Mobile system for flexible education

Procedia Computer Science 3 (2011) 1475–1479 Procedia Computer Science 00 (2010) 000–000

Procedia Computer www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia Science www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia

WCIT 2010

Mobile system for flexible education Nadire Cavus a *, Mohammad Musa Al-Momani b a,b

Department of Computer Information Systems, Near East University, Lefkosa 98100, North Cyprus

Abstract These days with the advancements in various technologies especially in areas like telecommunication, many fields are affected; learning for example is no longer confined to classrooms. Thus, the m-learning comes to existence as a learning method that uses the mobile. M-learning is a kind of learning that uses the mobile devices like digital cell phone, personal digital assistants and laptops. The aim of this paper is to improve the m-learning systems, in particular provide the requested knowledge to the learners with less constraint in terms of devices, locations and networks in use. The system uses WiFi network and it has many services to improve the education process which makes M-learning system a full system that has SMS, announcement, homework and quiz service and give feedback for learners. The main service in the system is the quiz part which includes a novel idea in the education field that uses the new generation of technologies. The developed system is good, friendly, and it can improve the distant education systems. An access point, used to make a wireless network covers huge areas, makes the service available to users in a wide range. The most important individuals involved in the research are teachers, students, and educational organizations such as: universities, schools, institutes, or anyone who looks for a proper m-learning that exactly suits his demands. c 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of the Guest Editor. ⃝ Keywords: mobile learning; mobile technologies; e-quiz; SMS; WiFi; mobile learning system

1. Introduction Education is an essential human activity for the development of any society in the world [12]. When education is mentioned; typical class rooms are recalled as they are known as the traditional way to transfer knowledge to students. Web-based technologies and powerful internet connections provide various new possibilities for the development of educational technology [1]. These days with the advancements in various technologies especially in areas like telecommunication, many fields are affected; learning for example is no longer confined to classrooms as lectures are not the only method to convey knowledge. Consequently, a new learning methodology and research field known as electronic learning (E-learning) came to exist. E-learning is utilizing telecommunications and information technology in the education system by using the network. E-learning has made learning possible from anywhere at any time by using the Internet, Wide Area Networks (WANs), or Local Area Networks (LANs). In order to benefit from e-learning, one can use a personal computer (PC) and an Internet connection or other network connection. Also, personal interactions between participants can be done easily in e-learning [2]. E-learning, as defined by the e-learning strategy steering committee, is the use of Internet-based programs that are developed and managed in a location that is independent of the learner. E-learning programs are not simply a subset of traditional distance education programs or on-campus programs. Rather, E-learning is an umbrella for all Internet-based

* Nadire Cavus. Tel.: +0-392-223-6464; fax: +0-392-223-6461 E-mail address: [email protected]

c 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 1877-0509 ⃝ doi:10.1016/j.procs.2011.01.034

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N. Cavus, M.M. Al-Momani / Procedia Computer Science 3 (2011) 1475–1479 Nadire Cavus / Procedia Computer Science 00 (2010) 000–000

programs that are used in learning environments. Using e-learning driving the researchers to think about new technology which help learners to get knowledge anytime and anywhere using available devices, so the mobile learning (m-learning) come to existence as a learning that use the mobile. M-learning is learning that use the mobile devices like digital cell phone, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and laptops. Although m-learning is related to elearning and distance education, it is a distinct in its focus on learning across contexts and learning with mobile devices. Typically, mobile devices are the new, sophisticated wireless PDAs, mobile telephones and laptop computers [3]. This paper proposes a new m-learning system. It aims to improve the m-learning systems, in particular it provides the requested knowledge to the learners with less constraint in terms of devices, locations and networks in use. The system is using WiFi network and it has many services to improve the education process which makes m-learning system a full system that has SMS, Announcement, homework and quiz services and give feedback for learners. 2. Related Research M-learning is a new learning model following the e-learning. How to assist mobile learning with new mobile communication technology effectively has been a hot spot in the modern educational research [11]. Mobile learning based on the short message not only can provide voice services, but can also provide short message service. Through short messages, we can transmit limited characters not only among learners, but also between learners and the Internet server [4]. The survey conducted to show that only a very small percentage of students owned PDAs, but mobile phones on other hand are available almost for everyone. Cavus and Ibrahim’s [5] experimental study was to find out the potential of using mobile phones in teaching new technical English language words to first-year undergraduate students. In addition, a case study for a mobile learning environment by considering different user requirements for the university students (e.g. discover locations of lecture) [6]. They used web 2.0 and mobile devices to explore how mobile technologies and social software can be used for collaborative learning, sharing understanding and building virtual communities. Laru and Järvelä [7] attempted to find the students’ online interaction during the course, and the mobile tool features which affected collaboration during the course by qualitative case study. They designed the system using Bluetooth network that enables users to easily generate quizzes for mobile devices. The system of Hürst et al. [8] created multiple choice tests and general question-answer pairs by just entering (or copy-pasting) text into an input mask, therefore all issues related to the actual document production had been generated automatically. A new paradigm that improves the cooperation between students and teachers, overcoming the classroom borders [10]. This research proposes an ubiquitous testing system (UbiSysTest) for m-learning environments. The goal of UbiSysTest is to provide an infrastructure for creating, storing, applying and correcting academic test [9]. 3. The IML-System Configuration The architecture diagram of the system shown in Figure 1. The system has two types of users: Server (instructor) and Client (learners). Each user has different privileges and can do different tasks depending on their privilege levels. 3.1 Server side This part gives permission to instructor to access IML-System services. It allows authorized instructor to use the system to submit homework, send announcements, SMS and Upload the quizzes using WiFi network. Here, one can see how the instructor can affect the system in the cases stated below: x x x x x x

