A Conceptual Modelling Framework for Standards-Driven Web-Based Distance Learning

Abstract

Internet-based learning environments have proliferated over the last years. Many institutions, both public and private, benefit from them and offer on-line courses and training programs. In most cases, educational resources or software-supported learning services cannot be reused among heterogeneous systems. Additionally, although they share many common features, most e-learning systems are developed from the scratch. In this situation, a need for a standardized conceptual model becomes apparent.

Institutions like the IEEE, the US Department of Defense or the Aviation Industry are currently specifying standards to support information models used in e-learning environments. From these works we present a framework for e-learning. Our proposal includes the application of an OO methodology to derive a reference architecture and design model from those conceptual entities identified by the learning technology standardization process. We have used UML, the Unified Software Development process, object-oriented methodologies for the model defrinition, and eventually, CORBA technology to provide a final implementation.