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How dotLRN Supports Teaching and Learning at AUBG

How dotLRN Supports Teaching and Learning at AUBG. Volin Karagiozov The Department of Computer Science, AUBG. dotLRN – Yet another Open Source CMS?. How to Choose a Course Management System Solution Course Management Systems – Comparing Products The .LRN Solution Supporting teaching

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How dotLRN Supports Teaching and Learning at AUBG

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  1. How dotLRN Supports Teaching and Learning at AUBG Volin Karagiozov The Department of Computer Science, AUBG

  2. dotLRN – Yet another Open Source CMS? • How to Choose a Course Management System Solution • Course Management Systems – Comparing Products • The .LRN Solution • Supporting teaching • Supporting learning Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  3. How to Choose a CMS Solution?Alternatives and considerations • Buy commercial system, e.g. Blackboard (WebCT) • Expensive • Quick • Locked into developer’s features • Develop in-house system from scratch • Cheaper • Time consuming • Customizable • Use Open Source solution, e.g. .LRN, Sakai, Moodle, ATutor • Free • Quick • Customizable Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  4. Advantages and Disadvantages of an Open Source Solution • There are no license fees associated with using the software Economic benefit and cost savings to institution • Individuals and organizations have freedom to copy, modify, and use the software without restriction Software may be tailored and customized to suit institution • Modifications made by any individual or organization are freely available at no cost. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  5. Course Management Systems - Products Open Source/Free Source: http://www.edutools.info/ Commercial Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  6.                            Comparing Products Source: http://www.edutools.info/  Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  7. http://www.edutools.info/item_list.jsp?pj=4 Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  8. American Society for Training and Development True Cost of E-Learning: Overview, Feasibility Study, and Keys to Cost Control by Eric R. Parkshttp://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/6267344B-F4A0-449E-8B43-6DEECF80C71D/ 3090/ParksCostofELrng.pdf ASTD 2004 International Conference & Exposition, May 23-27, 2004 in Washington, DC, USA • E-learning budget = 1 X hardware 2 X software, and 6 X people and content. The point: The bulk of your costs will be in employees and content development rather than software and hardware. • Plan on updating every year at least 25 percent to 35 percent of your content, and invest in technology that will help reduce those costs. • Invest in great design—not media. A common mistake is to think that great online learning requires streaming media, extensive animation, and special effects. The simple truth is that you can produce exceptional online learning with PowerPoint and a LCMS that supports it.  Interactivity, creative design, and engaging stories do not require rich media! Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  9. Whatever solution we choose,the most important thing is:Faculty commitment and motivation to use the e-learning system in their classes Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  10. .LRN Solution • .LRN is a course management system designed to support e-learning, by enhancing the class as an on-line, web-based community. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  11. .LRN Architecture • .LRN modules are built on top of OpenACS (Open Architecture Community System), a toolkit for building scalable, community-oriented web applications. • OpenACS incorporates modern instructional standards such as - SCORM - technical standards to enable web-based learning systems to find, import, share, reuse, and export learning content; - OKI (Open Knowledge Initiative) - open architecture for university learning management systems; and - IMS (Global Learning Consortium) - best practice specifications in e-learning technology. OpenACS runs on AOLserver and needs either Oracle or PostgreSQL Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  12. History of .LRN • Originated as an MIT Computer Science (MEng) thesis project • .LRN version 2.3.1 – the latest stable version • Used by numerous universities and institutions around the world. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  13. .LRN is a full-featured application for rapidly developing web-based learning communities. Out of the box, .LRN comes with the following applications .LRN Features Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  14. .LRN Features – Supporting Teaching Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  15. .LRN Features – Supporting Learning Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  16. .LRN at AUBG • In production use since spring 2005 • Started with 20-30 classes (sections) • Now ~60%+ of the offered classes (250+ sections each semester) • About 30 communities – students clubs, departmental portals • Over 1100 users (students and faculty) Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  17. .LRN Components mostly used • Communication tools – Forums, News, email/bulk-mail, schedule/calendar • File storage – Lecture Notes, Handouts, Assignments, Exams, • Evaluation – Assignments, Grade Book • On-line submission – papers, take-home tests, Homework drop box • Assessment, surveys Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  18. Examples • Forums: • Discussions – questions/answers • Submitting additional information related to the course • Scheduling class presentations, reserving time slots for projects • News – announcements Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  19. Examples • Surveys: • Pre-course questionnaire • Planning course offering for the next semester • Quick surveys – SG, dotLRN usage and user satisfaction, planning/creating dotLRN courses – faculty preferences • Short quizzes • Student feedback about courses during the semester Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  20. Examples • Surveys: • Pre-course questionnaire • Planning course offering for the next semester • Quick surveys – SG, dotLRN usage and user satisfaction, planning/creating dotLRN courses – faculty preferences • Short quizzes • Student feedback about courses during the semester Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  21. Ideas about using dotLRN • Delivering/Managing the courses • Creating Communities for: • R&D projects • Faculty and student publications • Diploma thesis repository • Faculty Assembly • University committees • University events and Distinguish Lectures • Student Government – meetings, discussions • Surveys and elections • University clubs • Departmental meetings and discussions • etc. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  22. References: • .LRN http://dotlrn.org/ • EduTools http://www.edutools.info/ • Open Source Initiative (OSI) http://www.opensource.org/ • CETIS http://www.cetis.ac.uk/ • IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc.http://www.imsproject.org/ • Advanced Distributed Learning http://www.adlnet.org/ • ARIADNE http://www.ariadne-eu.org/ • American Society for Training and Developmenthttp://www.astd.org/astd • AUBG official .LRN site http://dotlrn.aubg.bg/ Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  23. Useful Readings: • True Cost of E-Learning: Overview, Feasibility Study, and Keys to Cost Control by Eric R. Parkshttp://www.astd.org/NR/rdonlyres/6267344B-F4A0-449E-8B43-6DEECF80C71D/ 3090/ParksCostofELrng.pdf • How Much Does eLearning Cost, by Laurie Bassi http://linezine.com/2.1/features/lbhmec.htm • What executives must know about e-learning, by Saul Carliner http://www.potomactechjournal.com/displayarticledetail.asp?art_id=55560 • Facing resistance to change: the dark side of your e-learning project, by Brooke Broadbent – http://www.e-learninghub.com/articles/dark-side.html Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  24. dotLRN screenshots Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  25. Manage Memberships Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  26. Join a Group or Community Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  27. Each user of .LRN has a personal portal, which shows a summary of all the information in all of the courses currently followed or taught. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  28. Each course has a portal also. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  29. Each faculty member controls the user management (enrollment) for his courses and can customize its layout. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  30. You can customize the layout for your course Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  31. You are ready to upload your teaching materials Upload a Syllabus … You can use virtually any format: Ms Word, PPT, PDF, Graphics formats, sound, Movies, etc. or Lecture Notes, Assignments, Handouts, etc. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  32. News Portlet Displays Group AnnouncementsThe announcements stay active for the period specified by the group announcement administrator and cannot be removed or made invisible by anyone else Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  33. Forum Portlet Supports online discussions Multiple forums per group and per system Posts can be open, moderated or closed Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  34. Forum Portlet • Support online discussions • Multiple forums per group and per system • Posts can be open, moderated or closed • Reply posts can be emailed by user • All group forums can be easily accessed through the personal space • Users can view all posts sorted by user Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  35. Survey Portlet • Used to collect data from users • Survey CVS file that stores collected data can be exported to Microsoft Excel • Can be archived for later use • Flexible ways to collect data Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  36. Calendar Portlet • Instructors can post announcements and events • Interconnected within portals • Easy to add notifications • Repeating notifications • Compatible with Microsoft Outlook, can be synchronized • Attachments to events can include assigned class reading • Subgroups have their own calendars • Personal calendars are used solely by the user Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  37. Home Work Drop Box • Portlet that allows students to upload assignments • Teachers can comment on home works under the homework drop box • Commented home works will be accessible only to the homework owner Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  38. Home Work Drop Box Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  39. Content of the Homework subfolder Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

  40. Curriculum Portlet • The Curriculum provides a course navigation and user tracking service that offers guidance through curriculums created by teachers. The traversal through the online course is manually controlled by the student herself, but she is presented with a suggested study pathand the tracking of visited learning resources is fully automatic. • Your personal learning progresswill be tracked; each link you visit gets checked. When you have visited all learning resources the curriculum itself gets checked; you have completed the course. Fifth AMICAL Conference "Learning from Each Other: Assessment and Collaborative Learning", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria May 25-28, 2008

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