CSEDU 2009 Abstracts

Area 1 - Information Technologies Supporting Learning
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 2 - Learning/Teaching Methodologies and Assessment
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 3 - Social Context and Learning Environments
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 4 - Legal and Cultural Management Issues
Short Papers
Area 5 - Domain Applications and Case Studies
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 6 - Quality, Evaluation and Accreditation Policies
Short Papers

Area 1 - Information Technologies Supporting Learning

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 22
Title:

Exploring Basque Document Categorization for Educational Purposes using LSI
Authors:

Ana Zelaia, Olatz Arregi, Ana Arruarte, Iñaki Alegria, Arantza Diaz de Ilarraza, Jon Ander Elorriaga and Basilio Sierra
Abstract: In the process of preparing learning material for Computer Supported Learning Systems (CSLSs), one of the first steps involves finding documents relevant to the topics and to the students. This requires documents to be categorized according to some criteria. In this paper we analyze the behaviour of classification techniques such as Naive Bayes, Winnow, SVMs and k-NN, together with lemmatization and noun selection, in the categorization of documents written in Basque. In a second experiment, we study the effect of applying the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) dimensionality reduction technique before using the mentioned classification techniques. The results obtained show that the approach which combines SVD and k-NN for a lemmatized corpus gives the best categorization of all with a remarkable difference. The final aim pursued in this project is to facilitate the semiautomatic construction of the domain module of a CSLS.
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Paper Nr: 42
Title:

Teaching Large Student Cohorts in Second Life: Scalability Issues and Student Satisfaction in a Virtual World
Authors:

Marc Conrad, David Pike, Paul Sant and Catherine Nwafor
Abstract: There are high expectations on Second Life, a multi-user interactive virtual environment, to play a prominent role in higher education in the future. Across universities worldwide many projects aim to engage students in a variety of activities related to Second Life. However typically the number of students participating in those projects is small and the use of Second Life is an optional addition to the syllabus. We present two activities, conducted in 2007 and 2008 where Second Life has been used as an integral, non voluntarily part of an assignment in project management. Feedback from the 200 participants has been collected in the form of a questionnaire and interviews. Our results show that students have found the experience mostly positive, or, at least, didn't object to it. However technical and administrative problems have been identified that still question the suitability of Second Life for a smooth provision of these activities on a large scale.
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Paper Nr: 52
Title:

Synchronous Online Discussions: Participation in a Group Audio Conferencing and Textual Chat as Affected by Communicator's Personality Characteristics and Discussion Topics
Authors:

Ina Blau and Azy Barak
Abstract: The development of instructional technology increases the use of synchronous e-learning procedures which enable real-time interactions. The study explores whether the willingness to participate as well as actual participation in synchronous group discussions is affected by participant personality (extroversion-introversion), medium characteristics and discussion topic sensitivity. The research is composed of two sequenced sub-studies. The first one investigates the willingness to participate while the second study explores the degree of actual participation in discussions. An online self-report questionnaire was completed by 405 adult Internet users. Following that, 120 volunteers extracted from this sample were randomly assigned to face-to-face, audio conferencing, or textual chat gender-mixed experimental conditions and conducted two short discussions (having low and high degrees of topic sensitivity). The relation between estimated and actual participation was explored, as well as the equalization effect of online interactions. The first study findings show that, in general, participants prefer conventional over sensitive discussion topic; they also prefer face-to-face discussion rather than online communication. As hypothesized, participant personality affects the willingness to partake in discussions: extroverts prefer taking part via a more revealing communication medium; introverts express greater readiness for discussion via textual chat. The results of the study expand the understanding of student behaviour in synchronous e-learning.
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Paper Nr: 64
Title:

WACS: A Computerized Adaptive Reading Test for Pre-K through 2nd Grade
Authors:

Haya Shamir, Erin Johnson and Kimberly Brown
Abstract: WACS is a new computerized adaptive test of early literacy for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. WACS includes assessments in letter recognition, letter sound and initial sound recognition, blending, segmenting, reading real and non-words, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and vocabulary. A CAT for this age group will be highly beneficial by allowing whole classes to be tested together without additional personnel, by assessing a large number of content areas in reduced time and with fewer questions than a standard paper and pencil test, by producing immediate and accurate score reports, and by engaging students with animations during the test. Reliability and validity analyses indicate that the test is internally coherent and that the subtests correlate well with other reading tests used with this age group, including DIBELS, IRI, ITBS and TPRI.
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Paper Nr: 65
Title:

Understanding the behaviour of CDMA-based cellular networks with a user-friendly simulation software
Authors:

Xavier Lagrange and Boulbeba Karoui
Abstract: The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) has been developed in order to create a unified telecommunications system with multimedia capabilities. UMTS uses the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technique. In this type of system, all users share the same frequency at the same time. Interference then plays a major role on the behaviour of a CDMA network and makes the coverage vary according to the load. Furthermore a lot of parameters have an impact on the coverage (spreading factor, user rate, transmission power etc...). So motivating students to learn CDMA concepts is often difficult because they find many difficulties to understand the physical phenomenons. To overcome this problem, students need to practise several laboratory exercises. Then they need a suitable simulation tool. In this paper a simple cellular model is introduced and a CDMA software based on that model is described. Its effectiveness on teaching method is explained. This simulator can help students to understand the CDMA network behaviour more accurately.
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Paper Nr: 116
Title:

A HYBRID APPROACH TO COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION A CASE STUDY: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AT ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY

Authors:

Andreas Meiszner, Ioannis Stamelos and Katerina Moustaka
Abstract: Traditionally one characterization of formal education has been that it is ‘closed’, resulting in the fact that learning spaces with their educational materials, and individual students’ learning processes and outcomes remain unavailable for the general public. The hybrid approach to Software Engineering piloted at Aristotle University during the winter semester 2008 / 2009 on the other hand builds upon the way learning and knowledge creation at the participatory web takes place, in particular within the Free / Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) communities. This is to say that on the hand the learning environment used at this course is open for participation of any individual interested at the subject (inviting in), and on the other hand Aristotle’s software engineering students are engaging at students driven small scale learning projects, with each of those learning projects being associated to an open source project (sending out). This combination of ‘inviting in’ and ‘sending out’ is what we like to call a hybrid approach. One objective of the hybrid approach is to provide the foundation required for an evolutionary growing learning ecosystem where learning processes and outcomes have the potential to become learning resources for future students and therefore connecting content to discourse.
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Paper Nr: 121
Title:

A CODE-COMPARISON OF STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON NEURAL VISUALISATION MODELS
Authors:

David Martin, Emilio Corchado and Raúl Marticorena
Abstract: In this present multidisciplinary work, measurements taken from source-code comparisons of practical assignments completed by students of computer programme are analysed and visually represented, and conclusions are drawn so as to gain insight into the situation and the progress of the group. This representation is compared with another one generated by conventional code metrics, and the scope and meaning of the results are assessed in each case. These analyses use various statistical and neural dimensionality-reduction techniques for sets of multidimensional data.
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Paper Nr: 143
Title:

Learning through NFC-enabled Urban Adventure - User Experience Findings
Authors:

Mari Ervasti and Minna Isomursu
Abstract: This paper presents a mobile context-sensitive learning concept called the Amazing NFC, and reports the findings and results of a field study where 228 students experienced the Amazing NFC urban adventure during spring 2008. The Amazing NFC concept is an Amazing Race -style survival game for teenagers for learning skills and knowledge essential to everyday life and familiarising them with their hometown. During the Amazing NFC lessons, students were guided through an urban adventure track with the help of NFC mobile phone, site-specific NFC tags located at eleven control points and related mobile internet content. Trial aimed to analyze touch-based interaction paradigm directed to specific users in a defined context as an implementation technique for mobile learning. User experiences and added value evoked by the service concept were investigated via a variety of data collection methods. Findings revealed that students experienced the NFC technology as easy and effortless to use. However, users hoped to see more challenges and activity in the track in the future. Our analysis indicates that one main benefit of the urban adventure concept was moving the learning experience from the traditional classroom to a novel context-sensitive learning environment that includes social interaction between students.
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Paper Nr: 144
Title:

Constructing Strategies for Programming
Authors:

Alex Gerdes, Johan Jeuring and Bastiaan Heeren
Abstract: Learning to program is difficult. To support learning programming, many intelligent tutoring systems for learning programming have been developed. Research has shown that such tutors have positive effects on learning. However, intelligent tutors for learning programming are not widely used. Building an intelligent tutor for a programming language is a substantial amount of work, and utilising it in a course is often hard for a teacher. In this paper we illustrate how to construct strategies for solving programming exercises and how these strategies can be used to automatically support students using an intelligent programming tutor to incrementally develop a program. Using strategies for programming, specifying an exercise becomes relatively easy, and more flexible.
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Paper Nr: 146
Title:

Writing Support System Dealing with Notational Variant Selection
Authors:

Yasuhiko Watanabe, Aya Nishikawa, Ryo Nishimura and Yoshihiro Okada
Abstract: In Japanese, there are the large numbers of notational variants of words. This is because Japanese words are written in three kinds of characters: Kanji (Chinese) characters, Hiragara letters, and Katakana letters. Japanese students study basic rules of Japanese writing in school for many years. However, it is difficult to learn which notational variant is suitable for official, business, and technical documents because the rules have many exceptions. To solve this problem, we assumed that suitable notational variants are used dominantly in official, business, or technical documents, and developed a writing support system which detects nondominant notational variants in students' reports and show dominant ones to the students.
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Paper Nr: 148
Title:

MATHPORT - Web application to support enhancement in elementary mathematics pedagogy

Authors:

Barbara Korousic Seljak, Gregor Papa and Barbara J. Pavešic
Abstract: The paper presents a Web application MatPort that is aimed to support enhancement in elementary mathematics pedagogy. In Slovenia, there is a lack of e-Learning courses on elementary school mathematics that would provide teachers and students with verified mathematics problems in Slovene language. The MatPort offers a databank of verified mathematics problems that may be solved on paper or at a computer, or combined into a paper and pencil form of tests. In this paper, we describe the structure and the functionality of the application, providing an insight into the MatPort decision system that supports automatic search of math problems so that students may reach a certain level of knowledge in a thoughtful way. The decision support system is based upon the genetic algorithm. The application has been evaluated by a group of teachers and students, who have been actively involved into the MatPort development.
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Paper Nr: 170
Title:

c&d-learning Implementation Architecture: Adapting e-learning to Developing Countries
Authors:

Jesús Martínez Mateo, Susana Muñoz Hernández and David Pérez del Rey
Abstract: From the educational point of view, the most widespread method in developing countries is on-site education. Technical and economic resources cannot support conventional distance learning infrastructures and it is even worse for courses in universities. They usually suffer a lack of qualified faculty staff, especially in technical degrees. The literature suggest that e-learning is a suitable solution for this problem, but its methods are developed attending to educational necessities of the First World and cannot be applied directly to other contexts. The proposed methodology is a variant of traditional e-learning adapted to the needs of developing countries. E-learning for Cooperation and Development (c&d-learning) is oriented to be used for educational institutions without adequate technical or human resources. In this paper we describe the c&d-learning implementation architecture based on three main phases: hardware, communication and software; e.g. computer and technical equipping, internet accessing and e-learning platform adaptation. Proper adaptation of educational contents to c&d-learning is discussed and a real case of application in which the authors are involved is described: the Ngozi University at Burundi.
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Paper Nr: 182
Title:

SERVICES FOR EDUCATION IN THE METROPOLITAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK
Authors:

Michal Kosiedowski, Cezary Mazurek, Miroslaw Czyrnek, Marcin Werla, Piotr Pawalowski, Maciej Stroinski, Jan Weglarz, Wojciech Pieklik and Filip Koczorowski
Abstract: Over the recent years Poland has been very successful in deploying advanced ICT infrastructure for use by the public sector. This infrastructure includes fiber-based metropolitan research and education networks interconnected with the backbone optical network PIONIER, and a vast amount of advanced services that provide interesting resources and tools also for the education sector. Today Poland gains a big opportunity of innovating its education system to a novel ICT supported classroom immersed in an integrated education environment. Creating an educational service network based on research and education network links would bring a new, better learning and teaching experience for the education system participants. However, it also sets a big challenge before designers of such an educational service network. In this paper, we discuss the current opportunities and our approach at creating such a network.
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Paper Nr: 186
Title:

Online Exercise System - A Web-Based Tool for Administration and Automatic Correction of Exercises
Authors:

Daniel Baudisch, Klaus Schneider and Manuel Gesell
Abstract: We describe OnExSy, our online exercise system that allows our students in computer science to submit their solutions to exercises via a web form. The system is not only able to automate the administration of the student accounts as done by many other comparable systems. In addition, our system is even able to automatically check the correctness of the submitted solutions and is able to provide a counterexample in case the solution is wrong. This feature is provided by modern formal verification tools that have also been developed in our research group. As a result, our tutors do not waste time for checking the correctness of the solutions of many students, and instead, can spend the saved time for an individual support of students. Moreover, the tool is available not only during the time when lectures are held, but also during holidays which is very important for the final preparation of the exam.
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Paper Nr: 187
Title:

SPECIFICATION OF OBSERVATION NEEDS IN AN INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN CONTEXT - A Model-Driven Engineering approach
Authors:

Pierre Laforcade, Vincent Barré and Boubekeur Zendagui
Abstract: Our works take place in the research field of distant learning situation observations. We want to help instructional designers to improve the learning scenarios they design within a re-engineering context. We think that the observation of the learners' behavior can be improved by taking into account the observation needs from the designers. We originally think these observation needs can be related to and guided by the information specified into the learning scenarios. This article presents a Model-Driven Engineering approach for the specification of these observation needs. A specific metamodel has been elaborated to support our conceptual proposition and process. A dedicated example illustrates the use of this metamodel to specify observation needs according to a given learning scenario and Educational Modeling Language. First elements of tooling are also presented.
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Paper Nr: 188
Title:

