A Model-Driven Course Management System

About

This research applies techniques of the model-driven software development to the development and management of e-courses. Within the research, we have developed a course management system based on a platform-independent course model. The model consists of the three main components: learning objectives, learning resources and instructional design. Based on these three platform-independent source components, the system generates final courses in the following platform-specific formats: IMS LD, SCORM, LAMS and Sakai.

Course Model

Learning Objectives

The model of learning objectives has been implemented using ontology. The main ontology classes and object properties are illustrated in the figure.

Learning Objectives

The corresponding owl file is available here

Learning Resources

The model uses IMS Content Packaging specification for the formal representation of learning resources.

Instructional Strategy

The model represents an instructional strategy in a course using ELIDL (E-Learning Instructional Design Meta-Language). The XML schema of ELIDL is shown below.

ELIDL Schema Part 1

ELIDL Schema Part 2

The schema elements are explained in the following table.

ELIDL Schema Explanation

ELIDL Schema Explanation

The elements of the {expressions} schema group are explained below.

ELIDL Schema Explanation

Case Study

The course management system has been evaluated on the Web programming course taught at University of Novi Sad. Here you can find the components of the Web programming course formally represented using our course model.

Based on the model of the Web programming course, the system has generated following courses.