Manuel J. Fernández

Educational metadata and brokerage for learning resources

The learning technology standardization process is one of the key research activities in computer-based education. Institutions like the IEEE, the US Department of Defense and the European Commission have set up committees to deliver recommendations and proposals in this area. The objective is to allow the reuse of learning resources and to offer interoperability among heterogeneous e-learning systems. The first part of this paper is devoted to the presentation of an up-to-date survey on one of the most prolific fields of the learning technology standardization: educational metadata. The second part shows how these data models are applied by actual software systems to facilitate the location of learning resources. Educational brokerage is a promising field that lets learners find those computer-based training resources that best fit their needs. We identify the main actors involved, their roles, and open issues and trends.

Simulators over the network

In this paper we present SimulNet, our contribution to the improvement of high-quality learning at home using new technologies. SimulNet provides students with a teleteaching environment where the “learning-by-doing” paradigm is possible. Unlike other distance teaching systems whose aim is to achieve a virtual classroom, SimulNet provides a virtual laboratory to put theoretical knowledge into practice. Because SimulNet is a 100% pure Java system, our labware can be run on any computer and operating system. Our approach is based on the simulation of the actual laboratory tools which are delivered through the Internet (Java applets) or by CD-ROM technology (Java applications). Although SimulNet can be used in a remote access way, Java allows us to provide always the highest level of interactivity, which is an essential feature in any distance education system. In addition, SimulNet also provides a set of communication and tutoring tools for learners and instructors, providing a full cooperative learning atmosphere. We believe distance education should not mean to study alone and, therefore, we made an extra effort to provide an environment where students and teachers feel as is they were in a virtual lecture room.

Labware for the Internet

We present a survey on several systems that cope with the “learning‐by‐doing” paradigm. They represent the current state of the research work in the field of virtual laboratories, from standalone simulators to distributed virtual environments. Our aim is to offer to the reader an overall view of the current trends in the labware researching area.

Heuristic-driven Techniques for Test Case Selection

Abstract We propose an approach to testing that combines formal methods with practical criteria, close to the testing engineers experience. It can be seen as a framework to evaluate and select test suites using formal methods, assisted by informal heuristics. We also introduce the formalism of enriched transition systems to store information obtained during the testing phase, and to adapt classical test generation techniques to take advantage of the possibilities of the new formalism.

An update on the SimulNet educational platform. Towards standards-driven E-learning

E-learning is one of the killer applications in the new information society. Many educational systems have been developed, targeted to specific learning environments. One specific area of concern is practical training. This paper presents the latest update on the WWW-based teaching laboratory SimulNet. Particularly, we describe the functionality of the SimulNet whiteboard and authoring tools. Among others, the whiteboard features allow any kind of data sharing on the Web, on-line synchronous communication among learners and instructors and the possibility of following virtual presentations with an embedded Web-based slide projector. The SimulNet authoring environment includes a multimedia editor tool and both static and dynamic content structure generator. Also, current efforts in the learning technology standardization process were taken into account. We set the basis to become SimulNet compliant with the leading standard recommendations.

Game·Tel: An approach to multi-format and multi-device accessible engineering education

Game·Tel is an open source software system that supports personalized learning, focusing on serious games and simulations, making these and traditional content accessible and adaptive to the student and educational context. In this paper we discuss about its design and functionalities, its modular architecture and the multi-environment approach.

A web services broker for e-learning

Brokerage enriches the traditional searching services to include resource acquisition, distribution and billing and perfectly adapts to a scenario like e-learning where multiple, independent content providers and service providers exist. Brokerage offers a suitable framework where customers, mainly learners, can get in touch with providers. On the one hand, customers can locate, select and access the resources and services offered by providers in an efficient way. On the other hand, providers can benefit from services as marketing, customizable publicizing, or even accounting and billing. This paper proposes a brokerage architecture for Web-based E-learning services. It facilitates the integration of individual software components providing specific services to compose a complete E-learning environment.

A distributed object computing approach to e-learning

We present a preliminary proposal towards a CORBA domain facility for e-learning. This proposal may be seen as an initial contribution to the definition of an object-oriented distributed architecture for this domain. E-learning is one of the killer applications in the new information society. Many e-learning systems have been developed, targeted to specific learning scenarios and execution environments. In most cases, properties like interoperability or scalability were not taken into consideration when developing these applications, and as a consequence, systems with similar functionalities were developed again and again. To address this problem, two actions are possible: the standardization of this domain, and the definition of reference models and architectures that facilitate software reuse and the development of scalable and interoperable systems. These two actions complement each other, and our proposal is based on available results from the e-learning standardization process.

CATWEB: A Tool for Developing Courses for the Web and from the Web

CATWEB is a Course Authoring Tool for web-based educational environments. It provides a “one-piece” system to create and follow courses on the WWW. Its intended audience is teachers and instructors who are unfamiliar with computers and internet technologies. The many existing HTML editors and converters do not provide a suitable methodology for giving a pedagogical structure to developed documents. CATWEB provides this methodology by automatically structuring the pedagogical contents into learning blocks.

SimulNet: Virtual tele-laboratories over the Internet

Teaching and education have changed to meet the needs of the present-day working market. Because of this, professional and practical training are absolutely essential to educate good professionals, especially in the scope of Technology and Science. It is not easy to achieve this objective in distance learning environments. Our virtual tele-laboratory fills the gap between theoretical and practical teaching in a distance learning environment based on the Internet and the WWW.