ARTIFICIAL LIFE CONTEST: a tool for informal teaching of artificial intelligence
Authors:

Georgina Stegmayer, Diego H. Milone and Daniel Beber
Abstract: This work reports an experience in using an Artificial Life competitive game that simulates an artificial life environment for unstructured and informal Artificial Intelligence (AI) teaching to students from computer science engineering careers. The game consists of a simulated Petri dish where two colonies of microorganisms –software agents– must struggle to survive. To achieve this goal, the participants must implement surviving strategies for their agents, which include fighting strategies and basic reproduction rules to prevail over all the artificial environment. The technical bases of the contest as well as a description of the artificial life model are explained in detail. The pedagogical experience acquired in the contest development is discussed, as well as the resulting learning experience, which generated students enthusiasm and has helped them to develop mental models of possible AI algorithm.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 14
Title:

A usability study on how non-technical students interact with a free-text Computer Assisted Assessment system
Authors:

Ismael Pascual-Nieto, Diana Perez-Marin and Pilar Rodriguez
Abstract: Willow is a free-text Computer Assisted Assessment system, which can automatically assess students' short written answers in both Spanish and English. Willow is based on the combination of techniques from Natural Language Processing and User Modelling to generate students' conceptual models (i.e. a set of interconnected concepts of a certain area-of-knowledge associated with an estimated value that indicates how well each concept has been assimilated by the student) from the students' free-text answers. In the past, the system was used by a group of students of an Operating Systems course within an Informatics degree. The results of that study showed that the system was useful for these students. Nevertheless, our hypothesis was that the procedure implemented in Willow is also suitable for non-technical domains and, that students without computer training are able to use Willow without any technical difficulty. Therefore, we asked a group of voluntary students of a Pragmatics course within an English Studies program to use the system. The results achieved support our hypothesis that Willow can successfully be applied to a non-technical domain, and it can be used by non-technical students.
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Paper Nr: 21
Title:

SharK: A Web 2.0 Service Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing
Authors:

Bo Huang, Junyong Ding, Wenjie Zhang and Jinquan Dai
Abstract: Embracing interactions in computer based learning is a good approach to empowering the effectiveness of knowledge sharing, and the popularity of Web 2.0 applications signals the readiness of applying Web 2.0 technologies to computer supported education. This paper introduces SharK (abbreviation of Sharing Knowledge), a Web 2.0 service infrastructure specifically designed for knowledge sharing. SharK adopts a novel Unified Content Model to abstract various contents inside Web 2.0 service portals, which allows easier legacy data migration, consistent and fine-grained content security control in addition to providing an extensible platform for fast new service portal construction. Besides illustrating the key design considerations, this paper also introduces three real-life Shark-based knowledge sharing Web 2.0 portals, which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of Web 2.0 portal construction based on SharK.
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Paper Nr: 33
Title:

Group Up to learn together: A system for equitable allocation of students to groups
Authors:

Vladimir Deineko, Frances O'Brien and Thomas Ridd
Abstract: Group-based learning is overwhelmingly accepted as an important feature of current education practices. The success of using a group-based teaching methodology depends, to a great extent, on the quality of the allocation of students into working teams. We have modelled this problem as a vector packing problem and constructed an algorithm that combines the advantage of local search algorithms with the branch and bound methodology. The algorithm easily finds exact solutions to real life problems with about 130-150 students. The algorithm is implemented in GroupUp – a decision support tool which has been successfully used in the University of Warwick for a number of years.
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Paper Nr: 40
Title:

THE LAW&ICT SHARED VIRTUAL CAMPUS
Authors:

Fernando Galindo, Pilar Lasala and Javier García Marco
Abstract: An European Shared Virtual Campus on LAW&ICT (Law and Information and Communication Technolo-gies) has been created to provide an educational technology platform to offer European-wide graduate and postgraduate level courses and for lifelong learning. In this learning framework, an international Degree, Bachelor in LAW&ICT, an international Degree, Masters in LAW&ICT, and an international Lifelong Learning Programme in LAW&ICT are been development, with the participation of ten European Universities. Also, an Europe-wide network of experts in LAW&ICT has been created to share the knowledge and disseminate the results and experiences. The LAW&ICT Shared Virtual Campus encourages the mobility of teachers, students and professionals among countries, sharing knowledge about similar and divergent aspects in LAW&ICT.
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Paper Nr: 45
Title:

Distance Learning with High-Definition Low-Latency Video and Multimedia Infrastructure
Authors:

Thomas Sterling, Chirag Dekate, Chirag Dekate and Ravi Paruchuri
Abstract: Although distance learning has a history that spans many decades, the full opportunity that is implicit in its exploitation has not been fully realized due to combination of factors including disparate experience between it and its classroom counterpart. However current and emerging technologies are helping overcome this barrier by providing significantly better interaction among the individual participants, thereby opening new avenues for knowledge dissemination. LSU in collaboration with five other institutions has developed effective methods that greatly extend the educational opportunities through combination of advanced technologies and educational methodologies. LSU and its partners have tested these technologies in real- time over the last two years. While further improvements are needed, this activity represents the current state of the art in technologies utilized and the quality of content and experience delivered. The distance learning initiative undertaken by LSU and its partners is driven by a vision for education, which aims to deliver expert & top-quality educational content to locations irrespective of their economic or technological limitations.
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Paper Nr: 48
Title:

XML-BASED COURSE SYLLABI An Electronic Implementation of the CDIO Syllabus
Authors:

Ricardo Camarero, Jacques Raynauld, Clément Fortin and Gregory Huet
Abstract: A syllabus forms the structure of a course (or program) offering and is used to assemble its constituents. Course websites and LMS’s, also contain similar information, and in some sense, are quite similar to course outlines or syllabi, and replicate some of the information that can also be found in administrative websites of universities. From a system perspective, this duplication and dispersion of information can be a source of confusion and hinder the set-up of an integrated workflow approach to manage all the course information for visualisation or reporting purposes. Course outlines or syllabi, whatever the support used for distribution, are essentially ”paper” documents that are most often created using word processors or limited web forms in course management systems. Currently, there is no accepted standard format for representing syllabi that could facilitate automatic production or processing of their contents. In this paper, we present a model for a specialized tool to create, edit and publish course syllabi that can be used alongside LMS’s and other administrative environments. The proposed prototype is based on XML to semantically tag the set of detailed elements of the CDIO Syllabus towards a complete and consistent implementation of an electronic syllabus. The objective is to cast the programs and course outlines into a schema, including both contents and learning outcomes, that allows the incorporation of the formulation and mechanisms for verification that the goals are fulfilled.
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Paper Nr: 50
Title:

AN INTELLIGENT ASSISTANT TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM DROPOUT
Authors:

Tri D. Tran, Georges-Marie Putois, Bernadette Bouchon-Meunier and Christophe Marsala
Abstract: The research and development of an educational agent are commonly focused on the pedagogical aspect; the main objective is to automate the teaching activity, to replace the teacher in virtual learning environment. Our goal is different: it is to create a non pedagogical intelligent assistant that follows students during their learning to prevent dropout. This assistant can be compared to a coach, a motivator, or a mentor that motivates, encourages, and helps students to overcome their difficulties.
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Paper Nr: 57
Title:

THE USE OF AN INNOVATION CLASSROOM:A Perspective in the Introduction of ICT in Elementary Schools
Authors:

Miguel Rodríguez, José Barrios and Ernesto Sánchez
Abstract: In Panama, ICT's are implemented in elementary schools through the Conéctate al Conocimiento project (Tarté, 2006). This project has reached up to more than 700 schools across the country, providing them with the tools to create a national knowledge network. All this effort is towards the promotion on knowledge construction and collaboration in such construction. The aforementioned requires constant practice and feedback if what one pretends to achieve is that the individual can express through the tool without being limited by it, that the tool becomes a springboard to build, express and share his/her knowledge. This paper will show an approach to the introduction of ICT's in schools through a new model called Aula de Innovación (Innovation Classroom). We also show examples that support the validity of the model, it is not a recipe book that can be applied in any context, but a concrete experience that allows us to guide and point out some key issues in school activities regarding the use of ICT's. The objective of this paper is to share an approach in the use ICT as a tool to collaborate in the building, sharing and publishing knowledge.
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Paper Nr: 60
Title:

Practising Web Design Essentials by Iterative Blog Development within a Community Portal
Authors:

Martin Homola and Zuzana Kubincova
Abstract: Following the learning by making theory based on constructionism of Papert we have developed a supportive tool for our university web design course. Our application provides an integrated development environment for our students who are assigned the task of building a blog as part of the course. By accomplishing this task, students practice selected Web technologies. Personal blog design and developlment provides possibilities of creative realization. All blogs are interconnected and communication and discussion is immediately available. This results to exporience exchange and at the end amounts to much more fun for the course participants. We have observed competitiveness boosting and overall increase in students' involvement with the course. Our experience suggests resulting increased quality of learning to the benefit of our students.
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Paper Nr: 68
Title:

LEARNING ABOUT SOCIAL ACCOUNTING IN THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY: A WIKI-WEBQUEST
Authors:

Carmen-Pilar Martí-Ballester, Soledad Moya-Gutiérrez and Diego Prior-Jiménez
Abstract: With the introduction of European Credits Transfer System (ECTS), learning processes move towards different scenarios where the teacher becomes a facilitator of the process. New communication and collaboration education technologies may help this new approach. We propose the design of a webquest for Business Economics Students, specifically University accounting students, which will help them to learn more about financial statements analysis, social responsibilities and ethical behaviours. This tool should provide students with the skills to participate in the “knowledge society” and allow them to answer to the previous questions. A WebQuest is an inquiry oriented activity where most or all of the information used by participants is found on the internet. The most important fact of the webquest is that students not only look for information on the websites and put it together in a presentation or a report. In a WebQuest, students have all the information available and they are required to answer questions or solve problems that will make them go further on their knowledge on the subject. Higher learning process is expected from the webquest use. This methodology will allow students to acquire the following generic competences included in the Tuning (2005) project: a) skills for analysis and summarising, b) capacities for putting knowledge into practice, c) general knowledge on the subject, d) dealing with information and collaboration. Research has shown that by integrating WebQuests into the classroom, student-involvement, student-interest, and student understanding of content has increased (Mc Gregor et al, 2004).
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Paper Nr: 98
Title:

How Designers Use the Web in Teaching: A Case study
Authors:

Ilpo Koskinen
Abstract: This paper looks at how experienced design teachers use the Web in teaching students in studio environment in the Bauhaus tradition. It develops a framework for understanding possible functions of the Web over the design process, and examines Web use practices in one of Europe’s largest design programs, situated in Helsinki. In the absence of department policy, instructors have developed various ways to integrate the Web to teaching. In particular, the Web is used at the more industrial end of education, reflecting changes in design over the last few decades.
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Paper Nr: 112
Title:

Open publication system: evaluating users qualification and reputation
Authors:

José Palazzo M. de Oliveira, Leandro K. Wives and Gabriel Simões
Abstract: In cooperative editing environments (e.g. Wikis), users can create and edit documents in a freely and cooperatively manner. However, sometimes it is interesting to identify if the contributions made by one user are really reliable, since users don’t trust each other in an explicit way. This point is a central discussion about the open publishing truthfulness. While it is difficult to automatically identify the relevance of each user contribution, it is more plausible to evaluate their reputation as perceived by the community. In this paper we describe a model to evaluate the user’s reputations in a Wiki community and the prototype developed for its evaluation. The basic assumption is that we are dealing with a homogeneous cooperative group on a limited knowledge context. This environment exists, for instance, in a cooperative group trying to consolidate organizational implicit knowledge into documents as a class-based report generation. This kind of environment is very useful to stimulate collaborative learning.
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Paper Nr: 126
Title:

BRINGING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING TO THE CLASSROOM USING MOBILE COMPUTING AND MODERN CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE
Authors:

Helio Takai, Helio Takai, Michael Marx, David Bynum and John Hover
Abstract: This paper reports on the creative educational and research program of MARIACHI (Mixed Apparatus for Radar Investigation of Cosmic-rays of High Ionization) at Stony Brook University, a unique endeavor that detects and studies atmospheric phenomena (lighting, meteors, or cosmic rays) by using a novel detection technique based on radar-like technology and traditional scintillator ground detectors. During the past and current academic year, our program has been effectively modernized and streamlined in both research and educational aspects with the implementation of mobile technologies by the use of TabletPCs and wireless data collection systems as well as emerging cyberinfrastructure based on dynamic services as wiki, blog, and Internet-based video conferencing.
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Paper Nr: 128
Title:

HELP DESIGN FOR THE METACOGNITIVE GUIDANCE OF THE LEARNER: A Proposition of Computer-Based System
Authors:

Jean-Christophe Sakdavong, Françoise ADREIT and Nathalie HUET
Abstract: This paper presents the framework and the software system we have built in order to provide metacognitive guidance help in Computer Supported Education. The goal is to assist self-regulation of the learner thanks to a dynamic help system which takes into account in real-time the learner's behavior and his profile. The software system is a multiagent system which captures the learner's behavior, analyse it and define the help. Used currently in the step of conception, the software system will become the learning system by successive learning and enrichment. We present its principles and its operational aspects. The application field of this work is the French certificate "C2i".
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Paper Nr: 130
Title:

V-Learning: Using Voice for Distant Learning in Emerging Regions
Authors:

Thushari Atapattu and Kasun De Zoysa
Abstract: At present, accessing the internet through visual interfaces is the most common approach. However, it requires some basic resources such as a computer or web-enabled mobile device, an internet connection, electricity and some amount of IT literacy. Because of the relatively high cost of this set up, underprivileged users are unaware or have no direct access to the internet. Since voice communications through telephony systems do belong to the growing trend, people make use of telephones for various purposes. Among them, accessing web through telephone devices is explored. In this paper, we present an approach to access the learning materials of the Learning Management System (LMS) of University of Colombo School of Computing, Sri Lanka through interactive voice driven applications.
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Paper Nr: 136
Title:

