Resources And Infrastructure In Higher Education Institutions

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

E-learning is evolving as one of the most effective methods for imparting education at higher education institutes. This paper demonstrates how commonly available IT resources and infrastructures in higher education institutes can be integrated successfully with freely available open source tools to enhance the teaching learning experience and make it cost effective. To achieve this goal the authors have identified the needs of learners, explored the available resources, infrastructures and open sources tools to exploit the advantages of learning technologies. This paper explains the use of integrated format of learning technologies like Learning Management System, Lecture Capture, QR codes, Audio Response System, Blogs, Wikis, Web-Conferencing, Messaging, e-portfolios etc. with the help of open source tools and available resources. For an example integration of popular open source tool Moodle with other learning technologies has been presented to illustrate the implication of this concept. In brief this paper examines the e-learning strategies that can be adopted in institutes of higher education, from the perspective of three common objectives: widening access to educational opportunity; enhancing the quality of learning; and reducing the cost of higher education.

Keywords: e-learning, LMS, Smartclass, Open Source Tools

Introduction

This paper aims to highlight the issues related to the importance of e-learning in higher education institutions (HEI) in India and the course of action needed for transition from the traditional way of learning to virtual learning. Further, it also indicates that the shift towards e-learning in academic practice in India is not only a positive development, but a necessary one in order to catch up with the global trend, already in full swing. In this digital age more flexible methods of teaching and learning need to be adopted. After being successfully applied and used in developed countries, e-learning is evolving as one of the most effective methods for imparting education especially in countries like India1. It can be very instrumental in providing solutions to many of the problems faced by HEI. To achieve this goal an interactive learning environment can be set up in HEI that are equipped with IT resources, infrastructures and open source tools. This paper focuses on how the use of this integrated technology can unfold the potential of expansion of higher education. This can change the role of the learner from the one of a passive receiver of content to the one of an active participant, and learning in general will shift from a teacher-centered process to a learner-centered one.

Exploring Existing IT Resources and Infrastructure in Higher Education Institutions

With the introduction of ICT, almost all institutions of higher education in India have basic IT resources available at their disposal2. These resources can be utilised to create an e-learning based classroom environment and interactive teaching module. IT resources and infrastructure available at HEI which may be used to setup an e-learning environment are:

Computing devices (Desktop PC, Laptop, i-Pad, SmartPhone etc.)

Window/Linux operating system

Internet access with high connecting speed

Power Point, Video players (Real/Flash/Windows Media/Shockwave/

Quick Time, VLC etc.)

Projector, Smart Whiteboard

DVD, Wireless Presenter/Mouse, USB

Audio-Video System, Speakers, MIC

Web-Cams

Scope, Integration and Implementation of Learning Technologies with Open Source Tools

Although the above mentioned available IT resources are adequate to transform conventional classrooms to e-learning based classrooms but to make them ‘Smart Classrooms’, as the term is used for classrooms with complete e-learning environment, there is a need of some specialized learning technologies and tools to enhance their efficiency. There are many open source tools, applications and software’s available for free, which can be used to develop an interactive learning environment through integration with available IT resources 3.

The learning technologies like LMS, QR Codes, Audio Response System, Lecture Capturing, e-portfolios and shared workspaces can be implemented with the help of relevant open source tools. These help in opening up new opportunities to create better integrated virtual learning spaces.

The proposed e-learning environment consists of:

Identification of learning technologies, which will enhance the learning process as per the needs of higher education

Exploring open source tools to meet the requirements of learning technologies and

Using available resources and infrastructure to support the tools

To show how the proposed environment would work in this paper, a technology has been selected, its features are described, open source tools, apt for this technology, are suggested and available resources and infrastructures are recommended.

Learning Management System (LMS)

The entire mechanism of teaching-learning of an institute of higher education revolves around communication, research, learning, assessment, course works, study material etc. Projects and feedback for students are also a part and parcel of HEI environment. To meet the above requirements a web based interface called Learning Management System (LMS) may be used. The LMS is an online environment which enhances the teaching-learning process, with the help of simple interactive tools4. These tools are useful for all subjects and facilitate the said indicators by using the existing resources of the HEI. LMS offers features similar to a classroom, but offers the additional advantage of allowing us to participate from any computer, anywhere and at any time. LMS may be hosted on a server located somewhere in the internet cloud. All students’ may connect to the server as client after proper authentication.

Tools: Moodle, Claroline, ATutor, eFront, Sakai, OLAT, OpenLMS, etc.

Resources: High Capacity Computer (Server), Operating System, Web-Server, Web-Browser, Programming language and Database. One of the popular open source LMS "Moodle" can be implemented on open source LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) environment.

