Title: Meeting learners' needs inside the educational cloud

Authors: Russell Boyatt; Jane Sinclair

Addresses: Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK ' Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

Abstract: Cloud computing provides a framework which can support many new possibilities for teaching and learning. Cloud-based services and applications are increasingly used by educational establishments to support many aspects of general and educational activity. There is also a related, growing emphasis on independent learning and open resources. The first part of this paper surveys current published work relating to education and the cloud. One noticeable aspect is that while there is a good deal written about infrastructure, technology and applications there is currently very little on pedagogy relating to the cloud. The second part of this paper considers one aspect of this relating to conceptual understanding and matching available resources to each individual's learning needs. We outline our work on a concept-based approach to user-assessment and to classification of learning materials, and consider how this can be used to personalise resource recommendation according to a concept model. We describe a prototype Moodle plug-in developed to support this work.

Keywords: cloud computing; internet; world wide web; web browsers; computers; mobile technologies; cellular communications; educational cloud; pedagogy; computer science; logic; discrete mathematics; adaptation; Moodle; Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; VLEs; virtual learning environments; software platforms; course management systems; CMS; learning management systems; LMS; learner needs; cloud-based services; cloud-based applications; independent learning; open resources; conceptual understanding; available resources; individual needs; learning needs; user-assessment; material classification; learning materials; resource recommendations; personalised recommendations; concept models; plug-ins; University of Warwick; UK; United Kingdom; higher education; universities; learning technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2013.052827

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2013 Vol.8 No.1, pp.61 - 85

Published online: 31 Mar 2014 *

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