HOW GENDER ISSUES CAN INFLUENCE STUDYING COMPUTER SCIENCE
Authors:

Mirjana Ivanovic, Zoran Budimac, Anja Sisarica, Zoran Budimac and Klaus Bothe
Abstract: This paper presents a gender related research conducted at Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad; in order to explore the following points amongst female undergraduate students: (i) general success rate, (ii) professional confidence, interests and ambitions, (iii) level of satisfaction with the choice of studies, (iv) attitudes and beliefs towards the gender issue. The query resulted in indicative statistical data, providing basis for future work and discussion, as a contribution to narrowing of the gender gap within the field of Computer Science.
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Paper Nr: 137
Title:

AdjScales: Differentiating between Similar Adjectives For Lanuage Learners
Authors:

Vera Sheinman and Takenobu Tokunaga
Abstract: In this study we introduce AdjScales, a method for scaling similar adjectives by their strength. It combines ex- isting Web-based computational linguistic techniques in order to automatically differentiate similar adjectives that describe the same property by strength. Though this kind of information is rarely present in most of the lexical resources and dictionaries, it might be useful for learners that try to distinguish between similar words and that want to capture the differences from a single structure. Additionally, AdjScales might be used by con- structors of lexical resources in order to enrich them. The method is evaluated vs. annotation on a subset of adjectives from WordNet by four native English speakers. The collected annotation is an interesting resource by its own right. This work is a first step towards automatic differentiation of meaning between similar words for learners.
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Paper Nr: 138
Title:

A Large Amount of Final Projects Effectively Processed With Minimal Sofware Requirements - Opensource And Platform Independent Solution. A Case Study
Authors:

Michal Valenta
Abstract: In this paper, we present a case study based on our two-years experience with a processing of a large amount of final projects (1200 students) in a basic course on database systems (Databases 101). Each student is required to present his/her own project documentation with a relatively well-defined structure and content. The present paper offers a solution to the following bias: each student has his/her own preferred/disfavored editor and, at the same time, the teacher needs to see all the final projects in a unitary format to make the results controlable. Furthermore, we address the issue of automated (or semi-automated) processing of some parts of the controling process. Importantly, the whole process involves exclusively standardized technologies implemented in many (also open-source) tools, XML and XSLT standardized by W3C in particular.
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Paper Nr: 145
Title:

GIS DAY ACTIVITIES AND THE CONTIG PROJECT - Using Geographical Information Technologies in Middle and High School

Authors:

Madalena Mota and Marco Painho
Abstract: In November 2008, ISEGI-UNL (Instituto Superior de Estatística e Gestão de Informação – Universidade Nova de Lisboa) hosted a GIS Day inviting seven secondary schools to use and experience Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Sixteen teachers and about one hundred and twenty students from 7th to 12th grades were able to try and learn about Geographical Information Technologies (GIT). This event is one of the activities that are being developed by ISEGI-UNL in a partnership with ESRI Portugal and two Portuguese high schools since 2007. During the 2007/2008 school year, ISEGI-UNL had a grant from the Portuguese program “Ciência Viva” (from the National Agency for the Scientific and Technological Culture) to develop several learning experiences with the aim of promoting a learning process centred on experience, in which the focus is given by the use of geographic information technologies (the ConTIG project). During the current year (2008/2009), the project continues, but open to any school that wants to try the learning experiences (that are available online) and also share their own experiences. GIS Day is one of the ConTIG events. Other activities will also include courses for teachers to learn how to use the technologies and practical activities with students in their schools.
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Paper Nr: 159
Title:

C Portal: Online Educational Framework for C and C++ languages
Authors:

Denes Nemeth, Imre Szeberényi and Ádám Gábor
Abstract: This paper introduces the C portal educational framework, which makes it possible for teachers to give out C and C++ programming language tasks and automatically compile and test the received results in a secured environment. The paper also evaluates how the compiled untrusted binary can be executed with minimal security risk. The paper discuses how the risk of privilege escalation and uncontrolled resource can be below an acceptable level in the field of education. The paper also proposes how the system can be integrated with the existing programming eaching systems like Moodle or dokeos.
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Paper Nr: 164
Title:

INTEGRATING KNOWLEDGE FROM VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENTS TO LEARNING SCENARIO MODELS : A META-MODELING APPROACH
Authors:

Nicolas Marion, Ronan Querrec and Pierre Chevaillier
Abstract: This paper focuses on learning scenario modeling for Virtual Reality Learning Environments (VRLE). Learning scenario models used in computer-supported learning environments are usually not able to describe educational activities implying interaction of learners with a virtual environment. In this paper, we propose an IMS-LD extension making it possible to describe executable educational activities taking place in virtual worlds. Moreover, the model described in this paper is generic in the sense that it can create scenarios regardless of the nature of virtual environments or application domain.
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Paper Nr: 165
Title:

QGM – A SYSTEM TO IMPROVE MATHS E-LEARNING
Authors:

Jose C. Pereira and Joaquim Sousa Pinto
Abstract: The main goal of Projecto Matemática Ensino (Mathematics Education Project) – PmatE – is to promote the learning of mathematics. To achieve that, PmatE develops since 1990 an internet project especially designed to increase the interest of students by the discipline. The core of the Project anchors on so-called “Questions Generator Model” (from the Portuguese, “Modelo Gerador de Questões”). Each “model” is a tool based on parameterized expressions, which usually allows thousands of different questions to be generated (different formulations of the same “model”) formally equivalent in terms of pedagogic content. The scope of this paper is the redesign of the former “model” using now the IEEE LOM’s structure to define the learning object and the redefinition of the model structure itself to allow the independence of the technological platform used to support the Project.
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Paper Nr: 173
Title:

TOWARDS DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED MULTIMEDIA FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCED E-LEARNING
Authors:

Duminda Nishantha, Dang H. Anh, Davar Pishva, William B. Claster and Yukuo Hayashida
Abstract: In recent years, information and communication technology and multimedia technology have increasingly altered the landscape of the educational field particularly in higher education. In that, e-learning in its broad sense makes use of network and computing resources for bringing general education to the potential benefits of distant education and face to face classroom education. The amount of multimedia support facilitated by the e-learning systems has given significant consideration in order to make distance education as effective as classroom education and make the blended leaning experience more effective. While the technology is moving toward a multimedia rich learning management system, its practical deployments is still far away, due to many unsolved technical and pedagogical problems. In this paper we discuss the design and implementation of a prototype system umeLMS which features an integrated framework that interacts with a rich set of hypermedia contents and provides ubiquitous access. The main focus of this design is threefold: first input integration by which multimedia can be incorporated into the LMS in various ways. Second, content Integration by which different forms of hypermedia is linked to the course contents. Third, access integration by which a wide array of mobile devices are supported for multimedia content browsing which creates a real u-learning environment by enabling active participation in the learning/teaching process.
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Paper Nr: 185
Title:

PROCCESS OF DEFINITION OF LEARNERS STEREOTYPES TO INTELLIGENT TUTOR SYSTEM BASED ON STRUCTURAL COMMUNICATION EXERCISES
Authors:

Robinson V. Noronha and Clovis Fernandes
Abstract: Intelligent Tutor Systems - ITSs represent, in some cases, a specific instructional technique in computer environments .To attain this desirable representation, the ITS developer faces two basic requirements: the specification of ITS architecture and the selection of instrucional techniques. The subject of this paper is the forgotten instrucional technique called Structural Communication - SC. This instructional technique stemmed from the teacher’s practice of analysing a learner’s problem solution to an ill-structured problem. This paper describes how convergent and divergent cognitive learner styles could be used to define a set of basic learner stereotype to ITS based on Structural Communication exercises. The model of learner’s stereotypes described is composed by three independent layers. These ideas of learners stereotypes were derived from the observation of how learners could employ some domain’s concepts or ideas in a convergence and divergence way to solve a ill-structured problem. The set of basic learner stereotype defined in this paper can be used to development of ITS based on Structural Communication Exercise.
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Paper Nr: 193
Title:

COMPUTER-BASED SIMULATOR TRAINING IN THE HOSPITAL - a structured program for surgical residents
Authors:

Minna Silvennoinen, Teuvo Antikainen and Jukka-Pekka Mecklin
Abstract: Rapid developments in techniques and new skills requirements have increased the need for surgical training outside the operating room (OR). Simulator training is often seen as a vital part of the surgical resident’s education. This paper presents a simulator training program aimed at providing surgical skills training for residents in a hospital. The theoretical background on the subject is considered and initial findings discussed. The results highlight the need to organize the training systematically. Simulator training prior to entering the OR should be mandatory for all residents, even though the study showed the motivation for voluntary participation to be high. The role of the specialist surgeon emerged as an essential element in the simulator training, both as an evaluator and as an instructor.
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Paper Nr: 196
Title:

FOCUSING THE DIAGNOSIS FOR STUDENT MODELLING ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Authors:

Angélica de Antonio, Jaime Ramírez and Julia Clemente
Abstract: The advances in the educational field and the high complexity of student modelling have provoked it to be one of the aspects more investigated in Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs). The Student Models (SMs) should not only represent the student’s knowledge, but rather they should reflect, as faithfully as possible, the student’s reasoning process. To facilitate this goal, in this article a new approach to student modelling is proposed that benefits from the advantages of Ontological Engineering, advancing in the pursue of a more granular and complete knowledge representation. It’s focused, mainly, in the SM cognitive diagnosis process, and we present a method based on an instructional design, providing a rich diagnosis about the student’s knowledge state –especially, about the state of learning objectives reached or not throughout their learning-, with non-monotonic reasoning capacities, and supporting it the detection and resolution of contradictions raised during the reasoning on the student’s knowledge state. The main goal is to achieve SMs with a good adaptability to the student’s features and a high flexibility for its integration in varied ITSs.
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Paper Nr: 202
Title:

A TOOL FOR TIME MANAGEMENT IN THE NEW EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Authors:

Olga Peñalba, Alvaro Garcia-Tejedor, Yolanda Cerezo and Andres Alvarez
Abstract: The present education model is being modified according to the objectives of the European Space for Higher Education. One of the main changes is the adoption of the European Credit Transfer System as the criteria for measuring the workload of learning activities. Teachers should define the learning activities of their courses so that the global workload of a group of students is balanced along the term or academic year. And students should manage their time and organise their work to efficiently achieve the learning outcomes. In this paper, we present a tool that assists both, teachers and students, in time management so that the new education paradigm can be succesfully introduced. The paper also describes a first experience of the use of this tool and the conclussions of the pilot test.
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Paper Nr: 202
Title:

A TOOL FOR TIME MANAGEMENT IN THE NEW EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Authors:

Olga Peñalba, Alvaro Garcia-Tejedor, Yolanda Cerezo and Andres Alvarez
Abstract: The present education model is being modified according to the objectives of the European Space for Higher Education. One of the main changes is the adoption of the European Credit Transfer System as the criteria for measuring the workload of learning activities. Teachers should define the learning activities of their courses so that the global workload of a group of students is balanced along the term or academic year. And students should manage their time and organise their work to efficiently achieve the learning outcomes. In this paper, we present a tool that assists both, teachers and students, in time management so that the new education paradigm can be succesfully introduced. The paper also describes a first experience of the use of this tool and the conclussions of the pilot test.
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Paper Nr: 204
Title:

A Framework To Support Students In Their Individual Studies
Authors:

Andrew Pyper, Mariana Lilley and Jill Hewitt
Abstract: Technology can be very effectively used to support students in their individual studies. However, this is a somewhat neglected area. The emphasis is on using technology to support dialogic constructivist learning environments. This is well justified, but can be problematic. Issues such as student diversity and engagement, the availability of tutor support within such environments and the demand for flexibility can profoundly affect the pedagogical effectiveness of students’ learning experiences using these environments. This paper argues that the emphasis on dialectical constructivist learning environments would benefit from greater recognition of the importance of students’ individual work. It also details a framework that supports tutors in designing learning experiences that encompass individual work as well as dialogic and collaborative work. The framework is based on three main constructs; Tasks, Narratives and Resources. It sets out a range of task types and also provides a model of resource production. In the narratives, it also provides tutors with a way of explaining their learning designs and engaging the students in them.
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Paper Nr: 206
Title:

AN AUTHORING TOOL FOR DEVELOPING HIGHLY INTERACTIVE DIGITAL BOOKS
Authors:

Eugenio Rocha, Mario Soares, Telmo Parreira and Ana Breda
Abstract: We present a document platform, denominated "IntBooks", that seamlessly aggregates web technologies into digital books, giving the reader an interactive, intelligent and rich environment, and authors a "simple" and collaborative way to build and share them. It addresses some of the common technical issues as: how should different media (e.g. mathematics formulae) be delivered and displayed in a large set of devices; how users interaction should be made and statistics collected; and how authors may reuse and mesh up content from different web repositories. A particular IntBook planned for the fifth and sixth grades of Basic Portuguese School is also discussed, emphasizing its specificities and additional features.
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Paper Nr: 211
Title:

DIGITAL INK AS A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING SUPPORT
Authors:

Ana P. Ambrosio, Halley Gondim, Lucas Provensi, Charles Gomes, Fabio Moreira Costa and Luciana Oliveira
Abstract: Collaborative Learning is a technique used in problem or task resolution where learning occurs through the exchange of knowledge between students, and between students and teachers. In some situations communication between partners is better undertaken through the use of sketches or diagrams. The proposed environment introduces several tools into a computer supported learning environment using digital ink to facilitate expressiveness and creativity.
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Paper Nr: 224
Title:

THE ROLE OF LEARNING STYLES IN INTELLIGENT TUTORING SYSTEMS
Authors:

