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Basic foilset Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration

Given by Geoffrey C. Fox at SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) on 16 November97. Foils prepared 8 Jan 98
Outside Index Summary of Material

We describe the basic Object-Web model integrating Java and CORBA
We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training
We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context
We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education
Can traditional universities survive this revolution

Table of Contents for full HTML of Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration

 Denote Foils where HTML is sufficient
1 Architecture of WebWisdom Training and Education System SC97 November 16,97
2 Abstract of WebWisdom Overview
3 Basic Object Web Technology Model
4 Some Observations on Education
5 Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning
6 What is an Educational Object?
7 What are the "Database Issues"
8 What is a Curricula Object?
9 What are General Properties of Curricula Objects
10 CSC499 at Jackson State
11 Next Steps in CSC499 Experiment
12 Critical Tools and Services in WebWisdom
13 Where are We Now ?
14 Status of Tango Collaborative System
15 The current Capabilities of Tango -I
16 The current Capabilities of Tango -II
17 The current Capabilities of Tango -III
18 The current Capabilities of Tango -IV
19 Some Remarks on Technologies relevant to Integration of Research in Physics and Education Meeting at NSF Dec. 3, 97
20 Abstract of Integration of Physics Research and Education NSF Talk
21 Fox's Background in Physics and Education
22 Some General Remarks
23 Technology Opportunities in Education I
24 Technology Opportunities in Education II

Outside Index Summary of Material

HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 1 Architecture of WebWisdom Training and Education System SC97 November 16,97

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Geoffrey Fox
Syracuse University
NPAC
111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100
3154432163
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 2 Abstract of WebWisdom Overview

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
We describe the basic Object-Web model integrating Java and CORBA
We consider applications which combine asynchronous and synchronous learning and combine education and training
We describe Tango Collaborative Infrastructure in the above context
We use examples from K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education including special (handicapped users) education
Can traditional universities survive this revolution
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 3 Basic Object Web Technology Model

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
The current incoherent but highly creative Web will merge with distributed object technology in a 3-tier client-server-service architecture with Java based combined Web-ORB's
COM(Microsoft) and CORBA(world) are competing cross platform and language object technologies
  • Javabeans plus RMI is 100% Java distributed object technology
Need to abstract entities (Web Pages, simulations) and services as objects with methods(interfaces)
How do we do this while infrastructure still being designed!
One can anticipate this by building systems in terms of Javabeans e.g. develop Web-based databases with Javabeans using standard JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) interfaces
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 4 Some Observations on Education

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Technology can improve quality and reduce cost
  • different people have different goals/expectations
Training (typically lifelong learner) and Education communities surprisingly far apart
  • Training tends to have highly motivated learners with difficult time constraints. So asynchronous learning with minimal teacher in the loop is easier here than in education
Surely we need to support both asynchronous and synchronous (teacher in the loop)
  • Note asynchronous supports exploratory learning
  • Good synchronous support collaborative interactivity -- so both models are interactive
At a recent distance education conference, exhibitors show some 20 Web-based asynchronous systems,; only 2 synchronous
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 5 Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Traditional Education "favors" synchronous style but if you use Web, it is clearly easier to chose asynchronous
  • Need to remove historical biases in learning models
Role of Teacher in synchronous Web based learning system is that of a Tour Guide to a rich (asynchronous) Web Site of material the student can return to
  • In our course at Jackson State, there is 100 megabytes of teacher delivered foils and 150 megabytes of "tutorial material" which are highlighted in synchronous classes
As well as remote "deliverer of lecture", there is a local "mentor" at JSU while in general homework can be set and graded either remotely or on site.
Basic strategy is to support simultaneously asynchronous and synchronous learning
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 6 What is an Educational Object?

