1. Lightweight tools for on-line course development
Edward Brown
Rodrigue Byrne
Department of Computer Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John’s, NF, CANADA A1B 3X5
CONTACT:
Ed-Media '99

2. Overview Introduction to XML Architecture of system
Student Environment
Lightweight tools - why “build it yourself” ?
Conclusions
XML is a markup language similar to HTML but allows you to create your own tags. We use this facility to add tools and components to our course presentations
Ed-Media '99

3. XML Subset of SGML Allows creation of new document structures
represented with new <tags>
XSL style sheets specify how these structures are to be presented
Multiple style sheets possible for a single document
We are using electronic document as a means to structure our courses. The language itself is quite simple, but it allows us to add our own document structure to reflect the structure of the course.
Things you might add:
course content, instructional programs, administrative structures, registration, reporting, record maintenance, tracking progress, etc.
Technology used could be CGIs, arbitrary programs, or custom built software
Style sheets could support paper, video, as well as web stuff. Substitute style sheet without change of content. - Not our interest, but can be of value.
Ed-Media '99

4. Sample XML - Doc Structure
<define-container sect-ptoc>
<h3> Points to consider </h3>
<ul>
%body
</ul>
</define-container>
<define-container point>
<li>
%body
</li>
</define-container>
<define-container sect-exercises>
<preserve title>
<set-var %attributes>
<h3> Exercises<if <get-var title> ": <get-var title>" ""></h3>
%body
<restore title>
</define-container>
Note new tags to be used in document
Ed-Media '99

5. Sample Document Contents
<sect-exercises>
<p>
The following program, <b><tt>Count.java</tt></b> accepts a line and counts the number of occurrences of
the letter 'a'.
</p>
<java-code-include src="java/Count.java">
Modify the program so that it also counts and outputs, the number of
occurrences for 'e', 'i', and 'o'.
Submit the program as <b><em>Count.java</em></b> for validation.
<java-submit pgmname="Count.java" testsrc="/var/www/CS2710/lab4/solutions/Count.test">
</sect-exercises>
- some tags for document structure
- some tags for formatting
Once the document structure was defined, we used this as a development management mechanism. The structure was set for labs, etc.. Student help was use to fill in the content and details. Also helped in review and revision.
Ed-Media '99

6. Document Architecture
XML Source
Document Architecture
Tools
Generated HTML
Lab
Generator
WML
Code
Animator
Java
Lab/Quiz
Content
Lab
Pages
Quiz
Generator
Perl
Quiz
Marker
Perl
Quiz
Database
Quiz
Pages
Quiz
Result
Code
Testing
Currently as used for introductory programming course, programming in Java
Walk-through talk about tools came from (free-ware, etc.)
XML allows you to change content, structure and presentation separately.
Worked well for us: faculty, 3rd yr undergrad students, staff IAs,
three person-months work (including implement tools)
had tech people resource (students)
low cost
tech expertise and content expertise in same people (faculty) which is not usual
quick turnaround (students fill in doc structure), and management provided
could even use tags for document management specifically (I.e. required entry, development analysis, checkin/checkout)
Code
Tester
Java
Test
Result
Assignment
Submission
Browser
Plugins/CGI
Ed-Media '99

7. Document Architecture
XML Source
Document Architecture
Tools
Generated Presentation
Admin
Info
Course Content
- Labs
- Quiz DataBase
- Code testing
- Assignments
Mark
Results
Quiz
Submit
Quiz/Code
Marker
XML
Program
XML
Program
Assgn
Submit
XSL
XSL
Presentation
Description
Course
Material
Walk through first
Show where authoring is - Course content (also mean course structure).. And tools (possibly) have to be built.
The collection of tools idea is that they can be added to the system and referenced in the document structure. Should have widest range of tools possible, using freeware, commercial. Each tool should do one thing, but do that well. (Highly specific compared to generalized course management offered by commercial tools)
Non-conforming commercial software can be provided by using a wrapper and then XML code.
Eval
Result
Browser
Plugins/CGI
Code
Animator
Ed-Media '99
Java

8. What the student sees
Show relation to tags?
Ed-Media '99

9. Program Animator
Ed-Media '99

10. “Lightweight” tools Inter-connection of tools (via XML)
instead of an integrated package
Develop own document structure
Add our own tools
Requires additional technical knowledge
Design effort increased
Why did we take this approach? Why not use a commercial tool (WebCT, LearningSpace, etc.)
1. Need to use our code animator in hand, compiler, etc.
Others may have other stuff they need to use.. Biology simulations, etc.. Not provided by commercial softwares.
2. Not restricted to provided technology
Can choose additional tech which may not be included in package
3. The unix philosophy: one tool does one task, but does it well.
Ed-Media '99

11. Conclusions Authoring tools needed Greater tool selection needed
Flexibility often important
Supports re-use of material and designs
Will not replace integrated packages
XML is starting to become popular
expect more tools to become available - be able to mix & match
“one job well” philosophy (aka unix vs MS)
For quick design, statup, individual instructors managing their own courses, it is important they control the material (ownership and quick modification are issues)
Ed-Media '99