This thesis explores the role of modularity for achieving a better adaptation of learning technology to pedagogical requirements. In order to examine the interrelations that occur between pedagogy and computer science, a theoretical framework rooted in both fields is applied. During the twentieth century, the focus of pedagogical research and practice has gone from behaviourism, via cognitivism, to learning theory based on constructivism. Changes in learning objectives and an increasing cognitive complexity of learning tasks are likely to have contributed to this evolvement. This puts new requirements on the design and implementation of pedagogical instruction (instructional design) and its application to learning technology. Using instructional design together with technology requires the pedagogical process to be predetermined, which is partly contradicted by the nature of constructivism. Many constructivist approaches require social interaction and dynamic learning environments that can adapt to changes that are required by different pedagogical approaches. Those requirements have been met using modular approaches for content, i.e., learning objects, implemented in non-modular web-based virtual learning environments (VLE), like learning management systems (LMS). This thesis argues that modularity promotes adaptability and adaptivity, but that the current practice of using learning objects and LMSes is too restricted to fulfill the increasing needs for flexibility. The reasons are that the learning object concept is still too ill-defined to function as a component framework, and there are complex and unsolved issues regarding the representation of pedagogical instructions. This is especially complicated from a constructivist perspective where pedagogical instructions cannot always be assumed to be predetermined, which needs to be encountered for by technology. This thesis contributes to the research field by suggesting a modular approach that includes both digital learning content and VLEs. This was accomplished by suggesting a taxonomy and an abstract model for learning objects, which address both functional and technical properties. Furthermore, six action areas are suggested in order to enhance the technical quality of learning objects. Using the abstract model as a basis, the software architecture of learning objects was addressed in order to separate data, logics and presentation – including the separation of the representation of pedagogical process from the components that implement it. This facilitates the combination of modularity and representation of pedagogical instruction that utilizes machine-processable semantics, enabling the utilization of modularity at composition time as well as at run-time. This approach has resulted in a SOA-based architecture framework that has been used as blueprint for implementing two prototypes of modular VLEs, using different technology platforms. The objective was to verify the taxonomy, the abstract model, and the architecture framework. The experiments have shown that it is possible to incorporate learning content and the VLE into the same modular framework in order to provide the flexibility needed for learning technology to better adapt to changing pedagogical requirements. The experiments have also shown how pedagogical processes benefit from being represented using machine-processable semantics in being able to better utilize the flexibility offered by modularity in keeping the components of the VLE together by representing context and structure. This has been illustrated by adding semantic annotations that were used to dynamically connect pedagogical instruction to annotated learning objects, using machine-processable semantics. / QC 20100903

With increasing access to powerful computer processing and broadband Internet connectivity, persistent immersive worlds like Second Life are being adopted for use as virtual learning environments. The flexibility of these spaces, however, offers little innate direction for educators in terms of design and pedagogy considerations, creating a space for research, shared experience, and possibly the development of “best practices” literature. This multiple-case study explores the unique affordances of immersive environments for distance education with reference to the design, pedagogy, and student experience of two university-accredited courses taught entirely “in-world” on the Second Life platform.

With increasing access to powerful computer processing and broadband Internet connectivity, persistent immersive worlds like Second Life are being adopted for use as virtual learning environments. The flexibility of these spaces, however, offers little innate direction for educators in terms of design and pedagogy considerations, creating a space for research, shared experience, and possibly the development of “best practices” literature. This multiple-case study explores the unique affordances of immersive environments for distance education with reference to the design, pedagogy, and student experience of two university-accredited courses taught entirely “in-world” on the Second Life platform.

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The European Board in March of the year 2000 in Lisbon was a determinant moment in the politics and actions of the European Union. Its conclusions confirm that Europe entered the century of knowledge. Information and communication technologies’ integration into school is the keystone of part of the education reform of the country on which success depends on the education of a new society citizen of knowledge, as well as, the success of the whole educational reform, the social and economic progress. By educating the member of the society of knowledge, a school pays special attention to the personal characteristics which are very important in modern life- initiative, responsibility, independency, ability to communicate, work with others and solve problems. Students have to be able to use information and communication technology in collaboration, spreading information, in communication with students of the same age, with teachers and other individuals, with social and state organizations. By spreading new technologies into education, an exceptional attention should be paid to the pedagogues’ professional development and their social universality. It is important for teachers to gain some elementary knowledge and skills about the technology of information and to constantly improve their qualification and to renew their knowledge. However the teacher training system still is not in line with the changes made at schools in the latter decade. This system is not ready to... [to full text]

