1. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the Java ECR is to recreate a total distance learning
environment, as closely related as possible to its face-to-face
school-bound, counterpart.
Three years ago, we attempted to use the Internet with its popular
HTML language to create such a learning environment on a Unix platform.
Today, we are making a new attempt using the Java technology.
Our concept of distance learning is to provide education anywhere,
anytime using the right mix of planned lectures, near real-time
and real-time meetings in a totally integrated environment.
Distance learning can only be successful if the teacher can use his
time as efficiently as in a face-to-face environment, and if the
students can get answers in a timely fashion.
Following these principles, we have created what we call a managed
learning environment which, if the teacher arrives well prepared
for teaching his class, will perform at great efficiency.
One of the key aspects of the system is to optimize the interaction
between the trainer and the learners, since it is this interaction
which is the essence of the learning process.
2. THE JAVA TECHNOLOGY
The system we are describing here owes its essence to the Java
technology. What used to take years of development effort has
become for us, thanks to Java, a simple exercise. In fact,
the Java libraries (the Java API) is constantly updated to
bring to the end user functionalities which used to be reserved
to expert programmers. Building a client server system, where
the server acts as a reflector to broadcast to each client
the information it receives used to be a major development effort.
Not anymore, thanks to Java!
The system we will describe includes a sophisticated graphic
interface, so that each player can update information interactively,
take advantage of the information accessible on the Internet,
join conferences scheduled by the professor - both real time and
non real-time. The professor can prepare his lecture as Web documents,
access them during the class and each student will be able to
view these documents concurrently with the professor. If the professor
clicks on a link, the students will be able to follow the same path.
While the professor discusses a student project, he will be able to
bring up the chart of assignments, click on the assignment under
discussion, and everyone in the conference will be able to view
the project.
3. THE SCENARIO
Here is the scenario.
As part of the managed learning environment, The Trainer will create
a series of tasks or assignments (task1,.. task10) for his course.
What is important is to give a theme to each task. The entire course
may last 1 week, 3 weeks or 3 months, but the important factor is
to structure it with checkpoints where the trainer can check the
progress of the learners. These checkpoints are materialized by the
completion of tasks, and we will use 10 tasks as an example.
The main screen has been organized to provide a simple interface
between each category of user and the system.
We will now describe each segment of the system, presented on the
following main menu.
4. THE MAIN MENU
5. THE ADMINISTRATOR MAIN FUNCTION: REGISTER TRAINERS
As you can see on the next screen, the administrator can access the
entire database of trainers, courses, learners, tasks and projects,
but the main function of the Administrator is, after logging into the
system, to register the trainers:
6. THE TRAINER MAIN FUNCTION: UPDATE COURSE AND TASKS
As you can see on the next screen, the trainer can access the database section
corresponding to his courses, and for each course enter the list of
learners, tasks and assignments:
7. THE LEARNER MAIN FUNCTION: POST PROJECTS
As you can see on the next screen, the learner can access the database section
corresponding to his activities, and for each assignment, post his project:
8. ADMINISTRATOR FUNCTION: EDIT TRAINERS
Although there are some advantages to enter data using a data entry
interface, it is much faster to use an editor. Therefore, we have added
the possibility to let the administrator edit the Trainer file:
9. TRAINER FUNCTION: EDIT COURSE AND TASKS
Although there are some advantages to enter data using a data entry
interface, it is much faster to use an editor. Therefore, we have added
the possibility to let the trainer edit the the course and task files:
10. ACCESSING PROJECTS & DISCUSSIONS
You have the choice between accessing the student projects or opening
a discussion with them, in a non-real time format.
11. THE PROJECT TABLE
If you selected Projects, then you will access them, organized in a
chart format. Each cell represents an assignment or project prepared
by a student. By clicking on the button cell, a new window will open
showing the assignment:
12. THE DISCUSSION TABLE
If you selected Discussion, then you will access a table of discussion
cells. This time, by clicking on the button cell, a discussion window
will open to allow you to post a message or feedback:
13. THE TRAINER SIDE: REAL-TIME CONFERENCE
The central feature of the system is the Real-Time Conference system,
described below:
The Trainer manages the conference through a set of eight buttons organizes
in the first row. Then his text is displayed in the second row, while
the learner in control sees his text displayed in the third row. The text
is entered in the fourth row, and the class list in the fifth row:
