusability tree for tracking the history of reuse of learning objects in CORDRA. This paper also defines the notions of similarity and diversity of learning objects to make easier for users to precisely search for reusable learning objects, with additional meaningful information to support instruction designs.