Project Leader: Prof. Kanchana Kanchanasut
Recipient Institution: Internet Education and Research Laboratory (IntERLab), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
Amount: USD 30,000
Duration: 24 Months
Commencement Date: 2006

Project Abstract

The major drawback of almost every existing e-learning platform is in providing synchronous sessions with interactivity among the attendees and in handling the mobility of its users.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an Internet peer-to-peer signaling protocol that was ready made with mobility in mind. Although very simple, SIP has already become a benchmark in the telephony VoIP standards and its market is growing tremendously. The platform chosen for integration of SIP is called VClass. VClass is an open source e-learning platform developed for the purpose of distance learning and online degrees.

VClass SIP-based Mobile Classroom would seamlessly extend VClass e-learning platform's capabilities. Integration of SIP into VClass would create an effective mobile learning environment for students and instructors. In addition, this integration will provide a strong platform for developing VoIP applications.

Mobile classroom access would be provided to users in wired, wireless and mobile networks using various types of devices such as desktop computers, laptops, PDAs and mobile phones. It makes an easy and effective way to reach students during a class and to extract learning objects from mobile resources.

It provides more flexibility and choise in where and when students learn. Considering the importance of lifelong learning, working students have an opportunity to maximize learning during what might otherwise have been "down time."

The project output is mobility enhanced VClass e-Learning Platform. The mobile classroom application itself will be presented in a form of a Java application or Java applet window, accessible from the web browser, installed on a mobile (or immobile, such as desktop PC) device of the users.