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
We have a set of containers -- courses, training modules, degree programs, lectures, online Universities ....
We have a set of base curricula entities
  • This can be defined at various level of granularities. It is probably useful to optimize around a base unit that is a "blackboard full" or "screenfull"
  • This base unit is aggregated into hierarchical containers
  • It is itself made up of smaller objects
There are a set of people (students, teachers, administrators) with properties
There are relationships such as courses taken and grades gotten by students
There are a set of Services and Tools manipulating objects
See Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (http://www.imsproject.org/adl)
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 7 What are the "Database Issues"

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
The containers needed in WebWisdom are characterized by classic library metadata (author, institution, licensing, Date, Title, Abstract, parent and children containers etc.)
The people have two classes of data attached to them
  • "Personal Information" Such as Name and SSN
  • "Performance Information" such as grades gotten and courses taken
IMS and ADL have good initial start on this.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 8 What is a Curricula Object?

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
HTML Page; PowerPoint presentation; Task in Virtual World as in flight simulation training; Sample Programming examples; Sample Physics Simulations; Voice recordings in foreign language training; Digital Video clip .......
These are "classes not "objects" as for instance a given HTML Page can be used in multiple containers (courses) and have different attributes in each case
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 9 What are General Properties of Curricula Objects

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Each object has contents which could be embedded document types such as images, bullets ..
Each object has a "Next" and "Previous" object inherited from container
There would be for each display of object, an "up/down" state representing where (e.g. which bullet) teacher or student is
One would attach to object, the audio/video clip of teacher presenting it
There would be as in PowerPoint, "notes" attached to object
Licensing information
There would be log events attached to object used in assessment as well grades and grading method.
Particular curricula objects would inherit general properties but also have special properties which would be different for an HTML page and Physics Simulation Java Applet
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 10 CSC499 at Jackson State

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Taught using current Tango/WebWisdom over Internet (now DREN via CEWES) every Tuesday and Thursday from Syracuse
  • Course material based on Syracuse Senior Undergraduate class ECS406
Jackson State major HBC University with many computer science graduates
Can now offer addon-on courses with "leading edge" material (Web Technology) which give JSU graduates skills that are important in their career
  • Job fair employers liked Java Programming!
Needs guaranteed 30 (audio) to 100 (two way) kilobits per second bandwidth assuming course material mirrored at JSU
  • Can be offered using CD-ROM's to homes with audio only link and 28.8 kbaud modem
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 11 Next Steps in CSC499 Experiment

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
There are many universities/schools where such "augmentation would be valuable
  • http://www.webwisdom.org happy to offer such courses
Experience with teaching in China suggests huge demand in foreign universities where faculty less up to date in latest material
Will repeat course at JSU next semester with improved curricula and hopefully improved bandwidth
Hope to produce a grade 7-12 version of Web Technologies for kids offered in depth of this winter in Syracuse
Note base material used in about 20 different courses/tutorials over last 2 years
  • This approach has obvious economies of scale
  • material updated continuously (e.g. Java1.0 to 1.1) which requires such economies to be realistic
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 12 Critical Tools and Services in WebWisdom

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Database query and access including indexed video clips
Delivery including specialized VRML, GIS (virtual worlds), Simulations as well as classic HTML
Collaboration or sharing of interactive objects
User interfaces for disabled individuals
Security for proprietary material and personal information
Quality of Service based on replication and bandwidth trade-offs
  • Asynchronous has less demands than synchronous
Conversion and Integration of Legacy material
Authoring (object creation) tools
Assessment Administration and Logging Tools
Specialized services such as programming laboratories
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 13 Where are We Now ?

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Tango and WebWisdom delivery/storage system essentially work and have "proven" (to me) value of integration of synchronous and asynchronous systems
  • Need many more experiments!
But they do not have correct implementation for object web vision and have not implemented fully correct database and metadata standards
For instance need replace Perl CGI scripts with JDBC interface to commercial database
Need to take critical parts of Tango and make more robust and compatible with all browsers
Some services such as assessment need a lot of work
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 14 Status of Tango Collaborative System

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
It must be competitive with best available collaborative tools and so its multi-language interface allows us to interface to other systems with Tango supplying Integrated Session Control
  • e.g. interfaces to Microsoft NetMeeting
Basic model is that of a room which is a group of people getting together for a class
  • Tango2 (April98) will support a very powerful persistent multi-room paradigm
Each room supports a collection of shared objects chosen by teacher/students/administrator
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 15 The current Capabilities of Tango -I