The main scientific problems investigated in this work deal with the creation of flexible open source e-Learning content and services system (referred here as Digital Library of Educational resources and services – DLE) providing learning customisation possibilities for its users. Standards and interoperability are key factors in the success of the introduction of such kind of DLEs, and therefore the main research object of the work is investigation and proposal of interoperability guidelines for DLE components. The main problem is not the identification of suitable standards and specifications, but the adoption of these standards and specifications and their application in e-Learning practice. Approaches concerning LOM Standard Application Profiles (APs) and curricula mapping are the main topics created and investigated here because they could provide more quick and convenient LOs search possibilities in the repositories for the users. Another key factor is quality of DLE systems, and therefore one more research object of the work is the effectiveness of methods of DLE components evaluation. DLE components’ complex evaluation tools suitable for systems based on flexible approach have been created. These tools should include a number of criteria to evaluate LOs reusability level and VLEs adaptation capabilities. Practice of flexible DLE software creation and development for Lithuanian primary, secondary and vocational education based of flexible approach is presented in more... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjamos lanksčios atvirosios el. mokymosi turinio ir paslaugų sistemos (t. y. skaitmeninės švietimo išteklių ir paslaugų bibliotekos, angl. Digital Library of Educational Resources and Services) kūrimo bendrajam lavinimui ir profesiniam mokymui mokslinės problemos. Nagrinėjama skaitmeninės švietimo išteklių ir paslaugų bibliotekos (toliau – skaitmeninės bibliotekos) schema ir reikalavimai. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas bibliotekos lankstumui, t. y. biblioteka turi teikti naudotojams individualizuoto mokymosi galimybes. Skaitmeninės bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių suderinamumas (sąveikos geba, arba sąveikumas, angl. Interoperability) ir standartai yra esminiai bibliotekos funkcionavimo veiksniai, todėl pagrindinis disertacijos tikslas yra bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių sąveikumo rekomendacijų kūrimas. Sprendžiami uždaviniai: standartų parinkimas, jų tinkamumas, adaptavimas ir taikymas švietimui. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas mokymosi objektų (MO, angl. Learning Objects) metaduomenų standarto (LOM – angl. Leaning Objects Metadata) taikymo modeliui tobulinti ir bendrųjų programų sąryšiui su MO. Daug dėmesio skiriama skaitmeninės bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių kokybei vertinti, todėl bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių kompleksinių vertinimo kriterijų, pagrįstų bibliotekos lankstumo ir sudedamųjų dalių sąveikumo rekomendacijomis, kūrimas taip pat yra darbo tikslas.

Disertacijoje nagrinėjamos lanksčios atvirosios el. mokymosi turinio ir paslaugų sistemos (t. y. skaitmeninės švietimo išteklių ir paslaugų bibliotekos, angl. Digital Library of Educational Resources and Services) kūrimo bendrajam lavinimui ir profesiniam mokymui mokslinės problemos. Nagrinėjama skaitmeninės švietimo išteklių ir paslaugų bibliotekos (toliau – skaitmeninės bibliotekos) schema ir reikalavimai. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas bibliotekos lankstumui, t. y. biblioteka turi teikti naudotojams individualizuoto mokymosi galimybes. Skaitmeninės bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių suderinamumas (sąveikos geba, arba sąveikumas, angl. Interoperability) ir standartai yra esminiai bibliotekos funkcionavimo veiksniai, todėl pagrindinis disertacijos tikslas yra bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių sąveikumo rekomendacijų kūrimas. Sprendžiami uždaviniai: standartų parinkimas, jų tinkamumas, adaptavimas ir taikymas švietimui. Pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas mokymosi objektų (MO, angl. Learning Objects) metaduomenų standarto (LOM – angl. Leaning Objects Metadata) taikymo modeliui tobulinti ir bendrųjų programų sąryšiui su MO. Daug dėmesio skiriama skaitmeninės bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių kokybei vertinti, todėl bibliotekos sudedamųjų dalių kompleksinių vertinimo kriterijų, pagrįstų bibliotekos lankstumo ir sudedamųjų dalių sąveikumo rekomendacijomis, kūrimas taip pat yra darbo tikslas. / The main scientific problems investigated in this work deal with the creation of flexible open source e-Learning content and services system (referred here as Digital Library of Educational resources and services – DLE) providing learning customisation possibilities for its users. Standards and interoperability are key factors in the success of the introduction of such kind of DLEs, and therefore the main research object of the work is investigation and proposal of interoperability guidelines for DLE components. The main problem is not the identification of suitable standards and specifications, but the adoption of these standards and specifications and their application in e-Learning practice. Approaches concerning LOM Standard Application Profiles (APs) and curricula mapping are the main topics created and investigated here because they could provide more quick and convenient LOs search possibilities in the repositories for the users. Another key factor is quality of DLE systems, and therefore one more research object of the work is the effectiveness of methods of DLE components evaluation. DLE components’ complex evaluation tools suitable for systems based on flexible approach have been created. These tools should include a number of criteria to evaluate LOs reusability level and VLEs adaptation capabilities. Practice of flexible DLE software creation and development for Lithuanian primary, secondary and vocational education based of flexible approach is presented in more... [to full text]

