INFORMATION

SYSTEMS IN
MANAGEMENT Information Systems in Management (2016) Vol. 5 (2) 260−271

PROJECT AND ANALYSIS OF SOLUTIONS APPLIED

IN E-LEARNING SYSTEMS

DARIUSZ STRZĘCIWILK a), RAFIK NAFKHA b), PIOTR SIERANT a)

a)
Department of Applied Informatics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW)
b)
Department of Informatics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW)

The article presents attempts to identify the needs and problems of modern
e-learning and designed a solution that meets the needs of the recipients of
e-learning and e-learning content providers. On the basis of this analysis, it was
found that the market lacks the e-learning platform that meets all the needs and
requirements in remote education. E-learning systems are very poor functionally,
and tools for achieving the objectives, such as content creation, content distribution,
management learning, and synchronous online meetings appear as separate
applications that do not necessarily work well together. Most often each of them
must be used separately that extends the preparation of training materials, and is a
burden in the administration and supervision of the training course. On the basis of
the analysis of remote training needs of recipients and creators of content proposed
solution supporting distance learning. On the basis of the analysis of literature and
research of user behavior designed and developed an integrated e-learning platform
that meets the expectations of the users. The system has successfully motivating tool
to complete training and does not require expensive implementation. The main
objective of the proposed system was to eliminate the disadvantages observed in
other systems. It was found that the human factor impeding the effective acquisition
of knowledge as lack of motivation for self-study and the lack of contact with the
teacher. In order to minimize the impact of these factors on the educational goals
proposed solutions such as elements of competition and extensive virtual
classrooms.

Keywords: e-learning system, training course, e-learning platform

1. Introduction

The model of operation of modern organizations is subject to constant,

dynamic change that enforce the requirements of the market and economic
conditions, demographics, and more. An important factor in the functioning of
companies and organizations are also new technologies. IT systems contributed to
the way you work, running a business and performing its statutory organization.
Content Management Systems ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) [1], systems of
customer relationship management CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
offer new opportunities to improve operational efficiency and management of the
organization [2-4]. The consequences of the introduction of new information
technologies create pressure for changes in the functioning of companies, their
organizational structures and have a significant impact also on the training process
of the company. An increasingly important role in today's organizations also play
e-learning systems [5]. E-learning contributes to a more efficient use of resources
and communication tools. Users of the electronic courses learn to communicate
effectively in the network and are able to work effectively in virtual task forces.
The most popular and the most effective method used in educational portals for
sharing knowledge and learning process management are e-learning platform. This
platform is an advanced learning system designed for both self-study and under the
supervision of a teacher. Type systems LMS (Learning Management System) in
recent years have dominated the remote education (Internet-based education) [6].
LMS-based systems sometimes occur as part of ERP systems. E-learning can be
useful both in the process of skills training hard and soft. E-learning systems allow
you to enrich knowledge and are a source of data that can be used at any time. The
level of capabilities of such systems and tools is similar to the requirements
traditional courses. For the a virtual form of learning is supported mainly savings,
as well as the opportunity to present multimedia content. In most cases barrier of
distance learning is the lack of knowledge of the real possibilities of such tools, and
lack of confidence in them. However well prepared and guided e-learning courses
using the latest capabilities can not only compete with traditional training, but in
many cases, they may be more effective. The e-learning has not only many
advantages, but also disadvantages. Good understanding and definition of defects
allows to countering irregularities during design and implementation phase of
distance learning processes. Allison Rossett [7] gathered the advantages and
disadvantages of teaching in e-learning model. Typical pros and cons of e-learning
courses are shown in Table 1.

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 Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of e-learning
Advantages Disadvantages
Reducing the cost of the trainings Additional investment
Standards of knowledge The high cost of development and
maintenance of training
Convenience of training implementation, The atomization of knowledge could lose
contex, multithreading and individualized the context and the gaps of knowledge
training
The possibility of a good supplement to Lack of reliability in the process of remote
other training communication, the ability to impersonate
for an expert
The centralization of the educational Training is superficial because it focuses on
process solving the problem rather than on in-depth
knowledge
The learning environment free from Reproducible quality of training (if training
sanctions was bad-prepared, this is bad quality)
Reduction employee turnover The negative impact on the culture of the
organization after replacing traditional
training courses of e-learning
The ease of modify the content and its The necessity of involving large resources
immediate distribution during the implementation of e-learning
training, implementation ceases to be
carried out solely by the training department

