Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Diplek, a smart agent could be used to customize
the presentation based on rules and conditions set
by the instructor. For maintaining the simplicity
of the platform, another agent will inform and
consult the instructor about which learners need
more attention and propose changes for the current
course and presentation. In order for the agent to
be efficient, data mining techniques (Cobos et
al., 2007) could be used for extracting user's data
from log files.
The use of smart agents (Alonso, Kudenko
& Kazakov, 2003) should not be limited in just
informing the instructor but the learner as well.
The currently available virtual assistant can be
reprogrammed to offer advice to learners about
what courses and presentations they should at-
tend for better understanding of the course. This
advice of course should be based on each user's
profile and personal goals stated by the learner
or the instructor at the beginning of the course.
On the current version of Diplek platform,
the profile management service is based on data
entered by the learner at the beginning of the
course. These data should be updated during the
course when a learner finishes a learning unit,
completes a test or an assignment. That is the basis
for developing a new dynamic profile service.
Instructors can use this service to keep track of
their learner's achievements and progress during
the course. Also feedback can be sent to smart
agents for proposing new units and presentations
to the learner user.
Diplek's GUI is based on a standard theme.
The fact that the platform might be used by people
with disabilities requires that Diplek supports dif-
ferent themes for each type of user. So, a proposed
expansion for the platform would be the support
of custom themes.
Currently, there is an ongoing evaluation of the
Diplek platform in the context of EGIS+ project
which is a pilot program based on the Leonardo
funded program “Transfer of Innovation”. The
objectives of the project are to further develop
results from the previous Leonardo Pilot Project
E-GIS (Sponberg, Ossiannilsson, Johansen &
Pilesjö, 2003). The results of this evaluation will
be available in spring of 2010 when the proj-
ect ends. Diplek is also used in a postgraduate
thesis project involving teaching Geography in
elementary school students with the use of ICT.
The platform is deployed experimentally in an
elementary school and a group of students is using
it, under the supervision of the teacher, to learn
about phenomena like day-night, the 4 seasons,
the tides, etc. The results and feedback of this
evaluation are also expected by spring 2010.
CONCLUSION
Diplek is a service oriented LMS that was de-
signed to help novice instructors to get involved
in e-learning technologies. Using Diplek unties
the hands of instructors seeking new innovative
ways of keeping control of the class and allows
them to manage efficiently the educational process.
Most of Diplek services are focused on learner's
needs and requirements. Diplek user interface is
consistent with common software engineering
and usability rules for developing educational
software.
Nowadays, educators have access to many
modern tools and services that can be used to
enhance teaching and learning experience. Diplek
is one of them, and it can be used along with other
platforms available. The platform was designed to
be used in cases where a simple and cost effective
solution would be desirable and most preferable.
Diplek as mentioned earlier is currently
under evaluation. The expected feedback from
this process will be taken under consideration in
order to release the next version of the platform
with changes and features requested by evalua-
tors and users.
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