This research is part of the Educational Technology Management Online Network of Educational Technology Master's Program in Network UFSM and left reflecting on learning styles, as well as the idea of identifying which resources and activities are being used by teachers / tutors in the Virtual Learning Environment - Moodle. In addition to identify the difficulties they encounter in their work in Moodle, in order to inform knowledge about the Theory of Learning Styles. In this sense, behind theoretical elements on Learning Styles, beyond research with distance tutors who work in the course of UFSM Pedagogy / UAB to prepare the final product. In the data analysis it was observed that if the teacher / tutor diversify the presentation of educational content and materials, as well as realizing the difficulties between teacher / tutor is possible to achieve more significant results. A document with guidance on the learning styles for planning and developing courses in Moodle as a final product of this research has been prepared. It adopted the qualitative research and grounded nature on case study methodology. The relevance of this work is found in the path taken in this project, since every step there was the importance of clarifying and broadening our knowledge of the theory of Learning Styles. / A presente pesquisa faz parte da linha de Gestão de Tecnologias Educacionais em Rede do Programa de Mestrado em Tecnologias Educacionais em Rede da UFSM e partiu da reflexão sobre Estilos de Aprendizagem, bem como pela ideia de identificar quais os recursos e atividades estão sendo utilizados pelos professores/tutores no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem MOODLE. Além disso identificar as dificuldades que encontram no seu trabalho no MOODLE, tendo em vista informar os conhecimentos acerca da Teoria dos Estilos de Aprendizagem. Nesse sentido, trás elementos teóricos sobre os Estilos de Aprendizagem, além da pesquisa com os tutores a distância que atuam no curso de Pedagogia UFSM/UAB para elaboração do produto final. Na análise dos dados percebeu-se que se o professor/tutor diversificar a apresentação dos conteúdos e materiais didáticos, assim como perceber as dificuldades entre professor/tutor é possível alcançar resultados mais significativos. Como produto final dessa pesquisa foi elaborado um documento com orientações sobre os estilos de aprendizagem para planejamento e desenvolvimento de disciplinas no MOODLE. Adotou-se a pesquisa de cunho qualitativa e embasada na metodologia de estudo de caso. A relevância desse trabalho é encontrada no caminho percorrido nesse projeto, visto que a cada passo dado observou-se a importância do esclarecimento e ampliação do conhecimento sobre a teoria dos Estilos de Aprendizagem.