Lecture Capture

Lecture Capturing is a wide domain encompassing a vast area of technology that record audio-video contents including class lectures and make the same available to the students in digital form. A student has the option to record lectures, store them and play them back whenever they need5. It is an effective medium and is very successful amongst those students who can’t afford regular classes either due to time constraint or economic burden. Further it provides opportunity for content reviewing and development. Learners can review the lessons when difficult topics are discussed. The video contents enable the students to observe the demonstrated procedures minutely.

Tools: Opencast Matterhorn, Coursecast etc.

Resources: Microphone, Camera, Web-Browser, Video players are used to capture the lecturer's voice as well as video of the lecturer.

QR (Quick Response) Codes

QR Codes help in inquiry and learning by using the existing resources of the HEI. Integrating QR codes with learning environment in HEI helps to ensure a consistent message delivery mechanism. It allows the users to develop URL, E-Mail, SMS, and text message. The code is used for recording and monitoring of assignments, providing RSS feed address with efficiency and accuracy, helps in printing the learning material or workbooks, assessing lecture information etc. through RSS feeds, long URL can be coded to a suitable one so that the users can decode the same without any difficulty. QR Codes is free from any licensing. NeoReader, QR Pal, ScanLife, Barcode are some of the free QR Code readers available.

Tools: Kaywa, GoQR.me, QRMobilize, Google URL Shortner (goo.gl), PHP QR Code, etc.

Resources: QR code reader, Camera Mobile, Web Browser etc.

Audience Response System (ARS)

Audience Response System is a mechanism that facilitates immediate feedbacks to students and helps in effective learning. This is an interactive environment between the teacher and the students. It enables instructors to raise questions, receive answers from students and reviews queries from students instantaneously. Audience Response System uses wireless, presentation software, television and internet as per the proximity of the audience. In HEI, ARS is also known as student response system. In this a presenter with the help of computer and video projector, shows multiple answers whereby the audience selects the correct answer with their wireless keypad or mobile devices that is ultimately received by the base station or presenter’s computer6. The presenter can show the collected data graphically.

Tools: MOARS (Mobile Audience Response System), VotApedia, Survnvote

Resources: Mobile Devices (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Android phones etc.), Web-browser, Mobile Browser etc.

Content Sharing and Collaboration

In HEI, there is a need of single window technological environment where everyone can create, share, discuss and discover documents, ideas, diagrams and projects to facilitate a smooth teaching-learning process. Documentation, technical documentation, document library and knowledge management are important aspects of HEI academia. In the age of globalisation, there is a need of global collaboration on content and projects. Open source Wikis help to chat, establishing a collaborative environment and enable the contents and documents searchable.

Tools: TWiki, xWiki, MediaWiki, MindTouch Core, FosWiki etc.

Resources: Server, Web-Server, Web Browser and Programming Language

File Repository

To widen the scope of knowledge and information of HEI, there is a necessity of enriched central on-line catalogue and repository facilities where research papers, journals, articles, thesis, dissertations, etc. can be stored and used by student and teaching community and the same can be kept for future generation. File Repository is one of the important online tools that increase the value of file repositories with the help of open source tools using minimum infrastructure present in the HEI. The demand of these file repository for learning and teaching are increasing day by day for HEI strategy management.

Tools: SpiderOak, Googledocs, DropBox, SugarSync, DSpace etc.

Resources: High speed internet connection to store and retrieve learning materials

Blogs/CMS

There are numerous activities which go on continuously in HEI including class lectures and conferences. Students get involved in different assignments and projects. To show all these learning and research activities, Blog is one of the best online tools, where students can put the content developed by them, show their creativity and get valuable feedback from various sections of the society. Blog is becoming popular among learners due to ease of use and maintenance. It is the easiest and quickest way of micro-publishing, news dissemination and is a well established web based communications tool. Since, it uses RSS feeds, users can get information without any hassle.

Tools: Wordpress, Blogger, Drupal, Joomla, Tumblr

Resources: Web-Server, web browser, database

Instant Messaging

Beyond the classroom, there are numerous activities that can help students in their studies and in creating a learning environment. Communication, prompt feedback, small scale conferences, text or audio conversation, video contacts are of the aspects that enhance the knowledge of students. All these features can be implemented using messaging tools. These tools support students’ interaction between virtual or face-to-face sessions from any location. It enhances the opportunities of building a collaborative environment for students.

Tools: Kannel that commands trillions of short messages, Pidgin, Miranda IM, SparkIM, IntraMessenger, etc.

Resources: Central "Server" that manages messages and "client" to connect the central server and access the tools needed to send and receive messages.

Audio Editors

HEI conducts seminars, conferences, workshops and exhibitions where audio-recording of lectures and speeches is one of the important elements. Frequently, the quality of audio and video is not up to the mark as desired. So, Open Source Audio Editor can play a vital role in editing, filtering, frequencies, modulation and giving quality output to the record versions. It has the capability to apply simple to advance effects, playback sound and convert different

audio files.

