Conceptual isation of an extra m u ral e-learn i ng system
4.4 Integrated network user interlace
The lea rn i ng computer provides a l l the functions and features the extramural student n eeds for learning, through a s ingle i nteg rated interface. This means transparently i ntegrating study materials sourced from a variety of locations, and in different media formats and learning styles. lt includes communicating with other cou rse participants a nd updating the computer when new or revised cou rse materials become ava ilable . The learn i ng computer is therefore more than an interface to learn i ng materials stored on the student's machine. lt is also an i nterface to a network of co mputers.
Course materials are accessible and usable whether or not the distance student's computer is cu rrently connected to the u n iversity . Provision is made to incorporate learning material del ivered by a lternative means, e . g . the post (COs) or satell ite 1V
(video). Therefore , the learn ing computer provides a richer a nd more specialised user interface than that provided by a sta ndard web browser, incl uding the ability to display and execute software that ru ns in non-web-browser environments.
At the network level, these characte ristics are made possible th rough the network acting as a delivery system for documents, prog rams and correspondence, rather than as an interactive learni ng med i u m. The interactivity resides on the student machine.
In this way, reliance upon the n etwork to support learn ing functions is greatly reduced, as the entire weight of the system i s sh ifted away from the ed ucation provider a nd to the individual learner. Most fu nctiona l ity now resides on the student machine (Figure
4.2). 1t a lso means that learning materials delivered by alternative means - such as
portable storage media through the post, or satell ite broadcast - can be sea m lessly
integrated into the learning env i ron ment.
Furthermore , the localised functional ity of the learning computer fits well with the move among ed ucationists away from top-down styles of teach ing to more exploratory a nd collabo rative forms of learning at the tertiary leve l . lt is a vehicle through which the student ca n more easily explore their subject, including throughout the available network.
Chapter 4: Conceptual isation 78
Learner Provider Learner Provider
F unctionality
Courseware Learning Computer
Figure 4.2 : Learning computer shifts weight of system to learner.
4.4.1 Network c h a racteristics
The learning computer takes advantage of the commun ication and co-operative work potential of computers linked into networks (and internetworks) . But th is potential is realised in forms that work over slow a nd unreliable network con nections, while s u pporting the specia l requ i re ments and prefere nces for an extramural learn ing environ ment. Using the time-space matrix for computer supported co-operative work in S h neiderman (1 998, p . 481 , based on Ellis et a l . , 1 991 ) the system is both a synch ronous and d istributed:
• Asynchronous. The network supports anytime, anywhere study, including in
d ifferent time zones a nd with d ifferent media and levels of sophistication in telecommun ications. Key functionality cannot req u i re synchronous between any components of the network, or assume h igh speed network connections, a nd makes provision for an unreliable network. This requires an a synch ronous communication model as with email.
• Distributed. Most system functional ity resides on the student machine.
Extram u ral study is largely self-paced with min imal requirements for centra lised monitoring of students' activities. The network supports the frequent exchange
Chapter 4: Conceptualisation 79
of short messages and periodic larger updates of the student's course materials from a centra l repository.
At the same time, to support co-operative work - i.e. for students (and tutors) to
collaborate and communicate with each other over the network - the data held by each participa nt is period ically synchronised and updated th rough a central distribution point.
Cou rse Communicati External Internal authoring
ons learning learning & manager resources resources managem
ent 1- - - - -
---
-, I I I I I I I I-
Work group I I I Student Student I user user I I I .!S£Y. Student user... Transfer of learning resou rces
- Communications
Figure : 4.3: Networked extramural e-lea rning - conceptual view.
4.4.2 A netwo rked extra m u ral e-learn ing system
The conceptua l view of the overall network req uired to support the learn i ng computer is depicted in Figure 4 . 3. The high-level requirements each for the network components are summarised i n Table 4.2.
The system supports two-way com munications among all users, incl uding the excha nge of documents withi n workgrou ps, a nd the one-way down loading of learn ing resources from the university to individual students. lt provides an internal repository for storing cou rse resources and commun ications, as well as access to externa l repositories through which the student can access additiona l learn ing resources.
There is a com mun ications manager which controls users' access to internal course resou rces (repository), including workg roup files and messages, and two distinct user components - the learning co mputer for the student and the cou rse authoring and manag ement system for the tutor.
Chapter 4: Conceptualisation 80
Component Rig hts Responsibilities
Student View own course Logon onto system
View own grades Make notes
Receive messages Send messages
View g roup discussion Add to discussion
View assignments Submit assignm ents
View g roup biographies View supporting material
Access Extram ural Support Ask questions to system
Receive course updates
Course Author View course Log onto system
Edit/Update course material View own messages Send messages
View all assignments Add to discussion
View all grades G rade assignments
View all students Update grades View su pporti ng material Locate/update l inks
View Extram ural Support Update, respond to queries
View student records Add/delete students
Com m unications & Access all internal resources Control network access Repository Manager
Manage messaging system Provide updated resou rces to users I nternal Resources None Store all course learning materials -
docum ents, videos, tutorials; work group files, messages
External Resources None Provide supplementary materials -
library, www
Table 4.2: Req uirements for network components.
Provision is made for students to be organised into workg roups, which are monitored by the tutor. A l l monitoring of ind ividual student performance beyond course delivera bles and workgroup participation is private to the student component a nd used o n ly to support a n i nd ividualised help syste m .
4. 5
Conclusion
In this chapter, a h i g h level conceptual view of an extramural e-learning system has been p resente d , built a round three design strategies -- specialisation , custom isation and decentralisatio n . At its heart is the concept of a learning computer provid ing the extra m u ral student with a simplified , easy to use, networked learning enviro n ment. To
Chapter 4: Conceptualisation 8 1
su pport this environ ment a range of network services and support i s req uired . In Chapter 5, the tech nolog ical platform for this overall extramural e-learning system is specified .
Chapter 5 : Towards a specification