Esta tese constitui uma pesquisa qualitativa que tem como foco um estudo de caso com adolescentes, doentes crônicos com Fibrose Cística (FC), internados em quarto restrito no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), em situação de exclusão temporária e o acesso e uso da WEB 2.0 e de Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem (AVAs). Apresenta como objetivos verificar as produções e interações de adolescentes com FC hospitalizados em quartos restritos quando se oportuniza o uso de recursos da WEB 2.0 e de AVAs, acompanhar e avaliar o processo de interação entre os adolescentes e destes com amigos virtuais através das redes sociais e observar e analisar a criação e produção de e entre os sujeitos no processo de utilização e exploração dos recursos tecnológicos. Os sujeitos desta pesquisa são oito adolescentes com acesso ao computador no período de hospitalização que integram as redes sociais no processo de interação, de vinculação e de compartilhamento constituindo um novo cenário nas relações sociais em quartos restritos do hospital. Descreve as discussões e interações dos adolescentes nos chats do AVA Eduquito, as produções de mídias e a construção colaborativa e cooperativa do Blog Cor@gem. O Blog se constitui no cenário em que os personagens acessam, usam e produzem de forma compartilhada as produções no uso de imagem, som e texto criando vídeos, tendo como tema principal a hospitalização, a doença e os laços de afeto entre os adolescentes participantes do projeto. A construção colaborativa e cooperativa no Blog propiciou um espaço de trabalho e de criação conjunta entre os adolescentes resultando em um espaço de construção sociointeracionista reunindo pacientes com FC, hospitalizados em quartos restritos, através de comunidades virtuais com acesso e uso da WEB 2.0. / This thesis is a qualitative research about a case study with adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a chronic disease, hospitalized in a restricted room in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). They are in a situation of temporary exclusion and they access and use WEB 2.0 and Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). This thesis intends to verify the productions and interactions of these adolescents with CF hospitalized in restricted rooms when we offer to them the use of the Web 2.0 features and VLEs. This work also want to monitor and to evaluate the process of interaction between these adolescents with online friends through social networks, and to observe and to analyze the creation and production of these people in the process of exploration and use of technological resources. The subjects of this research are eight teenagers with access to computers during the hospitalization, that integrate social networks in the interaction‟s process, linking and sharing, constituting a new stage in social relations in restricted rooms in the hospital. Besides, this research also describes the discussions and interactions among adolescents in the AVA Eduquito chats, the media productions and the collaborative and cooperative building of the Blog Cor@gem. Using this Blog, the characters visit, use and build productions that are shared in the use of image, sound and text, creating videos, with the main theme of hospitalization, illness and the bonds of affection among adolescents that participate in this project. The cooperative construction of this Blog provided a collaborative creation among these adolescents, resulting in a construction of a sociointeractionist space, gathering CF patients hospitalized in restricted rooms through virtual communities with access to Web 2.0.

Esta tese constitui uma pesquisa qualitativa que tem como foco um estudo de caso com adolescentes, doentes crônicos com Fibrose Cística (FC), internados em quarto restrito no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), em situação de exclusão temporária e o acesso e uso da WEB 2.0 e de Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem (AVAs). Apresenta como objetivos verificar as produções e interações de adolescentes com FC hospitalizados em quartos restritos quando se oportuniza o uso de recursos da WEB 2.0 e de AVAs, acompanhar e avaliar o processo de interação entre os adolescentes e destes com amigos virtuais através das redes sociais e observar e analisar a criação e produção de e entre os sujeitos no processo de utilização e exploração dos recursos tecnológicos. Os sujeitos desta pesquisa são oito adolescentes com acesso ao computador no período de hospitalização que integram as redes sociais no processo de interação, de vinculação e de compartilhamento constituindo um novo cenário nas relações sociais em quartos restritos do hospital. Descreve as discussões e interações dos adolescentes nos chats do AVA Eduquito, as produções de mídias e a construção colaborativa e cooperativa do Blog Cor@gem. O Blog se constitui no cenário em que os personagens acessam, usam e produzem de forma compartilhada as produções no uso de imagem, som e texto criando vídeos, tendo como tema principal a hospitalização, a doença e os laços de afeto entre os adolescentes participantes do projeto. A construção colaborativa e cooperativa no Blog propiciou um espaço de trabalho e de criação conjunta entre os adolescentes resultando em um espaço de construção sociointeracionista reunindo pacientes com FC, hospitalizados em quartos restritos, através de comunidades virtuais com acesso e uso da WEB 2.0. / This thesis is a qualitative research about a case study with adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a chronic disease, hospitalized in a restricted room in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). They are in a situation of temporary exclusion and they access and use WEB 2.0 and Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). This thesis intends to verify the productions and interactions of these adolescents with CF hospitalized in restricted rooms when we offer to them the use of the Web 2.0 features and VLEs. This work also want to monitor and to evaluate the process of interaction between these adolescents with online friends through social networks, and to observe and to analyze the creation and production of these people in the process of exploration and use of technological resources. The subjects of this research are eight teenagers with access to computers during the hospitalization, that integrate social networks in the interaction‟s process, linking and sharing, constituting a new stage in social relations in restricted rooms in the hospital. Besides, this research also describes the discussions and interactions among adolescents in the AVA Eduquito chats, the media productions and the collaborative and cooperative building of the Blog Cor@gem. Using this Blog, the characters visit, use and build productions that are shared in the use of image, sound and text, creating videos, with the main theme of hospitalization, illness and the bonds of affection among adolescents that participate in this project. The cooperative construction of this Blog provided a collaborative creation among these adolescents, resulting in a construction of a sociointeractionist space, gathering CF patients hospitalized in restricted rooms through virtual communities with access to Web 2.0.