A component-based functional model for e-learning systems
Authors: Fahad T. Alotaiby
Venue:  (2005)

Educational research is an ever-expanding field of study where new methods, systems and new concepts are always being discovered. Education has evolved from face-to-face (F2F) learning, computer-based learning to distance learning and then elearning. With the emergence of the Internet that has dramatically changed the way of our lives in general and learning specifically, elearning has increasingly become the promising solution that continues to grow day after day. It is considered to have descended from all such computer-based learning technologies merging with the new Internet technology. For almost a decade, dozens of elearning systems have been produced to provide students with materials anytime at anyplace. The rapid development in the elearning industry inevitably leads to a large amount of proprietary systems that offer different services to their users. These systems nearly lack the openness in their capabilities to work with other system software. Reusability of elearning system functions is one of the most pressing needs today. Therefore, this research proposes a novel functional model that supports personalized learning with different philosophies of teaching in order to empower learning in various contexts and organizations. The model supports organizations and educational institutions to have the freedom of choice, change, or extend system functionalities from various vendors. In addition, vendors would be more oriented to a specific type of system or function and developers can develop effective and efficient applications faster by focusing their efforts on specific tasks. Furthermore, it focuses competitions between vendors on quality rather than on ranges of functionalities. This model brings different dimensions together to define a proper foundation for standard-driven elearning system components. It combines methods from intelligent tutoring systems, course management system, adaptive hypermedia learning, collaborative learning and traditional learning to provide a better elearning system personalized learning. Students differ in their needs and communication styles. Therefore, the model provides students with personalized presentation and learning based on their needs and performance. Personalized presentations are used to give students a greater sense of familiarity and comfort with the system. Furthermore, personalized learning allows students of varying degree of experience, knowledge and capability to achieve advanced learning opportunities. Additionally, the model allows students to work in a favorable collaborative environment that facilitates and promotes motivation and competition. Moreover, the role of the teacher is fundamental in the model, even though students and teachers are not necessarily interacting at the same time. To successfully gain acceptance and support from the elearning community, and marketplace adoption, teachers are incorporated into the model in a way consistent with traditional face-to-face modes of teaching. They perform a variety of tasks such as: enforcing teaching strategy to be followed in the learning session; managing students' grades; and monitoring students' actions. Additionally, in this research, I designed and implemented part of the model in a new system prototype called ULRN. The system is applicable for a wide range of domains supporting teacher-led approaches.