Contributions to the Development of eLearning – Possibilities to Convert Teaching Activities and Materials into an Electronic Form

Predmet istraživanja disertacije je prikaz koncepata elektronskog učenja, opis potrebe, motivacije i metodologije za obradu i konverziju postojećih tradicionalnih nastavnih materijala, bez obzira na fizički oblik i sadržaj, u savremene i aktuelne elektronske didaktičke objekte (learning objects). Ideja je da oni budu kreirani tako da mogu biti korišćeni, ako je moguće i više puta, u sistemima za podršku elektronskom učenju. Drugi osnovni predmet istraživanja je opis, definisanje i praktična provera metodologije za razvoj saradničkih i komunikacionih veština studenata. Pri prelazu iz učionice u oblast elektronskog učenja one se zamenjuju elektronskim aktivnostima, standardnim i uobičajenim delom sistema za elektronsko učenje. Analizirana je primena klasičnih aktivnosti Web 2.0 tehnologije: foruma, chat-sistema, Wiki i blog tehnologije, kao i metodologije za on-line zadavanje, rešavanje, pregledanje i ocenjivanje individualnih i timskih zadataka. Konačno, data je sistematizacija metodologija upotrebe elektronskih nastavnih materijala i načini opisivanja meta-modelom. Prikazani su neki od postojećih alata za upotrebu u elektronskom učenju, a predložen je model i potencijalno korisni alati za automatizaciju procesa konverzije nastavnih materijala koji bi olakšali korišćenje u sistemima za podršku elektronskom učenju.The research topic involves description of eLearning concepts, depiction of need, motivation and methodology for processing and conversion of existing traditional teaching materials, regardless of their physical form and content, into contemporary and up-to-date electronic teaching material, learning objects. The idea is that these learning objects are created in such a way that they can be used, if possible also reused, in some of the learning management systems. The other primary research topic is the description, definition and practical testing of methodologies for the development of collaborative and communicative skills with students. Those skills are, as a part of the transfer from the classroom to the field of eLearning, substituted with electronic activities which are the standard and usual part of learning management systems. Within the thesis, application of typical activities of so-called Web 2.0 technologies: forums, chat-systems, Wiki and blog technology, but also methodologies for on-line assigning, solving, audit, and assessment of individual and team assignments. Finally, systematization of various methodologies of digital teaching material use is presented, together with the methods of their depiction by meta-model. Examples of currently existing tools available for eLearning are presented and a model is suggested, together with the potentially useful tools that might help in automatization of a process of conversion of teaching materials and their use in learning management systems.