Paulo Alves, José Pires and Luís Amaral
Abstract: The Bologna Process changes the educational paradigm, to be focus on the student and in the learning outcomes. The majority of e-learning platforms are used as mere repositories of content, based on the classroom paradigm and don’t support the individualism of each student learning process. Through the integration of new pedagogical methodologies based on students learning styles, we present an approach to intelligent tutoring systems in order to improve the learning process. This article is focused on the importance of learning styles to create the student model in intelligent tutoring systems and what was the student’s feedback about the adaptation of the system to each learning experience.
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Paper Nr: 231
Title:

THE INCREMENTAL DESIGN OF SCRIPTS BASED ON MULTI-AGENT SYSTEM
Authors:

Sara Boutamina, Hassina Seridi and Abdelkader Gouaich
Abstract: Collaborative learning is not always effective; its effects depend on the richness and intensity of interaction between students during the collaboration (Dillenbourg, 2002). This collaboration is structured using collaborative scripts. Hence, the design of these Scripts is not trivial; it requires information on learners and on their interaction. We believe that when learners are the target of any design, this one needs to be evaluated on the basis of the learners themselves. However, most of the design approaches do not use experimental feedback on the learners’ collaboration to improve the initial design. We propose in this article a method for the design of scripts basing on the experimental feedback. We suggest the use of multi-agent systems to provide help and information to the scripts designers.
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Paper Nr: 242
Title:

ADAPTATION ENGINE CONSTRUCTION BASED ON FORMAL RULES
Authors:

Dessislava Vassileva and Boyan Bontchev
Abstract: With last achievements in research and practical development of adaptive hypermedia systems, they start being more and more promising for e-learning adaptable to personal learner needs, style and performance. Every year there are constructed new technology enhanced platforms with adaptation engines controlling content management and delivery. A great problem with adaptation engine designs is that few of them facilitate a flexible and manageable control over adaptation processes. This paper is focussed exactly on problems with effective conceptual construction of adaptation engine, by means of formalization of our adaptation model for hypermedia learning courseware management and delivery. The article describes in brief a formal definition of both adaptive rules and adaptive process supporting the model. The approach proposed for adaptive engine’s construction follows a rule-driven approach and is consistent with that formalization. The implementation of the platform is under development and relies strongly on conceptual separation of adaptive rules from business logic. This guarantees an ability for editing adaptive rules at run time and, thus, to manage the adaptation process in a very flexible way.
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Paper Nr: 250
Title:

SEMANTIC ANNOTATIONS AND RETRIEVAL OF PHARMACOBOTANICAL DATA
Authors:

Sergio Serra and Ana Vieira
Abstract: In this paper we address the problem capturing knowledge needed for retrieving pharmacobotanical data using semantic descriptions. We propose a Semantic Web-based Learning Management System based on Web services, they provide a semantic reasoning layer between students’ queries and stored data, our approach enables students to handle data and get semantically rich results through the use of web-enabled semantic database queries.
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Paper Nr: 264
Title:

E-LANGUAGE, E-CULTURE, E-LITERATURE WITHIN A VIRTUAL LEARNING CONTEXT: SECONDLIFE.COM
Authors:

Gemma Delicado, Eva M. Domínguez Gómez and Paula Ferreira da Silva
Abstract: Already having an impact on language instruction, the lack of space offered to the implementation of new technologies and the Web 2.0 within the humanities is particularly absent in the culture and literature teaching fields. This absence has originated the proposal we introduce here. Along our discussion we seek to demonstrate the projection and validity of the execution of these tools and its advantages for our potential consumers, college humanities professionals, whom in general are not very familiar with the usage of ICTs in the classroom. By offering students the opportunity to surface and network with some of the Web 2.0 tools on Second Life.com, a Web-based space, they will face the acquisition of language, culture and literature through a challenging and dynamic approach, which represents a novel and motivating way of learning. Used as an educational tool, Second Life serves as a context where users can meet, communicate and learn from speakers of other languages and cultures in a synchronous way by transforming themselves into cyber-characters, the so called avatars. Thus, residing and actively participating in Second life can be for virtual students, more fruitful than learning through traditional instruction, since cyber-students interact without time or space limits, breaking conventional classroom barriers. As a consequence, the Web 2.0 offers the potential of a wide range of resources for variable kinds of innovative teaching/learning purposes which will contribute to enhance teaching within this discipline.Already having an impact on language instruction, the lack of space offered to the implementation of new technologies and the Web 2.0 within the humanities is particularly absent in the culture and literature teaching fields. This absence has originated the proposal we introduce here. Along our discussion we seek to demonstrate the projection and validity of the execution of these tools and its advantages for our potential consumers, college humanities professionals, whom in general are not very familiar with the usage of ICTs in the classroom. By offering students the opportunity to surface and network with some of the Web 2.0 tools on Second Life.com, a Web-based space, they will face the acquisition of language, culture and literature through a challenging and dynamic approach, which represents a novel and motivating way of learning. Used as an educational tool, Second Life serves as a context where users can meet, communicate and learn from speakers of other languages and cultures in a synchronous way by transforming themselves into cyber-characters, the so called avatars. Thus, residing and actively participating in Second life can be for virtual students, more fruitful than learning through traditional instruction, since cyber-students interact without time or space limits, breaking conventional classroom barriers. As a consequence, the Web 2.0 offers the potential of a wide range of resources for variable kinds of innovative teaching/learning purposes which will contribute to enhance teaching within this discipline.
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Paper Nr: 267
Title:

Education with “Living Artworks” in Museums
Authors:

Roberta Beccaceci, Francesca Spagnuolo, Cristina Giannone, Francesca Fallucchi and Fabio M. Zanzotto
Abstract: Museums need to find innovative ways of communicating if these institutions want to survive in the new era and want to play their active role of educators. In this paper, we will present our idea of living artworks. Using conversational agents we want to give artworks the capability of talking to visitors. A living artwork attracts attention, being a funny and novel combination of art and technology. The mix of experience and action has a beneficial effect in learning new concepts or facts. We will then present our methodology for building living artworks, the enabling technologies, and a case study.
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Paper Nr: 273
Title:

Proof Granularity as an Empirical Problem?
Authors:

Christoph Benzmüller and Marvin Schiller
Abstract: Even in introductory textbooks on mathematical proof, intermediate proof steps are generally skipped when this seems appropriate. This gives rise to different granularities of proofs, depending on the intended audience and the context in which the proof is presented.We have developed a mechanism to classify whether proof steps of different sizes are appropriate in a tutoring context. The necessary knowledge is learnt from expert tutors via standard machine learning techniques from annotated examples. We discuss the ongoing evaluation of our approach via empirical studies.
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Paper Nr: 275
Title:

Integration of Ontology in Distance Learning Systems: Models, Methods and Applications
Authors:

Lina Tankeleviciene and Dale Dzemydiene
Abstract: Semantic web technologies, including domain ontologies, can enhance possibilities and functionality of traditional Web systems. The problem is that these technologies are not fully adopted yet to bring benefits to final users. We analyse the oppurtunities to integrate domain ontologies into typical learning management systems in order to gain some automation or support from the system in frequent and time consuming jobs, which are performed by students and academic staff in ourdays systems. The main aim of our research is to propose a methodology for the development of the distance learning course domain ontology and its integration into the distance learning systems. In this paper, we present our research directions and proposed solutions. Furthermore, we pay here more attention to learning scenarios, which we design considering the proposed methodology and the particular learning manamement system – MOODLE – in mind.
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Paper Nr: 24
Title:

DEMO PROGRAMS FOR NORMAL AND UNIFORM RANDOM VARIABLES TRANSFORMATION
Authors:

Gordana J. Dolecek and Fred Harris
Abstract: This paper presents MATLAB-based demo programs for transformation of normal and uniform random variables. Linear as well as nonlinear transforms are considered. It is demonstrated how the transform changes the corresponding probability density function. It is also shown how to use the transformation of given random variable to generate a new desired random variable. The programs can be used as a complement to theoretical classes or alone as a self-study tool.
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Paper Nr: 31
Title:

Learning Support for English Composition by Asking Back Questions
Authors:

Hiroki Hidaka, Yasuhiko Watanabe and Yoshihiro Okada
Abstract: There are several gaps between Japanese and English expressions, such as suppositive expressions. These gaps make it difficult for Japanese students to study English composition. For example, realizable possibilities are described clearly in English suppositive expressions, on the other hand, they are frequently omitted in Japanese suppositive expressions. As a result, when Japanese students translate Japanese suppositive expressions into English, they are often forced to reveal the realizable possibilities which are not described clearly in Japanese expressions. In this way, it is important to make students aware of realizable possibilities when they try to translate Japanese suppositive expressions into English. To solve this problem, in this paper, we propose a learning support method for English composition by using asking back questions. Our system asks users back and make them aware of realizable possibility.
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Paper Nr: 32
Title:

Information Extraction for Supporting a Learner's Efforts to recoginize what the learner did not understand
Authors:

Naoki Isogai, Ryo Nishimura, Yasuhiko Watanabe and Yoshihiro Okada
Abstract: Asking a question is an essential method of learning. Especially, when problems in learner's question are pointed out, the learner has a chance to recognize what he/she did not understand. As a result, we intend to develop a learning support system which points problems in learner's questions and give the learner a chance to recognize what he/she did not understand. In this study, we propose a method of extarcting information from questions and their answers posted to Q&A sites for supporting a learner.
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Paper Nr: 56
Title:

COMMON SOFTWARE ENGINEERING COURSE – EXPERIENCES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
Authors:

Zoran Budimac, Zoran Budimac, Mirjana Ivanovic and Klaus Bothe
Abstract: A joint common course has been created as a result of a project of the “Stability Pact of South-Eastern Europe” and DAAD. It has been conducted in Novi Sad, Serbia, with graduate students, and in Tirana, Albania, with master students by teachers from Berlin and Novi Sad. In this paper, similar methods used in each of these courses, and outcomes reached by students are presented and compared with the achievements within the “original” course, conducted at the Humboldt University in Berlin.
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Paper Nr: 73
Title:

A NEW APPROACH TO TEACHING AND LEARNING STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Authors:

Paul LAM, S Kitipornchai and T Reichl
Abstract: After the 9/11 incident, many structural educators became aware of the importance of inculcating in their students a clear understanding of local and global structural behaviour to develop basic knowledge about the progressive collapse of structures. The authors of this paper have addressed the issue by training students through ‘virtual’ experiments in a self-learning environment with the help of a newly developed software application, iSA (Instant Structural Analysis). One of the outstanding features of this application is that it al-lows students to instantly observe the changes in structural behaviour that are induced by changes in loading conditions, structural geometry, support conditions and member properties. This paper not only discusses the need to modify traditional teaching methods in the education of the new generation of structural engineers, but also presents some of the features of iSA that serve as handy tools in the teaching and learning of structural analysis.
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Paper Nr: 86
Title:

Using Semantic Technologies and Case Based Reasoning to Support Course Curriculum Design Tasks
Authors:

Javier Vaquero, Carlos Toro, Nieves Alcaín, Jesus Rosel, Mar Segura, Josune Prieto and Ricardo Ferreria
Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to Course Curriculum Design (CCD) where Semantic Technologies and Case Based Reasoning (CBR) techniques are used to assure (i) a better understanding of the course being designed and (ii) an efficient use of the available resources. Our work focuses on re-utilization of previously modelled information (courses, tasks, evaluations, etc.) in order to maximize the efficiency of the Course Design process while at the same time embedding implicit and experential knowledge of the course designers. Our approach is presented through an easy to follow architecture that can be adapted to course curriculum regulations of most European and American models. As a test case, we present an implementation for a Spanish technician-level telecommunications course, to demonstrate the benefits of our proposal.
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Paper Nr: 96
Title:

GETTING ECLIPSE INTO THE CLASSROOM
Authors:

Dwight Deugo
Abstract: In this paper, I describe an approach to integrating Eclipse into the classroom for the purpose of having students develop assignments using the Java, Scheme and Prolog programming languages. The approach attempts to overcome three problems. 1) Students wanting to learn about Eclipse have no idea where to start. 2) Educators wanting to teach Eclipse do not have available the breadth of material required to introduce students to it. 3) In most institutions, there is no room in the existing curricula to dedicate courses for explicitly teaching Eclipse.
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Paper Nr: 97
Title:

A Tiled Display System for Immersive Education
Authors:

Sang-Youn Kim, Hyen-Keun Park and Do-Yoon Kim
Abstract: Virtual reality systems may be used as a new educational tool because a user can be provided immersive sensation as he/she experiences a real object. A tiled display is one of the virtual reality systems which generates high-quality images and guarantees wide view angle using multiple projectors. In this work, we present a tiled display system which has high resolution screen (its resolution is 4096 x 1536 and its effective resolution is 3200x1200). We apply a seamless technique to this system in order to remove joint lines and to improve the quality of images. Furthermore, we implement educational contents for experiencing a CMOS manufacturing process based on the proposed tiled display system.
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Paper Nr: 105
Title:

BUILDING THE EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION AREA: A SUBJECT IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY
Authors:

Marcos Gestal, Juan Ramón Rabuñal, Julian Dorado, Daniel Rivero and Alejandro Pazos Sierra
Abstract: This article describes the “Security in Information Systems” subject that is currently imparted at the University of A Coruña as part of its Master in Computer Sciences. This subject is organized as a response to the requirements of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and of extreme importance to future computer experts, since security is such a delicate and essential part of any information system. Special care has been given to the development of this subject, which requires continuous and timely updating.
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Paper Nr: 109
Title:

SERIOUS GAMING, MANAGEMENT AND LEARNING: AN AGENT BASED PERSPECTIVE
Authors:

Marco Remondino, Marco Pironti and Anna M. Bruno
Abstract: We present the construction and experimental application of a web based system for teaching topics of Business Administration. The same concepts can be easily extended to other formative areas, and used to transfer knowledge (learning by doing). The system realizes a cooperative behaviour of human agents (learners) who interactively take decisions for a simulated profit oriented enterprise. The technical design is based on System Dynamics and Artificial Agent modelling. An agent based framework is applied to the model in the form of virtual tutoring system for learners; the cognitive agents learn through a trial and error technique. After the trial period, they can be used as a decision support system for the human learners.
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Paper Nr: 111
Title:

A GESTURAL INTERFACE FOR ORCHESTRAL CONDUCTING EDUCATION
Authors:

Lijuan Peng and David Gerhard
Abstract: Over the past few years, a number of computer-based orchestral conducting systems have been designed and implemented. However, only a few of them have been developed to help a user learn and practice musical conducting gestures. This paper is intended to address research related to this area. It utilizes an infrared baton and an acceleration sensor to track the standard conducting gestures. The infrared baton is similar to a conducting baton and has little influence on the conducting. A drill and practice instructional strategy has been applied in this gestural interface. Five options are implemented. Once an option is chosen, users must conduct according to the supported conducting gestures. While a student is conducting, his/her gestures are identified and followed by the system using an accurate and relatively simple process. The conducting is interpreted using a few visual items that clearly show a conducting gesture and reveal its quality. In addition, aural representation informs students of beats or errors when eyes are busy.
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Paper Nr: 123
Title:

A Design of Complementary Community Currencies for Education
Authors:

Josep Lluis de la Rosa, Joan Batlle, Boleslaw Szymanski, Elisabet Batlle and Mukkai Krishnamoorthy
Abstract: This paper proposes a design for complementary community currencies for education communities to boost cooperation of the more advanced students with the less advanced ones. Its design follows two goals: motivating students to learn by doing extra homework (effort) and share knowledge with younger students (tutoring), and shifting the role of teachers towards a more supervisory, tutoring and dynamic tasks. The hypothesis, following a Brazilian example, is that colleges may accept as payment for their tuitions not only conventional legal currencies, but also educational complementary currencies. The traditional grants policies based on personal effort will be paid with bunnies, and modern community tutoring effort will be paid with knowls. The bunnies and knowls will be obtained as a reward of doing homework and providing help for homework, respectively, and as an expected result, students will have more solid knowledge background at all levels resulting from their boosted personal and community effort.
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Paper Nr: 133
Title:

TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATED LEARNING IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL. Some aspects of forming reflection and assessment skills to young pupils
Authors:

Rumyana Papancheva and Krasimira Dimitrova
Abstract: The information society we are living in is looking for new ways to help the new generation in the process of forming skills and knowledge about the use of new technologies. One of the main accents is on the abilities of forming skills for reflection, critical thinking, evaluation and self-evaluation. To form and create successful personalities who will manage to develop their talent and to implement their abilities in complex way, a systematic and purposeful education has to be proposed. Earlier the education process starts, more real the desired results will be obtained. The paper considers the constructivism’s ideas of reforming the learning process. A model of technologies integrated learning in the Primary school that was approbated in the pedagogical practice is described. A way of forming skills for reflection and assessment – skills so important for one to have really successful realization in life – is proposed.
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Paper Nr: 135
Title:

E-LEARNING AND SEMANTIC WEB
Authors:

Alex Karakos
Abstract: E-Learning is fast, relevant and just-in-time learning grown from the learning requirements of the new, dynamically changing and distributed educational world. The term “Semantic Web” encompasses efforts to build a new WWW architecture that supports content with formal semantics, which enables better possibilities for searching and navigating through the cyberspace. As such, the Semantic Web represents a promising technology for realizing e-Learning requirements. This paper presents an approach for implementing the e-Learning scenario using Semantic Web technologies. It is primarily based on ontology-based descriptions of content, context and structure of the learning materials and benefits the providing of and accessing to the learning materials
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Paper Nr: 139
Title:

Design of a Synchronous Collaborative Learning Environment
Authors:

Simon Schwantzer, Paul Müller and Dirk Henrici
Abstract: In complex fields of knowledge, working in unmoderated small groups is a common approach for creating knowledge out of given information. Taking a look at the portfolio of learning environments, only a few systems provide the necessary functionality for synchronous collaboration. In most of them, synchronicity is reduced to communication. The aim of this work is the design of a synchronous collaboration environment which fulfills the requirements to enable members of a small group working together efficiently via computer networks. Based on the three elements communication, cooperation and coordination, a concept for an appropriate groupware is created and a flexible model defined. A sample environment called "SLE" is developed to demonstrate the applicability.
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Paper Nr: 142
Title:

Hybrid Method to Design Multi-language Web Sites
Authors:

Mihai Bizoi, Ana-Maria Suduc and Gabriel Gorghiu
Abstract: Language promotes the most suitable way for expressing ideas, habits and values. For a multinational educational project (Comenius 2.1.) with a widespread European target group, it is very important to provide the online educational resources (courses, virtual instruments, etc.) through the project website, in several languages: English (as a worldwide spoken language) and partners’ languages. This paper briefly presents three methods to create multi-language web sites and proposes a new architecture – the hybrid method architecture. In addition an example of a multi-language web site implementation is illustrated.
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Paper Nr: 153
Title:

TOWARDS LIBRARY SUPPORTED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Authors:

Toshiro Minami
Abstract: Due to the development of information and communication technology our information environment has greatly changed. People’s requests to libraries have been changing along with it. As a result the library materials are changing from printed ones to network media. Considering such a circumstance we anticipate that learning assistance should be one of the major library services in the future. In this paper, we propose a model of collaborative learning in which the library users, or patrons, are implicitly helping each other as they learn. The basic idea of this approach to collaboration comes from the mechanism of collaborative filtering. Not only the learners but also the librarians are supposed to help the learners with advising their learning materials and managing their learning processes; which is considered to be a style of extended reference service by libraries. We anticipate that by mixing up the traditional reference services and the ones that support patrons’ learning processes the future libraries would be able to keep existing as reliable organizations and librarians would be considered to be their reliable supporters.
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Paper Nr: 160
Title:

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON USING SEVERAL VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTATION SOFTWARE IN EDUCATION
Authors:

Ana-Maria Suduc, Gabriel Gorghiu, Mihai Bizoi, Wladyslaw Masior and Maria Latka
Abstract: Using Virtual Experiments become one of the main methods for Science teaching in actual Education. Their power on creating simulation-based learning environments is well-known and many teachers have already adopted the virtual experiments to be used in their classrooms. The great extension of the Virtual experiments determined 9 institutions to propose a Socrates-Comenius 2.1. European project called VccSSe - Virtual Community Collaborating Space for Science Education project (code: 128989-CP-1-2006-1-RO-COMENIUS-C21) coordinated by Valahia University of Targoviste, Romania which has as main objective to adapt, develop, test, implement and disseminate training modules, teaching methodologies and pedagogical strategies based on the use of Virtual Instruments, with the view to their implementation in the classrooms. In the first year of the project, three software products were chosen for developing the process of training: Cabri Geometry II, LabVIEW and Crocodile Clips. This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis, made by the tutors who trained the in-serviced teachers on using the mentioned software products.
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Paper Nr: 176
Title:

TOUCHING VIRTUAL REALITY: AN EFFECTIVE LEARNING CHANCE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE
Authors:

Fabio De Felice, Floriana Renna, Giovanni Attolico and A. Distante
Abstract: This paper presents a Virtual Reality (VR) system that allows visual impaired users to explore Virtual Environments (VEs) by a haptic/acoustic interaction. The system may have many interesting educational applications: indeed visually impaired people can access and learn informative contents conveyed by opportunely designed and rendered 3D VEs. Moreover a visual 3D scene editor allows domain experts, responsible of the learning process, to design the VE even if not well grounded in VR. This tool enables an easy prototipization and a fast modification of the haptic/acoustic rendering to fit users feedback: therefore the design of the learning experience arises from the cooperation of the domain expert with the final users.
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Paper Nr: 210
Title:

Deep Thought - Web Based System for Managing and Presentation of Research and Student Projects
Authors:

Tomáš Gregar, Radka Pospíšilová and Tomas Pitner
Abstract: There are plenty of projects solved each day at academic venues -- small in-term students' projects without any real usability, bachelor and diploma thesis, large interdisciplinary or internationally supported projects. Each of them has its own set of requirements how to manage it. Aim of our paper is to describe these requirements, and to show how we tried to satisfy them. As a result of further analysis we designed and implemented system Deep Thought (under development since autumn 2007), which united the management of distinct categories of projects in one portal. System is based on open-source technology, it is modular and hence it is capable to integrate heterogeneous tools such as version control system, wiki, project presenting and managing. This paper also introduces aims of the future development of the system, such as interoperability with other management systems or better connection with the lecture content and teaching process.
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Paper Nr: 218
Title:

STUDY ON ACUQUISITION OF LECTURER AND STUDENTS ACTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM
Authors:

Mayumi Ueda, Takafumi Marutani, Masayuki Murakami, Hironori Hattori, Hironori Hattori, Yoshitaka Morimura, Michihiko Minoh and Koh Kakusho
Abstract: Recently, there are many lecture archive services that provides lecture video, presentation slide and written text and figure on whiteboard. However, the contents of lecture archive system are decided by the provider of the service. In this paper, we propose a new lecture archiving method based on students’ viewpoint. Our archiving system adopts the viewpoint that the majority of students are watching. We conduct verification of our proposal method, by preliminary experiment. Furthermore, we consider that our acquisition technology of lecturer and student action helps lecturers to recognize students’ ROI (Region of Interest) in the classroom.
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Paper Nr: 241
Title:

SUPPORTING THE AUTONOMOUS LEARNING PROCESS WITH SIENA

Authors:

Carina González, Lorenzo Moreno, Evelio González, Claudia Oliveira and Beatrice Popescu
Abstract: This paper present a tool called SIENA that helps in the building knowledge in an autonomous learning process through: a) an open student model; and b) a student conceptual map to explorer and for instrospection. However, this new tool uses adaptive tests based on a Progressive Inquiry (PI) model. This tool has been used for teaching Computer Architecture in the School of Computer Science in the University of La Laguna, Canary Island.
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Paper Nr: 247
Title:

LEARNING WITH FUN: AN APPLICATION OF VISUAL CRYPTOGRAPHY
Authors:

Young-Chang Hou and Zen-Yu Quan
Abstract: Visual Cryptography, an emerging cryptography technology, exploits the characteristics of human visual system to decrypt the overlapping images without mass and complicated computations. Since Naor and Shamir proposed the basic model of visual cryptography in the Eurocrypt’94, almost all the related studies have concentrated on the topics of the information security. In this paper, we propose to use the technique of visual cryptography to teach young kids counting. It can stimulate the curiosity of the kids and increase the fun of learning.
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Paper Nr: 258
Title:

Community-Legitimated E-Testing - A basis for a novel and sustainable (e)learning culture?

Authors:

Fritz Nestle and Nikolaus Nestle
Abstract: Based on the assumption that educational standards can be operationally defined by pools of specific testing items properties of such item pools are discussed. The main suggestion of the paper is that pools of testing items defining a standard should be free accessible in internet, that they provide immediate feedback in form of scores and that certified results should be equivalent to results of classroom work. For the development of the item pools, web-2.0-type methods can be much more effective than closed expert groups. Finally the consequences of such transparent community-legitimated standards for the future role of teachers und future forms of learning environments are discussed.
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Area 2 - Learning/Teaching Methodologies and Assessment

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 69
Title:

Bridges and Problem Solving -- Swedish Engineering Students Conceptions of Engineering in 2007
Authors:

Mattias Wiggberg, Mattias Wiggberg and Peter Dalenius
Abstract: Swedish engineering students' conceptions of engineering is investigated by a large nation-wide study in ten Swedish higher education institutions. Based on data from surveys and interviews, categories and top-lists, a picture of students conceptions of engineering is presented. Students' conceptions of engineering, are somewhat divergent, but dealing with problems and their solutions and creativity are identified as core concepts. The survey data is in general more varied and deals with somewhat different kinds of terms. When explicitly asking for five engineering terms a broader picture arises including terms, or concepts, denoting how students think of engineering and work in a more personal way. For example, words like hard work, stressful, challenging, interesting, and fun are used. Knowledge on students' conceptions of engineering is essential for practitioners in engineering education. By information on students' conceptions, the teaching can approach students at their particular mindset of the engineering field. Program managers with responsibility for design of engineering programs would also benefit using information on students' conceptions of engineering. Courses could be motivated and contextualized in order to connect with the students. Recruitment officers would also have an easier time marketing why people should chose the engineering track.
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Paper Nr: 174
Title:

Comparison of Oral Examination and Examination Methods Based on Multiple-Choice Questions Using Personal Computers
Authors:

Dimos Triantis, Charalampos Stergiopoulos and Tsiakas Panagiotis
Abstract: The aim of this work was to compare the use of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) as an examination method, to the one based on oral-response questions (ORQs). The MCQs have an advantage concerning objectivity in the grading process and speed in production of results. But they also introduce an error in the final formulation of the score. The error concerns the probability of answering a question by chance or based on an instinctive feeling. In the present study, both MCQ and ORQ tests were given to examinees, in the framework of a computer-based learning system. Avoiding the procedure of mixed scoring, e.g. both positive and negative markings, a set of pairs of MCQs was composed. The MCQs in each pair were similar, produced by the same topic. This similarity was not evident for an examinee without adequate knowledge on the particular topic. The examination based on these “paired” MCQs, by using a suitable scoring rule, when made to the same sample of students, οn the same topics and with the same levels of difficulty, gave results that were statistically indistinguishable with the grades produced by an examination based on ORQs, while both the “paired” MCQ test results and the ORQ test results differed significantly from those obtained from a MCQ using positive-only scoring rule.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 18
Title:

