Nigel H. Lin

Using SOAP and .NET Web Service to build SCORM RTE and LMS

In order to reuse and integrate all resources, many distance learning standards have appeared. The most famous is the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). SCORM is composed of a run-time environment (RTE), a content agreement model and LMS. SOAP allows objects or code of any kind, on any platform, in any language to communicate. .Net Web Service combines XML and some programming IDE to develop a server, which uses SOAP to implement the launch mechanism and AICC CMI data model. Java script is used to implement the client side.

Security and privacy technologies for distance education applications

While there has been considerable development of tools for distance education, there has been relatively little work focused on how to offer users security and privacy during learning activities. This paper focuses on how tool development can combine with security to provide a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment. We present a number of distance education applications developed in our lab and show how security and privacy may be integrated into these applications.

Adaptive pocket SCORM reader

Pocket devices are dominated in size which makes them the perfect platform for mobile learning. Several researches propose how distance education can be realized on pocket devices. We demonstrate the implementation of the adaptive pocket SCORM (scalable content object reference model) reader. Our proposed pocket SCORM reader is able to load SCORM compatible courseware. Furthermore, we introduce our ideal pocket SCORM architecture. With the proposed architecture, we hope to realize SCORM compliant mobile learning.

Individualized web course generation in distance learning

Web courses are widely available on the Internet. However, individualized course content for each student is hard to deal with. In this paper, we propose a new system, as well as a set of algorithms, for the automatic generation of individualized course contents and tests. The algorithms are based on a newly proposed method, called the SPC table. Experience of such a system is based on a data structure course for undergraduate students.

Context-aware privacy and security agents for distance education

Although distance education applications have been widely deployed, not many of them provide privacy and security for their users. Most of them only provide access control by requesting a user id and password. In a recent paper for AINA (Lin et al., 2004), we conveyed the importance of privacy and security for distance education and showed how they can be provided. In this paper, we present an extension of that work for the use of context-aware agents that can provide privacy and security for distance education applications in an intelligent manner based on the users interaction context. Our agents are based on an agent framework adapted from IEEE P1484.1/D9: the Learning Technology Systems Architecture (LTSA) (IEEE, 2004).

Ubiquitous learning on pocket SCORM

With advanced technologies, computer devices have become smaller and powerful. As a result, many people enjoy ubiquitous learning using mobile devices such as Pocket PCs. Pocket PCs are easy to carry and use as a distance learning platform. In this paper, we focus on the issues of transferring the current PC based Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) to Pocket PC based. We will also introduce the Pocket SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE) which has been developed in our lab. Pocket SCORM architecture is able to operate, even when the mobile device is off-line. It will keep the students’ learning record. When it is on line, the records will then be sent back to Learning Management System (LMS). With memory limitation, we provides course caching algorithm to exchange the course content on the Pocket SCORM.

Augmented video conferencing

Distance learning programs use on-line video records to deliver pre-recorded lectures. And, video communication systems can be used as a discussion tool. In this paper, we start our discussion on a multimedia presentation recording system which we had developed. We then present how the video recording concept can be further extended to realize an augmented video conferencing system, which can be used as a peer-to-peer discussion tool, as well as a lecture broadcasting system. We also point out that an object tracking technology can be further integrated to enhance the tool, to enable a more realistic and useful system for the discussion in distance education.