Creating cost-effective adaptative educational hypermedia based on markup technologies and e-learning standards

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of developing a cost-effective, flexible Web educational environment focused on the learner. Our project, called <e-Aula>, has three main goals: (1) to simplify the creation of a virtual class environment, (2) the reuse of previously existing educational content and, (3) to enable content adaptation to meet individual needs. The design of <e-Aula> is based on recently developed e-learning standards (such as IMS, EML and ADL/SCORM) and courses are developed according to the Learning Object model. We use markup technologies (i.e. XML) to streamline the way the system is built and how it handles information. XML's metadata and related technologies are used not only to mark up the course material so that content can be adapted and reused, but also to mark up all data needed to manage different activities involved in the learning process (such as managing student information or system use). <e-Aula> also includes synchronous and asynchronous tools for communication between students and tutors.