1. CerOrganic Training Curriculum 504387-LLP-1-2009-1-GR-LEONARDO-LMP Co-funded by the European Union, through the Leonardo da Vinci Programme Module C532 Unit C532.3

2. Structure 1.Introduction i.Tutor information ii.Aims & objectives iii.Learning outcomes & skills iv.Methodology & media 2.Main Part i. Glossary ii.Presentation 1.Conclusion i.Summary ii.References iii.Evaluation of learning Unit C532.3, Course Management Platform

3. 1.i. Tutor information Polyxeni Arapi Technical University of Crete xenia@ced.tuc.gr Module C532, Unit C532.3

4. 1.i. Tutor information Mrs. Polyxeni Arapi is an Electronic and Computer Engineer (Dipl.-Eng.) graduated from the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department of the Technical University of Crete in 2003. Her Diploma Thesis has been awarded by the Technical Chamber of Greece as the best Diploma Thesis in the profession of Electronic Engineers in 2003. She also holds a M.Sc. in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department of the Technical University of Crete. Mrs. Arapi has been working as a researcher in the Laboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications (TUC/MUSIC) since 2001 involved in many European RTD projects related with eLearning and Digital Libraries. Her expertise includes eLearning systems, digital libraries, multimedia systems and modern information systems. Mrs. Arapi belongs to the permanent technical personnel of the Technical University of Crete since 2006. She is the technical coordinator and a teaching assistant of the Software Technology and Network Applications Laboratory (SoftNet) of the Electronic and Computer Engineering Department of the Technical University of Crete. Mrs. Arapi is also a member of the Technical Committee 48/WG3 of the Hellenic Organization for Standarization (ELOT) working in the area of learning processes and technolοgies standarization.Electronic and Computer Engineering DepartmentTechnical University of CreteElectronic and Computer Engineering DepartmentTechnical University of CreteLaboratory of Distributed Multimedia Information Systems and Applications (TUC/MUSIC)Technical University of CreteSoftware Technology and Network Applications Laboratory (SoftNet)Electronic and Computer Engineering DepartmentTechnical University of CreteHellenic Organization for Standarization (ELOT) Module C532, Unit C532.3

5. 1.ii. Aims & objectives This unit aims to: provide a definition and usage of course management platforms present the MOLE platform (Multimedia Open Learning Environment) as an example of course management platform provide detailed information on the usage of the most important features of the MOLE platform Module C532, Unit C532.3

6. 1.iii. Learning outcomes & skills By the end of the component, the students are expected to: have an understanding of the role and significance of the course management platforms be competent in using the basic functions of the MOLE platform to be able to use the MOLE platform for uploading resources and delivering online courses to use MOLE platform as a part of their training context Module C532, Unit C532.3

7. 1.iv. Methodology & media Methodology The Unit is composed of: (a) lecture based on PowerPoint presentation (b) hands-on exercise (c) group interaction and discussion Unit contents: 1.1 Introduction to the concept of course management platforms 1.2 Description of the MOLE platform 1.3 Examples of uploading digital resources and delivering online courses using the MOLE platform 1.4 Hands-on exercise Module C532, Unit C532.3

8. 2. Main part Module C532, Unit C532.3

9. 2.i. Glossary CMP: Course Management Platform MOLE: Multimedia Open Learning Environment Module C532, Unit C532.3

10. 2.ii. Presentation Module C532, Unit C532.3

11. MOLE Overview Polyxeni Arapi xenia@ced.tuc.gr Technical University of Crete (TUC) Module C532, Unit C532.3

12. Course management platforms/systems Course Management Platforms /Systems (CMP/CMS) are software platforms for managing online courses They offer a dynamic interactive environment supporting the communication between the tutor & the learner. They provide means for digital organization, storage and presentation of the educational material They offer an alternative channel for personalized learning, independent of spatiotemporal limitations. EXAMPLES ?? Module C532, Unit C532.3

13. What is MOLE? MOLE = Multimedia Open Learning Environment a multimedia information system for managing courses, supporting learning processes, and learning communities through the Web. MOLE offers a set of services for – the organization and management of digital educational content (e.g. lectures, notes, exercises, technical lab material, literature, FAQs etc.) – informing learners (e.g. announcements, mail, calendar, personal rating etc.) – assisting learning communities (e.g. mailing lists, live chat rooms, forums, personal messaging, instant messaging, annotation tools, video conference etc.) – supporting educational activities (e.g. registration to courses, formation of lab teams, exercise uploads and deadline management, assessment tests, multimedia presentations etc.) – monitoring services (course usage statistics, class performance indicators) Module C532, Unit C532.3