The implementation of the e learning in an organization, whatever its type,

must take into account such elements as:
Technology - software used to create e-learning content, as well as
infrastructure through which content will be distributed
Content - available in an electronic teaching materials, tests and exercises,
videos, animations, simulations, educational games, webcasts, and more.
Communication - a means of communicating participants trainers, manner
and form provide information on how to conduct training
People - the recipients of training have experience in the use of learning,
territorial dispersion participants, competence of participants
Context - the scale of training and the conditions in which is implemented
e-learning training, the duration, the scope and the characteristics of the
target group
Behaviours - associated with perception and understanding of the training
by the participants and their surroundings.
The literature provides several different typologies of remote training [8, 9].
Trainings can be divided due to the form of transmission of educational content,
training and development model of the type of training content. Division with

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regard to form of communication asynchronous training stands that allow you to
learn at your own pace, form the limits to self-education and training Synchronous
where participants use the materials at their own pace, but communicate with the
coach at a specific time. Such communication can provide, eg. virtual class. When
the division due to model development training courses distinguish ready,
personalized training and dedicated training. The division of training due to the
type of content refers to what skills acquire the trainee. Hard training concern the
knowledge and skills in areas related to their work and soft skills training relate
personal skills and personal development of the trainee. It is worth mentioning that
the structure has been standardized e-learning training [10]. It was developed a
number of standards and guidelines for the development of training content. The
standards define the principles of construction of educational materials, their
operation and use in the teaching process. One of the most prominent are the ECC
standard (E-learning Courseware Certification) [11] concerning the structure of the
content of the training and SCORM standards (Sharable Content Object Reference
Model) [12] and also AICC (Aviation Industry Computer-Based Training
Committee) [13]. They are associated with technical issues. Standard ECC is
distributed by ASTD E-learning Institute and is designed for asynchronous courses
based on the web and multimedia and formulates criteria for navigation, location
and response messages, links, assistance and legibility and quality of the published
text. SCORM standard defines, based on network technology, content aggregation
model training (Content Aggregation Model) and runtime environment (Run-Time
Environment).
The aim of this study was to develop a system that supports distance learning,
which supports solutions to meet the needs of both the recipients and suppliers of
e-learning and e-learning content. When designing the system attempts to eliminate
the disadvantages noted in other systems. The main aim was to build such an
application that is user friendly and content creation in time is more effective than
in other systems, while maintaining maximum functionality and complexity of the
system. In order to minimize the impact of human factors on the educational goals
proposed solutions such as elements of competition [14] and expanded virtual
classrooms.

2. Training management system

The CMS system is a computer system that automates the management,

administration, tracking and reporting of all activities related to education and
training in one or more institutions. LMS systems are the basis for the transfer of
knowledge in corporations and allow you to organize a training plan, deliver and
manage them. Training can be conducted with the support of the coach or not, they
may be assisted synchronous meetings in communities to work together online, eg.

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In a virtual classroom. The system allows to evaluate and report their progress of
the divided students, group, business lines. Invigilators of training enables clear
insight into the educational activity that involves students and staff of the
organization. At the same time they allow you to manage the competences and
skills and detect gaps in knowledge in areas taught and complement these gaps.
The basic tasks of LMS are primarily functions:
• Management - allows you to design schedules classes and courses, to
build a directory of available resources, import and publish courses
trainees, resource training management, management fees for courses,
• Supporting the process of remote training - allows you to share
training content to a wide audience to diffuse territorial area, yet allow
for easy communication in a consistent learning environment
• Tracking the process of learning - functions allow you to collect data
on the educational process, the actions of trainers, collecting reports of
time spent on learning, monitoring the behavior of students while
learning, record the costs of the learning process
• Reporting - functions to generate reports on learning outcomes,
student satisfaction, their behavior in the educational process and other
reports of an administrative
An extension of LMS class systems are the systems LCMS (Learning Content
Management Systems) [15], in which the basic functions are supplemented with
tools for creating training content. LCMS helps you create, reuse, localize into
multiple languages, deliver, manage, and improve the content of training courses.
The content usually is managed in a centralized archive in the form of small, self-
describing, identified elements or as training units. The LCMS is able to provide
the customer with a personalized of training unit training to meet a single task or
provide a larger elements of the course, as defined by the LMS. In advanced
systems are controlled LCSM student interaction with the objects of the course and
based on this information provides the student a personalized study path. LC MS
provides invigilators transparent and valuable reports that in the future may also be
used to improve training facilities. Some of the LCMS systems allow cooperation
and exchange of knowledge with regard to training facilities between students and
teachers. While in most LMS realized tasks are similar, LCMS systems may vary
significantly. Tools for creating content can be integrated into the system or can be
external programs. A supplementary element of LMS systems can be the type of
LCS (Live Communications Systems) [16]. These systems are used to support
synchronous e-learning. To the requirements of the LCS systems must support
video conferencing and VoIP, which allows you to stream video and voice over the
Internet network. Using a virtual whiteboard is possible to view what a lecturer
wrote. A useful feature is also shared teacher’s computer desktop. Transmitted live
lessons are usually archived by LCS as a training facility. LCS systems can be

