Adaptive QoS for Collaborative Service-Oriented Learning Environments (Presentation)

C Allison, M Bateman, R Nicoll, A Ruddle

Abstract: "A learning environment consists of a dynamic mix of many different types of resources and facilities which should be aware of,and adapt to,the learner in his/her current context.This multiplicity of technologies and situations demands a service-oriented approach,and this in turn leads us to OGSA,which is the major emergent de facto standard for open,service-oriented information and communication technology based learning opportunities.Collaboration and contextualisation are important pedagogical goals,and must therefore be supported through services which can be created and modified dynamically to suit the current needs and situations of learners.Ubiquity and accessibility,sometimes referred to as "anytime,anywhere",are also important goals of technology enhanced learning, so we must be able to create services which can adapt to the capabilities of the infrastructure as it is made manifest for each learner in a collaborative community. In other words,a learning environment must be quality of service (QoS)aware,and, ideally,be able to adapt to that aspect of the context (the infrastructure)for each participant.This paper focuses on providing adaptive QoS for synchronous,real time conferencing for dynamically constituted,learning groups.Firstly, pedagogical goals are reviewed,secondly,an example existing collaborative learning environment is described,with some discussion as to how it can be re- engineered to be OGSA compliant.We then describe work carried out to support adaptive QoS for synchronous conferencing and finally report on initial experiences.This paper contributes towards understanding how to support adaptive QoS for service-oriented learning environments,with a particular view to the emerging likelihood that such systems will be Grid-based."

GRIDCOLE: A Grid Collaborative Learning Environment (Presentation)

ML Bote-Lorenzo, LM Vaquero-Gonzalez, G Vega-Gorgojo, JI Asensio-Perez, E Gomez-Sanchez, YA Dimitriadis

Abstract: "Research in the Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) field is currently tackling three important problems which are closely related: difficult integration of CSCL tools, scarce software reuse and technification. This paper presents a Grid Collaborative Learning Environment (GRIDCOLE) that combines IMS Learning Design (IMS-LD) and Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) technologies in order to address these issues. More specifically, GRIDCOLE allows users with no technical skills easy integration and use of applications that effectively support collaborative learning processes. IMS-LD is employed to formally describe the design of these collaborative learning processes while applications are built using tools provided by third-party suppliers as OGSA-compliant grid services. With this aim, GRIDCOLE architecture and its main functionalities are introduced. A simple prototype is also presented in order to show the feasibility of the most important concepts introduced in this paper. Furthermore, a real collaborative learning scenario in which we plan to validate GRIDCOLE is introduced. "

On Distributed Systems and CSCL (Presentation)

L Navarro, JM Marques, F Freitag

Abstract:"The design of distributed systems for collaborative work or learning requires that both humans and machines be organized such that the potential and limitations of the human-machine interdependence is optimized. Current distributed architectures like Peer-to-Peer and Grids have not yet been optimized to support the needs of collaborative applications. In this paper, we investigate the requirements of collaborative applications for groups and discuss current Grid and P2P architectures with regards to this need. We suggest possible extensions described in a "function dispersion architecture". Finally, we present as case study our recent work on the design of a middleware to provide services for distributed collaborative applications that has been validated by simulation and prototyping. "

ULabGrid Framework for Computationally Intensive Remote and Collaborative Learning Laboratories (Presentation)

O Ardaiz, L Diaz de Cerio, A Gallardo, R Messeguer, K Sanjeevan

Abstract:"Collaborative tools based on the web/internet infrastructure such as e-mail, discussion groups, video/audio conferencing and virtual campuses have been proposed and implemented in many distance learning scenarios. Grids as Internet-wide resource infrastructures that enable access to large resource pools should permit new applications and learning activities. We propose ULabGrid as a new architecture that enables educators to design collaborative, distant laboratories for undergraduate students using the Grid infrastructure. We describe here the prototype that is being developed and present the results of our efforts to date. "

Towards a Generic Platform for Developing CSCL Applications Using Grid Infrastructure (Presentation)

S Caballe, F Xhafa, T Daradoumis, JM Marques

Abstract:"The goal of this paper is to explore the possibility of using CSCL component-based software under a Grid infrastructure. The merge of these technologies represents an attractive, but probably quite laborious enterprise if we consider not only the benefits but also the barriers that we have to overcome. This work presents an attempt toward this direction by developing a generic platform of CSCL components and discussing the advantages that we could obtain if we adapted it to the Grid. We then propose a means that could make this adjustment possible due to the high degree of genericity that our library components is endowed by being based on the Generic Programming paradigm. Finally, an application of our library is proposed both for validating the adequacy of the platform which it is based on and for indicating the possibilities gained by using it under the Grid. "

A Workflow-Based Architecture for e-Learning in the Grid (Presentation)

LAM Pereira, RN Melo, FAM Porto, B Schulze

Abstract: "Effective e-learning distributed environments should promote high cooperation. Workflow techniques can certainly contribute to such effectiveness as the creation and delivery of learning contents are typically accomplished by groups of individuals executing specific and predefined sequences of activities. Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs or LOs) also play an important role in this context as learning content is broken into smaller parts to facilitate deployment and execution assignment. Additionally, some LOs may require high levels of computation as in the case of simulations in Hemodynamics in a Fluid Mechanics course. In order to cope with such an application, we envisioned a workflow-based Learning Management System (LMS) using web services as the communication infrastructure allied to the computational power of the Grid. "

Agent Mediated Grid Services in eLearning (Presentation)

 Z Shen, C Miao, A Goh, R Gay