darko grabar accessible e-learning in the cloud

Accessible e-learning in the Cloud

The Spatial Extent of Knowledge – World-Wide-Learning

Darko Grabar, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics Technucation – ICT in Science in Society Activities, Porto, 2012

Outline

• Background info

About me

Why this topic

• e-Learning today

• What is “The Cloud?”

• E-learning and the cloud

Case study

Advantages of the “e-Learning Cloud”

Problems

• Practical examples

Background info: About me

• Darko Grabar Working at University of Zagreb, Faculty of

Organization and Informatics

Head of Software Development Center and E-learning Support Center

Softer developer with strong relation to Open source and e-learning

Involved in e-learning projects since 2005

Participated in development of several e-learning strategies at institutional and country wide level

Part of several Croatian working bodies that deals with Open Source / Open Access and e-learning

Background info: Why this topic

• This is what I do Trying to be one step ahead of teachers by predicting

future usage of ICT in learning

• E-learning is at its turn point New Web 2.0 technologies LMS crisis Bigger gap between rich and poor

• Cloud technologies are ready To be used by masses To provide cheep, reliable and powerful services

E-learning today

E-learning is a process of education (learning and teaching process)

conducted using the Information and Communication Technology which

improves the quality of the process itself and the quality of its result

E-learning today

Web today

E-learning today

E-learning today

External toolsand Apps

External content

ePortfolios

E-learning today

LMS

Future of e-learning

E-learning today

Why the future is not here?

What are the problems?

Software is available

Hardware can support it

Network is ready

There are people that know how to use new technologies

Students/children are demanding it

E-learning today

Resources!

If there would be enough resources:• Schools would hire more teachers• They would have experts in ICT and e-learning• They would have appropriate ICT equipment• Teachers would have time to produce

quality e-learning materials• ICT staff would have time to provide top-of

the line environment for e-learning• Students/pupils would be able to use it • And the list goes on…

E-learning today

E-learning today

• So what’s wrong with e-learning today?

Outdated technology Closed systems Slow innovation Lack of resources

Money ICT resources People

Available only to “privileged”

What is “The Cloud?”

What is “The Cloud?”

End user

E-learning professional

ICT support

What is “The Cloud?”

Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that

are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet)

Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software

and computation

Wikipedia

What is “The Cloud?”

It is “a mechanism for delivering scalable business services that

execute on a decentralized computing fabric composed of

commodity software and hardware”

What is “The Cloud?”

It is a “pay-per-use model for enabling available, convenient, on-demand

network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources”

What is “The Cloud?”

Not a new idea

What is “The Cloud?”

Relies on Virtualization

What is “The Cloud?”

What is “The Cloud?”

• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)• Software as a service (SaaS)• Platform as a service (PaaS)• Storage as a service (STaaS)• Desktop virtualization• Data as a service (DaaS)• Database as a service (DBaaS)• Test environment as a service (TEaaS)• API as a service (APIaaS)• Security as a service (SECaaS)• Backend as a service (BaaS)

What is “The Cloud?”

Analogy

How many of you build your house?

What is “The Cloud?”

Analogy

Are you renting/owning apartment?

What is “The Cloud?”

Advantages

Cost Effective

Unlimited resources

Speed & Scales

Fast innovation

Backup and Recovery

Automatic software integration

Easy Access

What is “The Cloud?”

Disadvantages

Change in thinking

Security in the Cloud

Technical Issues

Inflexibility

Cost

What is “The Cloud?”

Is it only for large Corporations?

E-learning and the cloud

How to make e-learning accessible and affordable

E-learning and the cloud

Case: teaching ICTGoal:

To provide advanced education in the field of ICT (programming and multimedia) to students in schools in the form of blended e-learning course.

We want to teach two courses Big Data Processing 3D Modeling

Requirements:• Learning Management System for delivering courses• E-Portofilo system for student collaboration • High computing power needed for large files

manipulation and 3D modeling• Large data storage• High speed network

E-learning and the cloud

Case: teaching ICT

Let’s do it “traditional way”

We will need:• Server• Install LMS, e-portfolio, databases, ...• High speed network connection• Computer classroom

Screen projector 20 computers (workstation class): fast processor, 8GB of RAM (min),

500GB disk, fast graphic card Windows and Linux OS Install all required software on each computer Fast local LAN connected to high speed broadband connection

• What about when working from home?

E-learning and the cloud

Case: teaching ICT

Let’s do it “traditional way”

We will need:• Server• Install LMS, e-portfolio, databases, ...• High speed network connection• Computer classroom

Screen projector 20 computers (workstation class): fast processor, 8GB of RAM (min),

500GB disk, fast graphic card Windows and Linux OS Install all required software on each computer Fast local LAN connected to high speed broadband connection

• What about when working from home?

Advantages?

Disadvantages?

E-learning and the cloud

Case: teaching ICT

Let’s do it “Cloud way”We will need:• Cloud environment with configured applications• Computer classroom

Screen projector 20 low end computers: enough processing power to run OS and

browser Any OS capable of running standard browser or Cloud native client Network connection (2-3 > Mbps)

• What about when working from home? You can, from any computer (even smart phone or tablet)

E-learning and the cloud

Thin clients

Virtual desktops

Virtual server

Real servers

LMS + ePortfolio

Case: teaching ICT

Let’s do it “Cloud way”

Software preinstalled

E-learning and the cloud

Case: teaching ICT

Let’s do it “Cloud way”We will need:• Cloud environment with configured applications• Computer classroom

Screen projector 20 low end computers: enough processing power to run OS and

browser Any OS capable of running standard browser or Coud native client Network connection (2-3 > Mbps)

• What about when working from home? You can, from any computer (oven smart phone or tablet)

Advantages?

Disadvantages?

Practical examples

Ulteo Virtual Desktop http://www.ulteo.com

Key features• Open Source• Seamless Application

delivery Windows applications Linux applications

• Windows 7 or Linux like remote desktop access

• Universal access Browser Native client (win, linux,

iOS, Android)

• Local desktop interaction

• Advanced security

Practical examples

http://courses.foi.hr/ovd/

Test users: test2, …. test15

Discussion

• Are you using e-learning technologies? What technologies (LMS, e-Portfolio, other?...) Typical examples

• Would you use cloud services if available? In what context If no, why not?

• What functionality would you like to see in the “E-learning in the cloud environment”?