e2teach is a content management system for e-learning. It allows users ( teachers / parents / tutors ) to collaborate and create lessons. The User Interface will targeted at non-technical users. Not content creation experts. Lessons can be accessed on any device. Student scores are saved. The course leader can view these results, or export them to e2spreadsheet.
There are various type of lesson. Point and click explorations, Drag and drop (where does it belong?) lessons, Multiple choice, Simple text and/or images, etc. There is a template for each kind of lesson that guides the user through the creation of that kind of lesson.
Each lesson template incorporates heuristics that enable it to resize and rearrange its content intelligently for different size screens.
Implementation
This project entails the creation of four new applications.
1. e2teach AIR application: Create or collaborate on lessons as described above.
2. e2teach mobile client: Flash Lite 3.x/ActionScript2. A student can access lessons on a mobile device. The student scores are sent back to the server. Utilise Touch UI, but support keypad based navigation for phones without touch. This application will be targeted primarily at the Nokia 5800 Express Music, but implemented in such a way to support other devices and smaller screens.
3. e2teach AIR client: This is essentially the same as the mobile client, but enclosed in an AIR wrapper to allow it to run on the desktop.
4. PHP+mySQL: Server-side software. Allows for the distribution of lessons and stores student login information and scores.
Functions
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e2teach AIR application
Create new project Import images Import vector illustrations Create text Drag, Resize and rotate Create URL Links Simple text+pictures template Point and Click template Drag-and-drop template Multiple-choice template Share online resources Save and Load to local filesystem Share the e-learning project Search e-learning projects View e-learning projects View student scores Communicate with students |
e2teach mobile/AIR client Navigate/Search shared lessons Interact with lessons Communicate with teacher Touch and keypad navigation |
PHP+mySQL Maintain class information Store student scores Store lessons Handle requests from AIR application Handle requests from mobile/AIR client |
Problems Solved
I first started thinking seriously about e2teach in 2003. It was my intention create it using Macromedia Central (until Central was dropped). In 2005, and 2006 I wrote a suite of e-learning software. This gave me an in-depth understanding of the e-learning problem space. Also, some of the objects that I wrote for that software can be re-used in this application. In 2008, while lecturing Software Engineering, I lead an e-learning student project, which isn't too different from this proposal.
New Challenges
The focus of this project will be to make it attractive and intuitive to use.
Transparency
While Nokia and Adobe have reassured developers about confidentially, we think that transparency would benefit the developer community. While we won't open our source code, we intend to blog and twitter about this project, so that other developers can learn from our approach.
The Team
Daniel Freeman will be the Lead developer.
Nivedita Patel will oversee the project. She is responsible for quality, testing, maintaining focus and deliverables.
We will involve another designer/developer who has specific responsibility for the appearance of this product.
There will be a team of volunteer online beta testers.
Milestones
The project entails an estimated 100 days of development over six months. There is a milestone at the end of each month.
Month 1: Proposed look-and feel. Icon designs. Create an online forum for beta testers.
Month 2: Prototype AIR application. Just the essential functionality, but with the ability to save and load to the filesystem.
Month 3: Server-side software in place. And a new version of the prototype AIR application that enables sharing.
Month 4: e2teach mobile prototype.
Month 5: Updates to AIR and mobile client software. Now fully functional. Final beta-test trials.
Month 6: Project completion.
The Budget
US$60,000. (Estimated 100 days development)
Distribution
The mobile client will be distributed free, primarily through Nokia's Ovi store. The AIR application will be distributed through the Adobe AIR Marketplace, and web downloads. This global service will be available in English. Although this project was originally conceived with children's education in mind (hence the ability to import illustrations and make it compelling to younger users), the proposed service is could also be applied to adult education and corporate training.
The AIR application will be free, but in the future we may charge the user to upgrade to a newer version, or to subscribe to privileged services.
Who Are We?
Daniel Freeman is an accomplished software expert with over 21 years professional experience. His experience of mobile telephony goes back to his early career when he was involved in the creation of the first GSM Mobile standard. He is the inventor and author of a patent for Voice Activity Detection. His algorithm is implemented in every GSM mobile handset. He has founded and directed two companies. He was an early pioneer of Rich Internet Applications. In 2001, he started using Flash and ActionScript to develop sophisticated applications.
Nivedita Patel has many years experience in management of Operations, Administration and IT projects. She has successfully managed the development of internet and intranet applications, predominantly within the medico-legal industry. An Administrator and Internal Auditor by profession, Nivedita considers and incorporates Risk and Quality Management issues into a customer's business requirements to ensure the implementation of “best case scenario” systems and processes. Nivedita's overall experience spans several industries including hospitality, retail, manufacture, medical, legal, industrial equipment installation, and information technology.