e-Learning

e-Learning, or sometimes "electronic Learning" is a way of distance learning where no face to face communication is present, no restrictions on the location and on time.  Today in this busy, modern, technology based world, people want to continue their work and studies at different places and do many other things parallely, one among them is learning. People are interested in persuing courses in e-learning mode where is one can complete the course, acquire knowledge, interact with peers etc remotely. Thus, e-Learning is a way of taking course from anywhere at anytime.  To solve all these purposes many e-learning tools or LMS (Learning Management System) were introduced and will be introduced competing one another.

The e-Learning tools have different features like, collaborative learning, communication tools like :chat , whiteboard, blogs, forums etc, good assessment feature, SCORM complaint course material and here again comes many versions of SCORM standards for course materials.

In a way there are lots of things moving in the e-Learning world. C-DAC Hyderabad  does lot of reaserch work and is still doing in e-Learning.

As part of this research, a framework has evolved to measure the quality of the e-Learning Tools, known as Quality Assurance Framework (WAF). The following are the details of the QAF.

Development of a Quality Assurance Framework, Quality metrics, prototype tool for evaluation and comparison of e-Learning applications

Objective of the project is to develop quality metrics that can be used for quantifying the various quality parameters of an e-learning tool and the content and develop a prototype tool that can be used by end users for deriving the quality metrics so that the effectiveness of a tool can be measured and also different tools can be compared.

Architecture for QA evaluation:

The quality assurance framework project adopted web service architecture to facilitate deployment of quality parameter evaluation modules on various modules to circumvent inherent limitations while evaluating the parameters. The architecture which depicts the process flow & the modules developed for evaluating the quality indicators is given below:

Fig.1 QA Evaluation Architecture

Reports

The prototype tool upon evaluation of intended quality parameters viz., Scalability, Security, Content Reusability & Portability, Usability and Accessibility will generate quality parameter wise analytical report along with executive summary report comprising quality index value.

E-Learning Training Program for Teachers

Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Hyderabad with the support of Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, organize a five day training program for academia & industry on e-Learning tools & practices, content development & standards and course management with hands on sessions. C-DAC trained 450 faculty members across country so far on E-Learning Technologies.