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interchangeably used with systems VCS (Virtual Classroom System) [17, 18].
These solutions enable the management and operation of distance learning in
synchronous mode "live". VCS provides several possibilities for collaboration,
communication and distribution of knowledge with immediate feedback. High-
quality solutions enable this class, among others:
• carrying out any kind of training activity in synchronous mode using a
virtual whiteboard or screen sharing.
• application sharing, audio and video communication, chat, etc,
• synchronous learning process management, build training materials for use
in training "live".
Comparison between systems classes LMS, LCMS and LCS are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Comparison of e-learning systems

System LMS LCMS LCS
Dimension People Knowledge Communication
The main function Management of Management of Management of
training and training materials communication and
competence building cooperation online
Ability to manage Full includes not Very limited, Very limited -
the process of only of training covering only covering only the
training remote, but also a courses built with learning process
stationary the system synchronous
The possibility of Very limited, Full: the content Very limited -
building courses usually only simple repository facilities covering only the
forms of exercises management, learning process
version management synchronous
features and
facilities
management group
work
The ability to Very limited Very limited Full of opportunities
interact (usually chat, (usually chat, forum) to interact online
forum) cooperation and
communication

E-learning currently facing several important issues that were identified

during the consultation with the recipients of e-learning as well as with companies
and organizations implementing learning. These problems were also confirmed by
the literature and reports about e- learning [19]. The problems relate to both e-
learning content providers and their customers. They reduce the effectiveness of
achieving the objectives of both educational and commercial.

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We identified the following problems:
• Lower motivation to learn,
• Time-consuming process of starting up training of e-learning,
• No contact with the teacher / mentor.
The last problem results from the specific forms of distance learning and the first
two problems are the result of several factors. In the case of smaller motivation
such factors are flexibility of time and pace of learning - on the one hand, this is
one of the main advantages of e-learning, but the recipient of the training must
take care of the realization of the material in good own pace. E-learning system
which is not user friendly may discourage to use it. Long process of starting up
training of learning affects:
• E-learning software implementation process, which often is complicated
and expensive,
• The process of creating content is a less effective laborious.
Based on the above analysis the e-learning management system has been made.

3. The project of integrated system of e-learning

The main idea was to create a platform for e-learning as a comprehensive

computer system used to conduct and manage e-learning trainings integrated with
external services. The application was made as an application type client - server
which includes: database, application server and web services WSDL definitions.
The system design was made using the Flex platform. The use of e-learning
platform designed the Flex SDK allowed the execution of rich functionality and
tools that make at other technologies would lead to an ineffective effort.
In addition, the Flex SDK includes support for building applications for mobile
devices. For its portrayal content of the design platform is responsible Flash Player
now the world's most popular platform for playing multimedia content. The project
application was preceded by studies of user needs in terms of functionality and in
terms of usability. On the basis of a general presumption of what was to create an
integrated system of e-learning brought together some functionality useful in
remote teaching. Our system includes such modules as
• LMS - Management of groups of students, teachers and staff management,
customer management, management training, providing training, reporting
of learning outcomes.
• The Wizard of training - the slides management, media library, testing
module, multimedia tools, effects and settings tools.
• Virtual classrooms - a meeting place for students.
• Integration of external services using the API service provider - search
videos YouTube, search images from the image bank.
• A tool for planning activities in the virtual classroom.