Administrating all the system’s tasks, Add, update and delete the student’s information (their real name, student ID and password), Create announcement including the date and time of creation, Create homework including the date and time of creation, Send SMS in direct way or automatically, Create a new quiz with questions and five options by specifying its properties which are quiz title, Quiz time, quiz date and mark,

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x x

Update And delete the quiz information, Using the quiz bank to choose any questions for any previous quizzes and add it for new quiz.

Client

DataBas e

Access

Server

Figure 1: IML-System architecture

3.2 Client side This part is related to the students who have permissions to use the system. It allows the client device to connect to the server and receive homeworks, SMS, announcements and answer the exams and receive a feedback by using WiFi network. x x x x x x

Login to the system using valid username and password using mobile device, Read the announcement from server side, Get the homework from server side, Receive the SMS messages, Apply the quiz with multiple choice questions, Change the password.

4. Design of the System The server side code (desktop application) was implemented using x NetBeans IDE 6.5.1 J2SE (Java 2 Standard Edition). The server side code (mobile application) was implemented using x NetBeans IDE 6.5.1 J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition). The database tables and DML operations were implemented using x MySQL Server 5.1. The application programs was implemented using x Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, x SmartDraw 2007. 5. The Features of IML-System The features of IML-System which make it a different from other similar systems are listed below: x

The system provides a database to store all information about the services.

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x x x

x x

The system allows more than one student to take a quiz at the same time. When a student submits the answers to the server, the system marks the answers automatically. Marking is done by comparing the correct answer that is stored in the database with the student answer, if they are the same the system will give it one point else zero point. After that the system will sum these points to get the mark and store it in database. The system allows the student to download the quiz key which have the correct answers and save it in a text file. The system gives the instructor permission to send SMS messages in two options:

5.1. Send message now This option helps the instructor to send his/her message immediately; in this way he/she can send messages to all students or to some of them as following: When the instructor sends a message to all students using “send now” button, the instructor just write a message and choose “All” and click send now to send the message to all students and the system will display a message that “your SMS sent successfully”. The other way that the instructor can choose some students which they want to send them a message, so when they clicks custom choise the students numbers will be viewed in the drop list and they can choose the student they want, and if the instructor forgot the student’s numbers just click search button which help them to see all student’s information. 5.2. Save messages and send it later In this way the instructor can write a message and save it with date and time wants it to be sent and the system will automatically send it and also the instructor can send a message for the entire students or some of them. x

The student can see the last announcement and homework, therefore the system is updates these services and send the students only the last version which added by instructor.

6. Conclusion M-learning provides further flexibility for the learner to learn anytime, anywhere on the move while he/she is mobile or moving. The learning utilizes the networking technology and there is the freedom of the learners to exist in different location than the teacher, learners have the freedom to study in the time that suits them provided that they have the required hardware and network infrastructure. The proposed work in this study focused on how authors can create new system with clear scenarios and stricter to serve the learners and make the education process more flexible and interesting. The developed system is a good, friendly, and it can improve the distant education systems. An access point was used to make a wireless network that cover a huge area like classroom to make the service available for users in a wide range, the access points should be with high capabilities to ensure high quality of service. The database was created to save all the information that added to the system from the server side and from the client side. The system help learners to take the knowledge not in traditional way but to take it anytime and anywhere by just connecting to the server to receive the SMS, announcement or homework(s). The main service in the system is the quiz part which includes a novel idea in the education field that uses the new generation of technologies. Thus, students can get the quizzes and solve the questions and receive their marks directly using available components like cell phones and PDAs. This paper and the project described here are assigned to anyone interested in the field of m-learning field and its application. The most important individuals who might be interested are people in research are teachers, students, and educational organization such as: universities, schools, institutes, or anyone else who may look for a proper mlearning system that exactly suits his or her demands.

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