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Tango supports (more than) enough (over 40) applications and our next step is to evaluate, improve and make robust release
Core Collaboration Capabilities
  • Audio-Video Conferencing multicast between room participants
  • Text chat rooms with various trade offs between "coolness", ease of use etc.
  • Shared Browser (Synchronized view of Web Pages)
  • Shared Web Search (becomes shared database query)
  • Slide Show
  • White Board
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 16 The current Capabilities of Tango -II

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Office and Authoring Tools
  • PowerPoint via shared display or shared Java viewer
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • shared visual C++ etc.
  • Combined Whiteboard/ Java object based PowerPoint like authoring system
  • Shared emacs editor
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 17 The current Capabilities of Tango -III

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
General Virtual University Applications
  • Current WebWisdom hierarchical systems navigating through 20,000 foils and 500 foilsets
  • "Raise Hands" Applet to help teacher-student synchronous interaction
Special Virtual University Applications
  • Shared Java applets to teach physics (spring, planets, vector cross product)
  • Shared Java Applets used to teach Java!
  • Shared SmartDesk system aimed at activities useful in special education with built in assessment
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 18 The current Capabilities of Tango -IV

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Have some fun with Multi-player games
  • VRML Chess
  • Tetris
  • Othello (Java)
  • Rubric's Cube (Java)
  • Should develop snakes and ladders and bunch of similar "grid" games
"Other" Applications
  • TANGOsim command and control system with shared tools (e.g. mapping, weather) to use in scripted crisis management
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 19 Some Remarks on Technologies relevant to Integration of Research in Physics and Education Meeting at NSF Dec. 3, 97

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Geoffrey Fox
Syracuse University
NPAC
111 College Place Syracuse NY 13244 4100
3154432163
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 20 Abstract of Integration of Physics Research and Education NSF Talk

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
First we make some general remarks about my background and status of field
Then we discuss briefly some areas where technology can impact education
Then we discuss role of collaborative technologies
And the impact of new object technologies like COM and CORBA
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 21 Fox's Background in Physics and Education

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
20 years at Caltech as a Physics faculty
Particle Data Group member for a while
Dean for Educational Computing at Caltech
worked on experiments E110/260/350 at Fermilab
At Syracuse, I have a joint appointment in Physics and Computer Science and work on
  • Numerical Relativity and earthquake prediction
As well as University teaching, I work mainly in training or lifelong learning fields
NPAC web pages mainly accessed for education including kidsweb(K-12) and my courses in computer science
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 22 Some General Remarks

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
What is the "Enterprise" (business) model for science education and indeed universities themselves as an institution?
US has a clear technology leadership in spite of perceived educational problems
  • It imports expertise and exports graduate education very effectively
My physics students rarely end up in physics but do find that physics taught them good problem solving skills.
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 23 Technology Opportunities in Education I

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Developments in Object Web (Java, CORBA databases etc) will give higher quality basic curricula with glossaries, database backends, reusable objects etc.
  • More modular approach to educational material
Virtual Laboratories for Science -- including computer science (programming)
  • See Phy105/106 Applets, VRML2 as in Visible Human, languages from Fortran to SQL with Web Interfaces
Voice(RealAudio) and Video(H263) capture of teacher as augmentation of lecture curricula material
  • Record when teacher is delivering to capture adrenaline enhancements
Searchable video archives for finding critical few minute length clips to use in class
  • More useful han searching 10,000 movies for "Jaws 7" which makes poor use of digital video
HTML version of Basic Foils prepared 8 Jan 98

Foil 24 Technology Opportunities in Education II

From Master Set of WebWisdom Education and Training System: Distributed Objects and Collaboration SC97 Education Presentation and Later NSF Physics (Dec 3) -- 16 November97. *
Full HTML Index
Collaboration Technology designed to link people, computers and instruments (accelerators, telescopes ..) together
Immersive Virtual Environments using VRML
DoD Modeling and Simulation (generalized flight simulation)
Log accesses using databases and analyse results (data-mining) for assesment
All these technologies can be used synchronously (with teacher) or asynchronously (exploratory learning in students' time)
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