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 Training of e learning within the designed platform was divided according to
the diagram (Fig. 1). The course is acceptable to create any number of training
courses. Training can consist of any number of courses (modules) within which
you can create any number of lessons.

Figure 1. Structure of the training

The lesson is a unit of knowledge to assimilate and can consist of any number
of screens training. Each screen contains objects that serve the transfer of
knowledge. Such objects are: text, images, sounds, tests, quizzes, games, comics
and more. Objects on the screen may occur singly and may also be any number of
them on a single screen. In the system separated tasks that can be performed by
different user groups (administrator, student, teacher). Users after log are redirected
to the appropriate view depending on the role played in the system. The developed
system consists of multiple modules which will eventually allow you to achieve the
desired educational goal. The flow of information in the system is illustrated in
Figure 2. This is the proposed flow of information within the organization
conducting the training or e-learning courses. In addition, the system includes a
closed environment in which organizations or school and university teach, where
they are known in advance the person to which the training is reached. This way
you can organize trainings called closed. Using the module included in the system
of retail sales training organizations, academic institutions, or independent
developers can distribute content created courses and training in a different manner
shown in the diagram (Figure 2). In such a model of content distribution person or
organization has a predetermined planned list of people participating in the
training. This way you can organize open training courses, which enroll any
interested individual. Such training can be free or paid for. Payments for training
the user performs directly in the system using the integrated payment system.
In the event of such a distribution model training, a user must visit a portal (web
site) on which there will be a list of possibilities to acquire training, select the
training of interested to him and make his purchase.

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 Figure 2. The flow of information in the system

Designed in the system editor lesson allows you to build attractive visually
and content-rich lessons and training. The functionality of the editor is divisible
into several areas. To perform the tasks of a given area serves a variety of tools and
controls that allow you to achieve the desired effect. There are different types of
exercises and tests, for example drag and drop tests, filling gaps in the test, the
traditional multiple choice and single choice. Created educational content can gain
a new dimension with the Wizard comics and stories. To illustrate the content of
the lesson, you can add video from prepared file. You can also use the system's
built-in search videos from YouTube, video or audio record audio directly from
webcam and microphone. Creating educational content can be used also available
in the wizard animations and effects. Through its dynamics are more attractive
presentation of catching attention and making that their content will be rapidly
assimilated and stored by the user of training. As the content of the training can be
placed on the stage of pre-prepared presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint, and
PDF files or MS Word documents. You can also import training content created in
other programs and available in SWF format. For lector’s base was used IVONA
[20]. With this solution all the training content can be automatically read by the
computer. In addition, in the lessons can be also put a recording of the prior
prepared mp3 files. In addition, you can record the contents of each track a lecturer
straight from the microphone. Lesson editor interface consists of 5 major
components which are shown in Figure 3. Using this interface, you can prepare a
complete lesson training without leaving the application. All tools and options are
placed in practical locations, and also are described by means of called tooltips.
The lesson editor has also been included media library that organizes all the files
and multimedia placed under training. It allows you to reuse the same files and
makes it easier to browse files stored in the training.

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 Figure 3. Interface of lesson editor

Working with the system consists of several stages. The most important are:
the introduction of user: employee, teacher, student and the introduction of training
content. That the training was complete in addition to creating training wizard. You
should design a training structure and create a system of appropriate modules
divided into lessons.

4. Conclusion

When reviewing the e-learning solutions available on the market, it turned out
that there is a need for a modern e-learning system which integrates a lot of tools.
After analysis of e-learning solutions it can be concluded that rarely the solutions
are attractive for consumers and content providers. Lack of consolidation services
and e-learning software can lead to the belief that distance learning is costly and
complicated and open source tools are too poor functionally and difficult to handle.
Existing solutions LMS type not usually meet all the training needs of both
companies and educational entities. Such systems should be introduced that content
to be created by means of external tools. Creating content in open source systems is
tedious and time-consuming. The tools are not enough insights and are not
ergonomic. In the designed system the emphasis is placed on comfort and speed of
content creation. The proposed system comprehensively meets the needs of remote
education, and effectively addresses emerging issues. Designed platform can be
expanded and adapted to the expectations of wider audience by adding new
functionality. It should be noted that the fundamental assumption of the design was
the intuitiveness and simplicity in the use of the platform. Adding new functions in
the system should be preceded by research utilities so as to be consistent with the
current assumptions and would not introduce user confusion.

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