INTERNATIONALISING THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS MODULE

Authors:

Andreas Gregoriades, Vicky Papadopoulou and Maria Pampaka
Abstract: The work described here draws on the emergent need to internationalise the curriculum in higher education. The paper in particular focuses on the internationalisation of the Management Information Systems (MIS) module and the identification of learning differences among the two dominant cultural groups in higher education in the UK: Asian and European students. The identification of differences among knowledge patterns of these cultural groups is achieved through the application of a concept mapping technique. The research question addressed is: How can we internationalise the MIS module’s content and teaching methods to provide for students from different cultural backgrounds?
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Paper Nr: 29
Title:

An Innovative Educational Environment for the Interactive Learning of Data Structures: From Algebraic Specification to Implementation
Authors:

Rafael D. Vado Vírseda
Abstract: The high level of abstraction necessary to teach "data structures" and "algorithmic schemes" have been more than a hindrance to students. In order to make a proper approach to this issue, we have developed and implemented, during the last years, at the Computer Science Department of the Complutense University of Madrid, an innovative interactive learning system according to the new guidelines of the European Higher Education Area. In this paper, we present the new main contributions to this system. In the first place, we describe the tool called Vedya for the visualization of data structures and algorithmic schemes. In the second place, the Maude system to execute the algebraic specifications of abstract data types using Eclipse, by which it is possible to study from the more abstract level of a software specification up to its specific implementation in Java, thereby allowing the students a self-learning process.
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Paper Nr: 74
Title:

A COMPUTER-AIDED METHODOLOGY FOR DIRECT AND INDIRECT MONITORING OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

Authors:

Erika Pigliapoco and Emanuele Lattanzi
Abstract: Learning is a complex process that needs to be carefully taken under control by assessing its outcomes (direct monitoring) and by identifying the factors that might affect them (indirect monitoring). A large number of well-documented assessment techniques is available, but they are heterogeneous in nature and they are independently applied even within the same institution, so that they produce results which are not suitable for comparison and cross-processing. This paper presents an integrated computer-aided methodology that makes use of a comprehensive set of questionnaires (monitoring tools) administered within a unified framework (software assessment tool) in order to gather coherent data sets on which advanced statistical analyses can be performed. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated on a real-world case study.
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Paper Nr: 75
Title:

AulaWeb, web-based learning as a commodity. The experience of the University of Genova.
Authors:

Marina Ribaudo and Marina Rui
Abstract: Starting from the academic year 2005/2006, the University of Genova has foster the use of AulaWeb, a virtual environment based on the open source software Moodle, to promote the introduction of web-based technologies in the traditional educational process. We describe in this paper the experience of the past four years presenting the approach we have followed to encourage the use of AulaWeb among faculties, the numbers of users (faculties, students, courses) we have reached, an Instructional Design course we have organised to promote educational technology.
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Paper Nr: 80
Title:

AN INTERACTIVE MOBILE LEARNING TOOL FOR LARGE CLASS-ROOM TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Authors:

S. W. Cheung
Abstract: This paper presents a simple interactive m-learning tool for large class-room teaching and assessment. The problems occur in teaching a large class are discussed and using the m-learning tool presented is proposed as a solution. In teaching large classes, the teachers very often find it very difficult to know how much the students have learnt and their levels of understanding in the class. With the use of the m-learning tool, teachers can monitor the progress of students during class and know what the students need, hence adjust their teaching pace to adapt the students’ learning ability. To access some of the effects, the m-learning tool has been modified to be used in a mobile quiz contest with participation of 17 secondary and primary schools. Feedbacks in the events are very encouraging.
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Paper Nr: 104
Title:

A Flexible and Modular Software Architecture for Computer Aided Assessments and Automated Marking
Authors:

Michael Striewe, Michael Goedicke and Moritz Balz
Abstract: In this paper we describe and discuss a flexible and modular software architecture for computer aided assessments and automated marking of exercise solutions. General requirements and problems are outlined with respect to assessment and self-training scenarios. As the main research result based on these requirements, an appropriate complete solution is presented by depicting a distributed, extendable, server-based assessment environment. Both the requirements and the architecture are evaluated by means of an actual system that is in use for assessments in Java programming for three years.
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Paper Nr: 140
Title:

Grammar and communication in Portuguese as a foreign language: A study in the context of teletandem interactions
Authors:

Douglas A. Consolo, Aline Brocco and Camila Custódio
Abstract: This paper presents a study about the role of grammar in on-line interactions conducted in Portuguese and in English, between Brazilian and English-speaking interactants, with the aim of teaching Portuguese as a foreign language (PFL). The interactions occurred by means of the MSN Messenger and generated audio and video data for language analysis. Grammar is dealt with from two perspectives an inductive and a deductive approach, so as to investigate the relevance of systematization of grammar rules in the process of learning PFL.
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Paper Nr: 151
Title:

Student Research Projects in System Design
Authors:

Mark Levin
Abstract: The article describes a new educational approach to support the movement from traditional educational process to research and/or engineering (design) activity in computer science/information technology, engineering, and applied mathematics. The approach was realized as faculty course for advanced senior undergraduate students (information technology). The basic educational flow is: applied problem, mathematical model, algorithm, software, computing the results, report. Twelve laboratory works support the flow above. In each work a combinatorial and/or multicriteria problem is(are) considered (e.g., multicriteria ranking, multiple choice problem, multicriteria assignment/allocation, clustering) including applied examples, algorithm(s), Matlab program(s). Thus students can obtain their skills in applied problems, models, and algorithms. In addition, each student can take into account his/her inclination, motivations, and personal goals. As a result, the student can select a part of the educational flow above to prepare a modified or new version of the part (i.e., applied problem, model, algorithm). Concurrently, students obtain a skills in composition of problems/models/algorithms to get a framework for a complex real world application. Motivated students have conducted research projects and their articles were published.
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Paper Nr: 157
Title:

VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIROMENT FOR PHYSICS INSTRUCTION
Authors:

Pilar Martinez-Jimenez, Rosario Posadillo Sanchez de Puerta, Mª Carmen Garcia Martinez, Gerardo Pedros-Perez and Marta Varo Martinez
Abstract: In this work, the characteristics and educational applications of a virtual computer-assisted environment teaching related with the motion of projectiles subjected to the force of the air ( http://rabfis15.uco.es/lvct/descargas/fisica/17/) is presented . This web portal has been designed as an interactive tutorial system including several modules (simulations, problem resolution, knowledge evaluation, etc.), it has been applied as a complementary teaching aid for the subject “General Physics” in the first year of Engineering and it is aimed to improve the understanding of the influence of the friction forces which vary with the speed of the two-dimensional motions.
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Paper Nr: 171
Title:

Cupi2 Community. Promoting a Networking Culture that Supports the Teaching of Computer Programming
Authors:

Jorge Villalobos, Nadya Calderón and Camilo Jiménez
Abstract: Difficulties in computer programming education have prompted the need to tackle the teaching and learning of programming from alternative pedagogical approaches. However, modern engineering education demands more than simply working around the students’ learning process. Others who play important roles in academia face substantial challenges as they support the management of knowledge and the improvement in teaching within computer science (CS) departments. As a possible solution to these challenges, an emerging online community culture has applied an effective strategy that can guide people working toward common goals. To support teachers and CS departments in charge of computer programming education, this paper presents a social network developed with active learning approaches: the Cupi2 Community, a set of people, policies, resources, contributions, technological mechanisms, and interaction strategies that promote the generation of collective knowledge and offer continuous support to CS educators involved with active learning approaches.
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Paper Nr: 178
Title:

Welcome Module: An experience focused on familiarizing students with distance education courses
Authors:

Jose Aravena-Reyes, Rosilãna Diaz, Núbia Schaper Santos and Deniele P. Batista
Abstract: The Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), through its Distance Education Center (NEAD), has been developing formative actions for students, teachers, tutors and center coordinators. Such initiative is part of the Integrated Program for Institutional Formation 2008 from Brazil’s Open University System (UAB). This text presents a fragment of such program: it focuses on the didactic-pedagogical experiences in the Welcome Module. This module aims on familiarizing the students enrolled both in the undergraduate and graduate (lato sensu) divisions with the particular aspects of distance education courses. The discussion foci are the online activities: their pedagogical conception, conduction methods and student feedbacks. Finally, we present some considerations in regards to such Welcome Module experience as well as its contribution to the Distance Education (DE) scenario in Brazil. In this sense, we highlight the didactic design of the Welcome Module, emphasizing the development of student autonomy, an ability which is essential for the continuity and the success of an online course.
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Paper Nr: 179
Title:

A multiplatform LCMS approach that allows multidimensional analysis
Authors:

Eduard Cespedes-Borras, Javier Serrano, Jordi Carrabina and Aitor Rodriguez
Abstract: The main idea of this paper consists in adding tags to the contents available in any given course materials structured according to any Learning Content Management System (LCMS). Tags, very popular in web 2.0 applications, give a free and flexible way of characterizing materials according to any criteria that a teacher can imagine. Therefore, one can use them for any specific analysis and clustering of both teaching methodology and students learning. Our approach claims to be platform independent in the sense that can be applied on top of any current LCMS. To achieve that property, we define a XML specification that includes specific, platform dependent, queries. This choice is much more efficient than building plug-ins or hardcoded solutions for any existing learning platform (and its underlying data-base). At the end of the paper, we show the powerfulness of this approach with a course example.
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Paper Nr: 201
Title:

DESIGNING EFFECTIVE INTERACTIVE TOOLS FOR STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT GEOMETRIC TRANSFORMATIONS
Authors:

Eugenio Rocha, Ana Vasconcelos, Rute Domingues and Ana Breda
Abstract: How to conceive educational software in order to enhance learning? The emergent educational technology has brought us a number of tools that makes possible to create multiple pedagogical conditions, encouraging a constructivist approach to learning. The purpose of this paper is to show how to conceive interactive learning tools to generate engaging pedagogical experiences for the learning of geometric transformations at basic school level.
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Paper Nr: 212
Title:

DESIGNING A PROGRAMMING COURSE TO FOSTER CREATIVITY USING UML MODELING TEMPLATE
Authors:

Norio Ishii, Yuki Nagao, Takashi Fujii, Yuri Suzuki and Hironobu Fujiyoshi
Abstract: Recently, the education program which aimed at raising of the creativity is practiced engineering education. Though the effect of that education is being investigated by the questionnaire, that isn’t sufficient as an objective evaluation. So, we propose the UML (Unified Modeling Language) modeling template that aimed at the use to the evaluation of the learning result in the creativity education. Then, the education that a proposed template was used for was practiced. Furthermore, we researched a change in “creative problem solving ability” by evaluating a made model objectively. Some effect was confirmed from that result of investigation.
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Paper Nr: 221
Title:

CHALLENGES OF SUPERVISING STUDENT PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH AUTHENTIC CLIENTS
Authors:

Maritta Pirhonen
Abstract: There is a growing need for qualified project managers in the field of IS. The competencies and skills needed in project managers’ work can not be learned only by reading the books. What kind of challenges does this bring to educators and educational systems, especially in universities? These challenges include such as, how to teach management and leadership skills and social competence needed in IS project management? Project-based learning (PBL) is an approach that enables students to learn management and leadership skills successfully in a working life driven project. PBL has proved to be an effective approach for learning skills and competencies demanded in project working. However, using PBL method alone does not guarantee learning result. In order to be successful, PBL method requires effective and competent supervision and guidance of students. This article focuses in supervising work-related project learning carried out in collaboration with authentic clients.
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Paper Nr: 163
Title:

Concentration tests - an application of gaze tracker to concentration exercises
Authors:

Bartosz Kunka, Andrzej Czyzewski and Bozena Kostek
Abstract: This paper presents different methods of concentration tests. Some existing methods are reviewed and more thoroughly described. The gaze tracking system developed at the Multimedia Systems Department of the Gdańsk University of Technology is presented and its principle of working is explained. Performed tests of the gaze tracker system show that it could make a useful system for concentration exercises. Some selected applications of the gaze tracker to concentration tests are also discussed in the paper.
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Paper Nr: 166
Title:

PERSONALIZATION IN HYPERMEDIA LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
Authors:

J. Enrique Agudo, Mercedes Rico, Patricia Edwards and Héctor Sánchez
Abstract: Protocol technologies present a wide range of challenges for educators and learners, from course design to teaching practices to assessment. Having moved beyond traditional teaching approaches, hypermedia, enhancing a more goal directed learning format, grants people the chance to learn greater amounts of information more quickly. In this context, academia needs to know how learning can be effectively measured in technological environments. Regardless of the answer, it is essential to develop evaluation systems that support all kinds of teaching and assessment practices. With this aim in mind, this paper proposes two assessment methods which may best suit language learning in online environments: first, architecture providing personalization services for adaptive educational hypermedia, and, second, the online portfolio which measures performance based on collections of student-created work.
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Paper Nr: 184
Title:

INTEGRATED MANUFACTUING LABORATORY AND SOFTWARE TOOLS APPLIED TO AN INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE COURSE
Authors:

Fabio Lima
Abstract: This paper describes the experience of using software tools associated with an integrated manufacturing laboratory in an industrial engineering undergraduate course. The integrated manufacturing laboratory has got three complete manufacturing cells integrated by computer. The aim of the laboratory is to provide to the industrial engineering student a powerful analysis capability of how to use these kinds of systems to improve product quality and production performance. To do that, computational models are implemented using software tools like Visual Object Net++, Promodel® and WEB support. Finally, the models are validated in laboratory experiments. It was observed that such strategy has been given excellent learning results.
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Paper Nr: 230
Title:

FORMATION OF TEAM WORKING SKILLS BY APPLYING DISTANCE LEARNING METHODS
Authors:

Dalia Kriksciuniene and Virgilijus Sakalauskas
Abstract: In this article the problematic of formation of teams, working in the distance learning (DL) environment is analysed. It seeks to reveal the specific functions of virtual teamwork, effectiveness of tools and technologies for communication, and collaboration levels. This research should promote the teamwork skills for students, and to elaborate highlights, how the DL courses have to be prepared, what type of tasks and course materials may be used, what is optimal size of the team and the demanded time frame. The evaluation systems, criteria, tests and necessity for self-control tasks are discussed. The article reveals benefits of teamwork for utilization of distance learning materials. The article is based on the case of preparing the DL modules within the framework of the project, supported by structural funds of European Union „The integral development of Lithuanian distance learning system“.
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Paper Nr: 256
Title:

Learning Computer Programming with Game Design
Authors:

Parth Dalal, Nikunj Dalal and Subhash Kak
Abstract: We describe a teaching approach that introduces the computer science and information systems student to programming ideas using game design. Game-creation software that requires little or no programming knowledge is used for this purpose. Students construct a simple game using the software, and later they convert their game events to pseudo-code written using standard programming constructs. This rapid game creation teaching module can be implemented rather quickly and can be used as a precursor to the teaching of a formal programming language. In this paper, we overview the pedagogical model, discuss a rapid game creation tool, present a teaching plan, and outline the potential benefits of this approach.
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Paper Nr: 272
Title:

WEB-BASED TOOLS FOR ENHANCING TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS - Helping to Build a High Quality Teaching Workforce

Authors:

Ngoc Lam-Miller, Susan Courey, Xinhang Shao and Kazunori Okada
Abstract: This paper presents our ongoing work for designing, developing, and deploying a web-based support tool for preservice credential candidates in special education programs. Our web-based application is divided into two major components: E-portfolio Manager and Lesson Plan Creator. To help reduce workload of credential candidates as well as improve their professional teaching skills, we have designed a lesson plan creator system with the idea of shortening their time required for creating sound lesson plans. Another parallel equally important goal is to help programs manage credential candidates’ progress throughout their university work. Our application will move paper-based assignments, artifacts and evaluation forms into digital format for efficient management and assessment of credential candidate work. Additionally, it helps collect statistical data for improving our program, thus increasing quality of teaching. This paper offers our discussion on the advantages of the presented technology, as well as our future plans for further development of the presented system.
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Area 3 - Social Context and Learning Environments

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 67
Title:

LEARNING TO PROGRAM: From Pear-Shaped to Pairs
Authors:

Donna Teague
Abstract: The consistently high failure rate in Queensland University of Technology’s introductory programming subject reflects a similar dilemma facing other universities worldwide. Experiments were conducted to quantify the effectiveness of collaborative learning on introductory level programming students over a number of semesters, replicating previous studies in this area. A selection of workshops in the introductory programming subject required students to problem-solve and program in pairs, mimicking the eXtreme Programming concept of pair programming. The failure rate for the subject fell from what had been an average of 30% since 2003 (with a high of 41% in 2006), to just 5% for those students who worked consistently in pairs.
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Paper Nr: 132
Title:

LARGE SCALE BUSINESS-ACADEMIA COLLABORATION IN MASTER EDUCATION COURSE

Authors:

Noriaki Sakamoto, Keijiro Araki, Tsunenori Mine, Akira Fukuda, Mohammad Mesbah Uddin, Tsuneo Nakanishi, Yoichi Omori, Hiroto Yasuura, Shigeru Kusakabe, Teruaki Kitasuka and Mitsuaki Fukase
Abstract: The progress of Information Technology, which is the infrastructure of an advanced information society, is remarkable and has the enormous impact on our daily life. On the other hand, it has been pointed out by the industry in Japan that there is a lack of highly skilled Information and Communication Technology personnel who can lead the next generation. In order to address this issue, the Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering in Kyushu University has established Social Information System Engineering education course. Since April 2007, we have started practical education program with an objective to foster world class leaders who have extraordinary technical skill, basic knowledge and sense of ethics. This effort is steadily progressing by the collaboration with various companies through Nippon Keidanren with support of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. There have been several findings in 1) Project Based Learning, 2) omnibus courses, 3) long term internship, and 4) curriculum improvements during the planning and execution of this program. This paper describes the content, method, interim result and evaluation of this education course. We also discuss the challenges that need to be resolved.
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Paper Nr: 181
Title:

A Culture of Sharing: A look at identity development through the creation and presentation of digital media projects

Authors:

Caitlin Martin, Brigid Barron, Nichole Pinkard and Kimberly Austin
Abstract: We share two longitudinal case studies of thirteen-year-old students who were part of a design intervention focusing on media production and technological fluency, tracking how project production and presentation developed students’ sense of themselves and their reputation within the community. Practices supporting positive academic and creative identity development are highlighted
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Paper Nr: 223
Title:

MULTIPLATFORM ENVIRONMENT JOINING DIGITAL TV, MOBILE DEVICES AND TRADITIONAL E-LEARNING WITH COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Authors:

David Abadia, Anselmo Navarro, Angel Esteban, Angel Lafuente, Juan Jose Navamuel and Jorge Vea-Murguia
Abstract: A multiplatform environment comprised of traditional e-learning, mobile devices and interactive digital TV services based on MHP with collaborative learning is presented. Several platforms are integrated enabling the end user to carry out learning sessions in different environments.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 17
Title:

Meeting Visitors' Expectations:The perceived degree of Museumness
Authors:

Angeliki Antoniou
Abstract: Defining a physical or virtual space as a museum, seems to have clear implications on visitors’ behaviour and particularly learning behaviour. Past research shows that it is essential to identify different museum types and consider their similarities, differences and special features in order to be able to make valid research hypotheses. However, visitors would not always define certain types of museums as museums. Therefore, we wished to study how visitors view the different museum types and their main reasons for visiting different museums. Investigating visitors’ different definitions and expectations, we used questionnaires which were also used to produce a scale of museumness, the degree to which a certain museum type fits visitors’ museum stereotypes. The analysis of the data allowed the creation of a list of guidelines for the development of educational technology for museum use.
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Paper Nr: 25
Title:

COMPUTER SUPPORTED LEARNING AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Authors:

Tiit Elenurm
Abstract: The paper reflects e-learning and blended learning experiences and challenges from the point of view of the co-creative entrepreneurial orientation and cross-cultural knowledge sharing. Applications of Blackboard (earlier WebCT) tools and weblogs are compared in the blended learning context. Computer supported learning that develops co-creative entrepreneurship should support information monitoring and business opportunity search in internet and introduce students to social and business networking sites. Applications and limitations of some WebCT tools for learning community development and knowledge sharing are discussed. The blended learning concept should take into consideration the cultural context of using explicit and tacit knowledge and readiness of entrepreneurs to share knowledge through online and face-to-face interactions in order to apply students as virtual gatekeepers for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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Paper Nr: 53
Title:

A WORKFLOW MODEL FOR COLLABORATIVE VIDEO ANNOTATION - Supporting the Workflow of Collaborative Video Annotation and Analysis performed in Educational Settings.
Authors:

Cristian Hofmann, Nina Hollender and Dieter W. Fellner
Abstract: There is a growing number of application scenarios for computer-supported video annotation and analysis in educational settings. In related research work, a large number of different research fields and approaches have been involved. Nevertheless, the support of the annotation workflow has been little taken into account. As a first step towards developing a framework that assist users during the annotation process, the single work steps, tasks and sequences of the workflow had to be identified. In this paper, a model of the underlying annotation workflow is illustrated considering its single phases, tasks, and iterative loops that can be especially associated with the collaborative processes taking place.
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Paper Nr: 108
Title:

A CULTURALLY CONTEXTUALIZED WEB BASED GAME ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT MEANINGFUL LEARNING
Authors:

Alexandre Mello Ferreira, Eliane Nascimento Pereira, Junia Anacleto, Izaura M. Carelli, Marcos Alexandre Silva and Ana L. Dias
Abstract: The computer game use in education has been growing as a learning facilitator. What is it? educational environment allows teachers to be co-author of an online game based on cards which uses a common sense knowledge base. It also allows teachers to choose language according to their students’ culture and needs providing them with suitable language. The environment also allows researchers to collect common sense knowledge. Every user interaction in each editor’s module and player’s module generates a new common sense statement which is stored into Brazilian Open Mind Common Sense (OMCS-BR) project knowledge base. A study case was conducted with teachers and students from two different Brazilian public schools. Results demonstrate there is a large potential of the use of this environment in real classes and the methodology to collect common sense statements naturally through a web game.
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Paper Nr: 141
Title:

THE NETWORK FOR INTERACTIVE AND INTEGRATED LEARNING (NIIL) IN BUSINESS STUDIES
Authors:

Eija Koskivaara, Riitta Koskimies and Pasi Jokinen
Abstract: Teaching students to understand, debate, and solve problems is one of the largest challenges educators face in business education. Creating an interactive and integrated learning environment is one of the largest challenges universities face in Finnish society. Due to feedbacks Turku School of Economics (TSE) decided to increase the integration between subjects by approaching the study of business from modern, process-based point of view. One reason for this was that TSE aims to be an internationally recognized actor in the development of business expertise and it has defined interactive teaching and learning methods as a key success factor. This paper describes the process and the present status quo of the developed network of interactive and integrative learning (NIIL) in business studies. The NIIL has been real success case and rewarded several times. Furthermore, the paper proposes some improvements proposals for the networks like the NIIL.
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Paper Nr: 254
Title:

Formal Methods: for All or for Chosen?
Authors:

Victor Kuliamin, Vitaliy Omelchenko and Olga Petrenko
Abstract: The article presents an approach to teaching formal methods that may make them accessible for ordinary software engineers, especially those who are not skilled in the underlying mathematics. The approach is based on two ideas. First, we propose modification of course contents to hide the underlying mathematical techniques under some terms and actions familiar to the engineer or student learning the corresponding application domain. This usually requires availability of mature tools supporting formal methods under consideration. Second, we modify the presentation of course material and focuse mostly on active learning and more deep students' involvement in the learning process. This approach was successfully used in traditional courses and trainings in UniTESK, a test development technology based on formal specifications.
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Paper Nr: 107
Title:

HOW JAZZ ROCKS TEACHING ITERATIVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Authors:

Jaroslav Prochazka
Abstract: This paper summarizes our experience with Software Engineering lectures. These lectures are focused on practical experience with iterative and agile way of developing software. Paper describes the way from classical tool like SVN, text editors and wiki to IBM Rational Team Concert. We stress the aspect how this tool supports the way of working and understanding of theoretical principles.
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Paper Nr: 169
Title:

CONTENTS AND METHODOLOGY OF MIDDLEWARE PROGRAMMING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING IN MASTER PROGRAMS
Authors:

Felipe Garcia-Sanchez, Antonio-Javier Garcia-Sanchez and Joan Garcia-haro
Abstract: This paper deals with a well-known problem, the learning of distributed programming languages, especially when they are included in distance programs. In particular, the course is focused on middleware learning in a master program, in which students that access to it have heterogeneous programming level and skills. Therefore, a real scenario and a real case study are presented, where students must rationalize their effort. An emphasis is placed on those students that offer more weaknesses. Moreover, this paper presents the students evaluation process, and summarizes the results obtained after the course had been developed.
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Paper Nr: 268
Title:

Creating open educational environment based on open-source software projects
Authors:

Vladimir Rubanov, Olga Petrenko and Alexander Petrenko
Abstract: The paper discusses principles of open education as the main method of effective education style for talented students. It is shown how open-source software development projects can naturally implement these principles for teaching software engineering courses. This is proved by examples of successful open education environments created at the System Programming sub-faculties of the two Russian top-ranked universities - Moscow State University and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Phystech). These sub-faculties are run jointly with the Institute for System Programming of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the leading Russian research & development government organization in the field of software engineering.
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Area 4 - Legal and Cultural Management Issues

Short Papers
Paper Nr: 197
Title:

WORLD WIDE WEB IN EDUCATION. ETHICAL USE OF RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
Authors:

Andreanna Koufou and Dimitrios Tsolis
Abstract: Internet is nowadays included to almost all National Curriculums of the elementary school. A comparative study of US’ UK’s and Greek, curriculums leads to the conclusion that a complete curriculum should also aim to student’s acquisition of the abilities to navigate and search for information and additionally to emphasize on ethical use of resources and information, specifically referring to Intellectual Property Rights laws (IPR) and regulations. In a constructivistic knowledge framework instruction of these Internet characteristics has to take under consideration the conceptual representations of students. The following paper presents the conceptual representation of students of eleven years old, attending the Sixth Grade of Greek Elementary School about World Wide Web and proposes a course based on them, in order to introduce students to the ethical use of resources and information.
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Area 5 - Domain Applications and Case Studies

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 27
Title:

Towards Automated Management of Compiler Assignments
Authors:

Leena Salmela, Jorma Tarhio and Timo Montonen
Abstract: We have implemented two software systems for managing compiler assignments in computer science. The first system is a graphical environment on the Web for doing home assignments related to finite state automata and parsers. It also includes an automatic assessment system for the assignments. The second system manages compiler projects. It generates a personalized language for each student and provides a testing tool for the student's compiler. We introduce the main features of the systems and review some experiences.
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Paper Nr: 149
Title:

Mastering (Virtual) Networks: A Case Study of Virtualizing Internet Lab
Authors:

Arik Goldfeld, Michael Borokhovich, Michael Borokhovich, Chen Avin and Arik Goldfeld
Abstract: In this paper we describe a single-server-based system we developed for a large scale networking laboratory. The system, based on virtual machines, is capable of running many concurrent virtual networks, each consisting of PCs, routers and switches configured in an arbitrary way. Lab users can initiate and switch lab experiments with a simple web-based interface and to remotely access each of the network devices for configuration and measurements, therefore, users can preform the lab either in a 30 students lab with a TA or from home at their convenience. In addition, administration tools are simple and most failures can be recovered using a web interface. This cost effective system is based on Linux and other open-source/freeware software and was proven to be very effective in practice in the last two years.
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Paper Nr: 195
Title:

LINKING SIMULATION AND PRACTICE
Authors:

Chris McDonald
Abstract: The current generation of Computer Science students are far more likely to engage with computer networking through their own mobile, wireless devices than they are using wired, desktop computers. Traditional approaches to teaching computer networking evolved when the Internet was composed of fixed wired infrastructure, and this historical background still forms most of the material in contemporary textbooks on computer networking. Today's students have strong expectations that their computer networking courses will have a significant focus on the networking devices and applications that they use daily - increasingly mobile and wireless. This paper describes a computer networking project, examining delay tolerant networks, that has successfully assessed students' understanding of networking protocols using both simulation and actual implementations on Apple iPods. Importantly, students developed identical source code to be compiled and then executed by both the simulator and the iPods. The paper then reflects on the use of simulation in computer networking projects, identifying some deficiencies in students' understanding that may be masked by the use of simulation alone.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 87
Title:

Three little pigs discovering materials
Authors:

Marco Vannucci and Valentina Colla
Abstract: This paper describes a software suite aiming at the sensitization of children to particular environmental themes such as materials use and recycling. The software, in the form of an interactive book, by means of the famous "Three little pigs" story introduces the handled themes which are treated more in detail through some knowledge improvement scenes extending the main story. The suite is completed by some games which verify the users understanding of the treated themes. The developed software is usable both as a stand alone software both via Internet embedded in a web page. Tests of the suite have been performed by a group of primary school students and proved the efficiency of the software, its high interactivity level and an encouraging comprehension of the treated themes by the users and suggested the authors the future developments.
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Paper Nr: 93
Title:

GILDA - Grid INFN virtual Laboratory for Dissemination Activities

Authors:

Roberto Barbera, Leandro Ciuffo, Emidio Giorgio, Antonio Calanducci and Valeria Ardizzone
Abstract: The Grid INFN virtual Laboratory for Dissemination Activities (GILDA) is a fully fledged Grid test-bed devoted to training and outreach activities. Open to anyone who wants to have its first hands-on experience with grid systems, GILDA has been adopted as the official training infrastructure by many Grid projects all around the world. All services, tools and materials produced in the past tutorials can be freely used by anyone who wants to learn and teach Grid technology. Additionally, through a set of applications ported on its Grid Infrastructure, developers can identify components and learn by examples how to “gridify” their applications. This work presents the main features of such training Infrastructure.
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Paper Nr: 38
Title:

INSERTION ANGLE TEACHING FOR AN ACUPUNCTURE TRAINING SYSTEM
Authors:

Ren Kanehira
Abstract: We are developing an acupuncture training system using virtual reality (VR) technology for teaching of oriental medical techniques. In this paper, special attention was paid in the insertion angle which is one of the most important actions in acupuncture. The training system and related teaching method were proposed for insertion angle training. The proposed system was evaluated with experiments, and the results were proved effective.
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Paper Nr: 89
Title:

Shared Manipulation of 3D Objects for Collaborative Mobile Maintenance
Authors:

Kwanhee Lee, Sung-Je Hong and Jeong-Sik Kim
Abstract: We present an effective method for sharing 3D models over the network, while supporting the same viewing environment and collaborative manipulation of 3D objects with applications to remote maintenance of industrial equipments. The 3D models are first presented in a top-down manner, which facilitates an intuitive understanding of their hierarchical structure. The kinematic structure is also presented so as to explain the moving mechanism of 3D models. Part assembly/disassembly is a basic procedure in part maintenance, which is shown in animation clips as well as in diagrams. To maintain the viewing environment consistent, we synchronize the result of model operations by sharing only a small number of state variables over the network. We don’t reply on a separate server or a lock/unlock mechanism for the synchronization. As a result, we support an efficient manipulation of complex 3D models shared over the network. The developed system provides an intuitive interface and demonstrates an interactive performance.
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Paper Nr: 114
Title:

SEMANTIC FRAMES: A WAY FOR AUTOMATING THE MANAGEMENT OF MEDICINAL DOCUMENTS

Authors:

Juha Puustjärvi
Abstract: Knowledge management concerns with acquiring, accessing and maintaining knowledge within an organization. Knowledge management is also important because organizations view internal knowledge as an intellectual asset from which they can draw greater productivity, create new value, and increase their competitiveness. We have investigated the management of knowledge in pharmacies. It has turned out that the volume of information coming in from a variety of information sources such as pharmaceutical companies, medicinal wholesalers, social insurance institutions and other authorities is increasing all the time. Further, the various formats such as paper, fax, email, and a wide variety of multiple electronic media formats are still complicating the information management. In order to alleviate this problem, we have introduced the notion of semantic frames, which are included in incoming XML-documents. The frames specify how to integrate the incoming document into the medicinal ontologies and taxonomies in the pharmacy system. Further, as our used ontology models the relationships of the incoming documents and the daily duties, the integration of the documents and daily duties can be automatically done. The gain of this approach is that the documents (medicinal instructions) are provided just-in-time, and tailored to their specific needs. An essential prerequisite of our approach is that the healthcare organizations that send the documents and the receiving pharmacies have to commit to the same medicinal ontologies, i.e., they have to use the same vocabulary in specifying and interpreting the semantic frames.
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Paper Nr: 125
Title:

DESIGN OF SERVO SYSTEM IN STATE SPACE USING DISTANCE LABORATORY SYSTEM (DLS)
Authors:

Ivan Santana, Luis Hernandez, Manuel Ferre, Rafael Aracil and George Eisendrath
Abstract: During last decade, the Internet has been increasingly used for education and research purposes. As traditional face to face classroom became virtual classroom through Internet, traditional hands-on laboratories converted as remote and virtual laboratories that are at a technological crossroad. At previous papers was presented a Distance System Laboratory (DSL), developed for the purpose of teaching automatic control systems. The system consists of three parts, the user interface, the practices management and the practice processing. The developed DSL system allows users (i) learning and adjusting predefined controllers, (ii) designing new controllers, and (iii) testing and analyzing the performance of the predefined/designed controllers over a set of physical devices. Some technological update was made to DLS, than increase the performance and security of the system. In this paper is described an application of DLS through one case study practices of design of servo system in state space in the Control System discipline.
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Paper Nr: 175
Title:

DESIGN OF A VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ROMANIAN PATIENTS WITH DYSLEXIA
Authors:

Gladiola Andruseac, Cristian Rotariu and Hariton Costin
Abstract: The main objective of this paper is bringing into your attention the problem of patients with dyslexia, aphasia or brain injury and how an eLearning software can help in recovery of this patients. Dyslexia alters the life of millions of children and adults worldwide and has serious educational, psychological and social consequences. Approximately between 5% and 10% of the school-aged children show a type of deficiency in communicating or learning process, with repercussions in absence rate and school abandonment. Our works aims at carrying out research, design and implementation of a virtual learning environment (VLE), for rehabilitating patients with cognitive disabilities, in order to re-integrate them into the educational and socio-professional environment. In this paper we present a multimedia and interactive learning environment for the benefit of patients with dyslexia.
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Paper Nr: 189
Title:

eLearning 2.0. The new learning/teaching paradigm: Building up the collaborative learning community
Authors:

Carlos Leon de Mora, Carlos León de Mora and Juan Camarillo Casado
Abstract: The US is currently engaged in a process of change that implies a revolution, after more than half a millennium of existence, in the methodology used in the educational process and in the relationships between the different actors involved in it. The process is driven by the convergence towards the EHEA objectives and the implementation of the new 2.0 educational paradigm. This convergence relies on the introduction of new methods and technologies in order to foster online access to information and services, the development of an infrastructure to support user mobility, and the collaboration between the members of the university community, supporting teaching, research and lifelong learning, and moving towards an area of education with no barriers. The evolution from a granular scenario with 4500 teachers and several isolated experiences regarding teaching and sharing information to the present situation in which all of them accept a corporate e-learning environment in just two years has meant a great challenge, mainly regarding the needed change of the teachers’ mindset and the search for standardization (IMS, SCORM) of content and administrative management. The results leave no room for doubt. The University of Seville has achieved the involvement of the entire community in the initiatives, and a spectacular progress regarding the implementation of virtual education services, reaching a penetration of over 80% in terms of the number of students who benefit from the new environment, less than two years after launching the Virtual Educational Services.
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Paper Nr: 199
Title:

EDApplets: A Web Tool for Teaching Data Structures and Algorithmic Techniques
Authors:

V. Blanco, Francisco Almeida, Vicente Blanco, Adrián Santos and Juan José Regalado
Abstract: We present in this work the EDApplets tool, a Web--based application oriented to the teaching / learning of programming and algorithmics in engineering. Based on Java Applets technology, it provides the animation and visualization by traces of algorithms and data structures. The tool covers various aspects in teaching which may be directed to different kinds of learning styles: Active / thoughtful, methodical / intuitive, visual / oral, etc. Also, we present the methodological aspects that should be considered to put in place the tool in the classroom as a supplement to learning.
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Paper Nr: 200
Title:

How to Visualise Abstract Topics in Computer and Communication Science

Authors:

Ludek Kucera
Abstract: The paper deals with learning of algorithms and protocols using visual media and it presents experience obtained with Algovision, a system developed at Charles University. The teaching of the paper is that learning objects and courses should attempt explaining why an algorithm or protocol achieves its goals rather than merely showing what is going on during the computation and/or communication and how the data change in time. This means visualising abstract topics like an algorithm invariant, mathematical proof, researcher intuition, and a collection of paradigms used to achieve such task is presented, as it appeared during development of Algovision.
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Area 6 - Quality, Evaluation and Accreditation Policies

Short Papers
Paper Nr: 88
Title:

Measuring the Quality of Distance Education Between Two Continents
Authors:

Olayele Adelakun and Delvin Grant
Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to measure the quality of distance learning education between CDM Chicago and CDM Amman Jordon. To accomplish this task we used a Total Quality Management (TQM) Model developed by Mergen et al. (2000) and Widrick et al. (2002) which consists of three dimensions (Quality of Design, Quality of Conformance, and Quality of Performance). A case study approach was used to collect data in Amman, Jordan and Chicago, USA. One key finding is that distance learning systems (IT and business processes) in the US cannot be applied in Jordan without significant changes to the administrative process. Another is that, while technology is global in nature, local resources and cultural issues make distance learning difficult to adopt across continents.
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Paper Nr: 152
Title:

From CSCL to VGSCL. A new approximation to Collaborative Learning
Authors:

Natalia Padilla Zea, José Luís González Sánchez, Francisco L. Gutiérrez Vela, Marcelino Cabrera Cuevas and Patricia Paderewski Rodríguez
Abstract: In this paper we point out the advantages of CSCL (Computer – Supported Collaborative Learning) and technological media to improve the learning process. In particular, we are interested in using videogames as complement to traditional education. So, our main proposal is intended to introduce collaborative activities into educational videogames maintaining playability as pupils obtain benefits from both activities (play and learn). We have named this proposal as VGSCL (VideoGames-Supported Computer Learning). One of the biggest problems of including collaborative activities into learning process is assessing if collaboration is being made in an efficient way. To do this we are working in a method to detect, analyse and adapt interaction patterns. In this paper we present the first step in this process by proposing a messages classification. This classification is intended to determine which messages are relevant to the study and how important they are to the collaboration process. Also, we give some examples of using this categorization by using the educational videogame with collaborative activities “Leoncio and friends”.
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Paper Nr: 243
Title:

DESIGNING A DSS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT

Authors:

Vasile P. Bresfelean and Nicolae Ghisoiu
Abstract: In order to achieve quality in education there is a need to optimally combine a complex of factors for the education system to be developed to highest standards. Competitiveness of institutions of higher education is closely related to the development of information technologies, as key factor for future European citizens, to beneficiate from The European Higher Education Area and the collaboration in education. Data mining thus appears as one of the opportunities that have been less exploited, but whose application increases steadily, to solve various problems by analyzing data already present in the databases of various institutions. One of the viable solutions to support decision makers may possibly be the decisions support systems (DSS) which integrate specific tools to assist decision together with those of general use to form a constituent part of the institutions’ information system. In this paper the author presents the design of a DSS which integrates data mining technologies, with the purpose to assist the managers of higher education institutions in quality decision-making processes.
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Paper Nr: 127
Title:

UNDERGRADUATION COURSE EVALUATION: A CASE OF SUCCESS
Authors:

Regina Moraes, José Geraldo Andrade and Marcelo Diotto
Abstract: One important question in education management is the best way to conduct institutional evaluation. This relevant process that helps the institution in its self-knowledge is essential to verify if the institution goals are being achieved and to plan quality improvements. One important matter to be considered is the time between the forms filling by the stakeholders and the reports of the results. If this time is too long the results has a minor impact in the actions that will bring benefits to people that are involved in the process. To deal with this matter a software support is mandatory. This work presents a effort of the institution to establish an evaluation process supported by web-based software. The process was extensively discussed among students, lecturers, coordinators and principals in order to create forms and questions that best fit for each type of stakeholder involved in the process. This work presents the on-line indicators of the institution that are being used to speed up management actions.
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Paper Nr: 131
Title:

PREPARING FOR SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION IN A MULTI-CAMPUS UNIVERSITY
Authors:

Peter Maher and Janet Kourik
Abstract: Specialized accreditation provides an external validation of a specific set of programs offered within an institution of higher learning. Such accreditations have become strongly outcomes-based, which in turn means that effective methods of assessing student learning must be developed. We describe the major requirements of a particular business accreditation for a multi-campus, multi-country university including the accreditation process, and the school’s systems and processes that were created and enhanced to meet the accreditation requirements. Further, we describe our observations resulting from this process, together with some recommendations for improvement based on our experiences.
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