14. MOLE characteristics MOLE technological infrastructure provides: – educational support by introducing new technologies – fast and effective information for learners – an intuitive environment providing learning services – effective support of educational communities – uniform presentation of courses and support of courses series – presentation of curriculum – organization of a large volume of digital educational material and search service – possibility of reusing materials and self-learning – dynamic presentation of course statistics and performance indicators – interoperability with other educational systems with the SCORM export feature Module C532, Unit C532.3

15. MOLE approach MOLE fits both the model of tele-education and the hybrid model of education hybrid education: any mixture of traditional education and tele-education – Specifically, this model is based on traditional education and is assisted by the services provided through tele-education An organization can organize training courses in which – a part of the learning takes place in traditional classrooms and laboratories, and – the other part by using modern methods and asynchronous tele- education (e.g. digital educational materials, e-classes, mailing lists, virtual discussions, multimedia presentations, communication and cooperation between trainers and trainees, etc.). Module C532, Unit C532.3

16. Hybrid learning advantages Traditional method of learning + technology and tele- education methods = new dimensions and possibilities = more flexible models of education The hybrid learning organization provides a significant learning opportunity as it combines – the immediacy of communication among the instructor and the learners and – the irreplaceable practical training in laboratories and the convenience, flexibility and self-regulation of education without the time and space constraints MOLE follows the model of asynchronous learning to provide support for courses, as well as synchronous learning with the use of multimedia Module C532, Unit C532.3

17. MOLE flexible architecture 17

18. MOLE robustness and extensibility The technical development of the system was done in such a way as to ensure the following requirements: Support for large volumes of information and scalability Easy future development of new educational services Development of functional graphical user interfaces highly responsive and easy to use Development of mechanisms for security of use and data protection Module C532, Unit C532.3

19. MOLE- Demo Site http://demo.moleportal.eu As an Administrator – User name : demo_admin – Password :demo_admin As a Normal User – User name : demo_user – Password : demo_user Module C532, Unit C532.3

20. CerOrganic Mole Platform http://cerorganic.moleportal.eu/

21. Register on CerOrganic MOLE platform Sign in on CerOrganic MOLE platform

22. Edit your profile

23. Interact with other users (1/4) Find other users in User Directory

24. Interact with other users (2/4) Send Personal Messages

25. Interact with other users (3/4) Create a Forum Topic

26. Interact with other users (4/4) Create your Chat room

27. As a trainee, Register in a course Use Normal mode

28. List of courses

29. As a trainer... Create your own Course Use Edit mode

30. Course services Announcements

31. Course services Course Calender

32. Course services Mail service

33. Course services Digital content: Lectures, Notes, Useful Documents, Links etc

34. Course services Annotations

35. Course services Workspaces

36. Course services FAQ

37. Course services Rating

38. Course services Assessment

39. Course services Course statistics

40. Course services Reservations

41. Course services Presentations Room

42. Course services Video Conference

43. Course services Search

44. 3. Conclusions Module C532, Unit C532.3

45. 3.i. Summary Course management platforms (CMPs) are widely used for learning and training purposes. MOLE platform is an application of CMP, featuring a number of options that facilitate the delivery of online courses. The platform will be used for storing, describing and delivering the training courses of the CerOrganic project. Module C532, Unit C532.3

46. 3.ii. References Basic bibliography MOLE (Multimedia Open Learning Environment): http://www.moleportal.euhttp://www.moleportal.eu Web pages / links Wikipedia article on Virtual learning environments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_learning_environment#Co urse_management_systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_learning_environment#Co urse_management_systems Wikipedia article on Learning Management Systems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_management_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_management_system Module C532, Unit C532.3

47. 3.iii. Evaluation of Learning The evaluation will be performed by a hands-on exercise that will take place during the training. This exercise includes the accomplishment of various tasks within the MOLE environment. Module C532, Unit C532.3

48. For more information on unit C532.3 Nikos Pappas : nikos@ced.tuc.grnikos@ced.tuc.gr Polyxeni Arapi : xenia@ced.tuc.grxenia@ced.tuc.gr www.music.tuc.gr cerorganic.moleportal.eu