Tools: Audacity, Power Sound Editor, Mp3DirectCut, Music Editor Free, Wavosaur, Linux Multimedia Studio (LMS), Ardour, Sweep, Jokosher, MusE etc.

Resources: Operating System, FFmpeg library, Multimedia PC

Web-Conferencing

Web-conferencing is the demand of the time. It is not possible for HEI to invite experts of different fields all the time. In the age of modernisation, it has become essential to integrate colleges and universities for better facilitation of communication and knowledge. It can help in inviting experts of repute to your institution. It is good for those students who are off the campus. It can be used by HEI for greater flexibility of knowledge dispersion

Tools: Openmeeting, Bigbluebutton, Yugma etc.

Resources: Operating System, Web-Server, Database, Computer, Headset/ Microphone, Webcam etc.

E-Portfolios

E-portfolios are a learning and assessment tool. It is used to record personal profiles and achievements digitally. It is an effective platform both for the students and teachers to review group projects. It has the potential to enhance teaching, learning and assessment practices. In the context of HEI, it can be categorised as student, teacher and institution e-portfolios.

Tools: Mahara, Elgg, MyStuff etc.

Resources: HTML editor, Web-Server

Authoring

E-Learning authoring tools are helpful to design online courses and support the authors to develop an enriched e-content for different courses. These tools are useful in making of images, flash animations etc. In terms of features, these tools vary from each other. The most commonly used e-learning authoring tools are Microsoft PowerPoint and LAMS.

Tools: LAMS, CAMSTUDIO, Xerte, eXe, Xical etc.

Resources: Multimedia PC, Web-Cam, MIC, Speakers etc.

Integration of Learning Management System (LMS) with other Open Source Tools

LMS provides an online platform where students and teachers can come together to teach and learn. Depending upon the exact requirement of the institution, it may build its own LMS or customize any open source LMS. LMS can be seamlessly linked to other learning technologies to create a learner centric dynamic environment. The way these tools are combined and used differs from LMS to LMS, but all features are fundamental to basic VLE software.

To illustrate the concept of LMS integration with other Open source tools, an example of one of the most popular open source LMS ‘Moodle’ is presented. Moodle can be integrated with other applications and programs to meet the needs of higher learning institutions. Integration involved bringing together of Moodle and other learning technology so that they can function together as a system. The modular and open source that builds on Moodle opens up all possibilities of integration.

Integration of various learning technologies with Moodle is already available in the form of different Moodle Modules, Plugins - API etc. Examples of such integration of Moodle with other learning technologies and popular open source tools have been explained in the subsequent section.

4.1 Moodle Integration

The integration between Moodle and Mahara e-portfolios has been named "Mahoodle"7. It allows true single-signon between both systems.

Moodle can be integrated with Openmeeting web-conferencing with the help of Moodle Plugin for OpenMeetings8. This will integrate Moodle for Single Sign-on, recording, moderator settings etc.

Lecture Capturing using Opencast Matterhorn tool can be integrated with Moodle using Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) tools, Native Moodle Widgets etc.

File repositories like Google Docs, DropBox, Alfresco etc. can be integrated into Moodle by Moodle Repository Plugins.

LAMS, the Learning Activity Management System, is an open source e-learning authoring tool9. It is a standard module and also a course format in Moodle. Other tools like eXe, Xerte can be integrated with Moodle through saving SCROMS files.

Joomdle10 is available as an extension for Joomla that provides integration between Moodle and Joomla. It is free General Public License extension for Joomla. Moodle can be integrated with Drupal using Moodle Block for Drupal 6.x.

QR codes may be appended to Moodle courses. The QR code contains the URL of the page on that particular Moodle course. Kaywa QR code generator may be use for this purpose.

MOARS is a free, open-source Mobile Audience Response System for students to use with iPod Touch, iPhones, and other mobile devices. MOARS can run over LAMP environment and it can be easily integrate with Moodle.

Chat activity modules, Moodle Skype module, MSG Instant Messenger Block are used for messaging purpose.

Fig 1: Integration of Moodle with other Open Source Tools

5. Conclusion

In India, the demand and supply scenario of education is unfavourable considering the huge population base of the country. To fulfil this gap, e-learning based classroom environment can be used in Universities, Colleges and leading institutions. More or less all the universities have some sort of resources that can facilitate e-learning environment with the help of open source tools like LMS, Virtual Learning Environments, QR Codes, Audio Response System, Lecture Capturing Software’s, e-portfolios and shared workspaces. ‘E-learning’ being a ‘teacher-less’ delivery mode, may be a judicious alternative option for higher education because of its cost effectiveness, geography independent and learner centric. It garners qualitative education atmosphere both for teachers and students. The teacher enjoys giving lecture both domestically and internationally at the same time with advanced technological equipments. It gives satisfaction to the teacher and on the other hand, due to larger reach, many students get benefited through qualitative resource material through renowned professors and lectures.