Sila Chunwijitra

Shared virtual presentation board for e-Meeting in higher education on the WebELS platform

In this paper, the development of a shared virtual presentation board (VPB) for real-time e-Meeting on the Web-based e-Learning System (WebELS) platform is introduced. WebELS is a general-purpose e-Learning system to support flexibility and globalization of higher education in science and technology. In WebELS, the Meeting module consists of online presentation and video conference system, and the combination of both allows the creation of a so-called virtual room for e-Meeting applications where participants convene via the Internet. Online presentation features synchronized slide control between the presenter and the listeners for slide changing, scrolling, zooming, cursor positioning, and playback control for video embedded on the slide. It also features online annotation that allows the presenter to write using a pen function on the slide display panel. The system has video conferencing function that provides an audio-video communication among the meeting participants. This paper discusses briefly the video conference system, and focuses on online presentation based on slide-based synchronization and the development of VPB. VPB is a shared object that resides on the server that is updated every time the presenter client makes mouse events and is periodically accessed by client system in order that listener’s presentation viewer synchronized with that of the presenter.

A Cloud-Based Multi-functional e-Meeting System by Flash-Based Multimedia Technology for Higher Education on the WebELS System

With the recent advances of ICT technologies, teaching methodologies in higher education are changing from the traditional classroom-based methodology to the so-called Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Implementing an effective virtual classroom system, requires understanding the characteristics and the activities in higher education, in terms of characterized self-learning, group meetings and discussion. A cloud-based multi-functional e-Meeting system is an essential feature to fulfil the former demands, hence allowing effective academic activities. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of a multi-functional e-Meeting system that based on cloud-computing built on the Web-based e-Learning System (WebELS) platform. Using Flash-based multimedia technology, it is possible to conduct on-line meetings and lectures through the Internet. Specifically, the proposed system offers important features, such as on-line presentations, on-line annotations, video conferencing, and chat massaging systems, which are the basic components for an effective virtual classroom methodology in higher education. Uploading various documents was presented for enabling a rich multimedia content. The design concerns non-IT users, and low bandwidth Internet users, such as in the developing countries.

Authoring tool for video-based content on WebELS learning system to support higher education

This paper presents an authoring tool for video-based learning content in the WebELS system to support higher education. The primary function of the authoring tool is to synchronize a video stream with the presentation slide by means of video clip timing. Video and presentation files are needed to be uploaded, and subsequently converted at the server. The system utilizes the video timing position to control slide changing. In each slide, cursor recording function is integrated. This function combines video clip stream with mouse cursor actions. This system is divided into two modes: (1) editor mode is designed for instructors to manage the learning content e.g., video synchronization, cursor synchronization and slide information, and (2) learner mode is used to display learning content. Several useful functions are implemented, e.g., video and slide view toggle, zoom, etc. The system can help instructors create an attractive content for e-Learning system. The design also includes an easy-to-use user interface for non-IT or novice users.