Computer Education Techniques, Inc. Computer Education Techniques, Inc. - Since 1982

Evolving Business Model

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Foundation of Service Quality Web-based Learning Open Source - Moodle
Courseware and Moodle Activities Open Source - Content Delivery Commercial Service Providers

Information Technology Training - Web-based and Blended
Distance-learning Distance-learning Technology Partners

Computer Education Techniques develops and presents information technology subject matter in conjunction with technology partners, through third parties, and as joint ventures. Management at CETi advocates a return to fundamentals when it comes to web-based training services. We are information technology professionals: computer applications, operating systems, internetworking, web servers, programming languages, databases, mainframe  system software, and web development.

 
     

Distribution

            
            SYS-ED Websites   Moodle Project            
                             
           

Courseware for Teaching

            
  Web-based Content Delivery         Performance Learning Model   Guided Learning Model         Classroom Instruction  
                             
           

Information Technology Subject Matter

            
            Industry Standard   Client-specific            
                             
Training Programs Specialized
                       
     

Distance-learning Service

            
        Synchronous Learning   Blended Learning   Hybrid
Learning		   Asynchronous Learning        
                       

CETi has been aggregating and researching data processing and information processing subject matter to create courseware for teaching. This knowledge base was used in SYS-ED instructor-led courses and is being transitioned and extended for use in web-based instruction.

Emerging Trends Technology Updates Learning Paths Technology Assessments
Examples Sample Programs Reference Cards IT Textbook Extensions

Foundation of Service

Computer Education Techniques is being selective in evaluating presentation technologies to be utilized in web-based training. The service will provide content structured for learning which is programmatically updated and distributed.

The initial web-based training services that CETi offers to employers for their information processing  staff, webmasters, and business professionals is distance-learning as an extension of  classroom instruction. Enrollment in these courses is predicated upon an interview with a company director.

This web-based service is based upon the principles of adult learning theory and both modular and extensible. Its foundation is a lesson plan developed by a governing body responsible for oversight of the public interest. In terms of automation and graphics it has been streamlined to minimize bandwidth limitations and address issues related to security. Website information technology training support services are provided: emerging trends, technology assessments, state of software, and to submit questions and post answers.

Additional web-based training will be made available through CETi technology partners.

Quality Web-based Learning

There is debate within information technology, accredited educational institutions, and client organizations as to what the emerging standard will be in terms of authoring systems and acceptable presentation of web-based delivery of content. Computer Education Techniques has been evaluating authoring and delivery systems.


Open Source - Moodle

The Moodle Project provides tools to manage and promote learning in multiple ways. It can scale to large deployments or be used for small groups. Moodle provides bulk user actions for the administrator to select users by creating a filter which can be used to:

  • Confirm user accounts created through e-mail generated self-registration.
  • Send a message requires messaging to be enabled.
  • Delete user accounts.
  • Display a list of users on a page.
  • Download user data in text, ODS, or Excel file format.
  • Provide security for students, instructors and administrative staff.


Moodle Activities

Computer Education Techniques has extended classroom instruction to distance-learning and personalized blended learning. Content from the CETi courseware library and knowledge base is organized based on the Moodle activity modules.

Moodle Activities CETi Courseware
Assignments Industry Standard, Specialized, and Client-specific
Chats E-mail Correspondence
Choices Learning Paths and Technology Assessments
Forums Common Questions
Lessons Performance Objectives, Distance-learning Frameworks, and Lesson Plans
Quizzes Self Assessments and Pre and Post Course Assessments
Resources Courseware Library and Courseware as a Learning Center
SCORMs/AICCs Tailored Training and Selection of Web-based Content
Surveys Student Profile Forms
Wikis Submission of Questions and CETi Knowledge Base
Workshops Courseware Workshops

Content, file formats, and support services have been developed to facilitate the uploading of data and utilization of open source Moodle.

Open Source Content Delivery

Open Source - CourseLab

CourseLab is being evaluated as the authoring platform for the z/OS JCL - Basic course. Initial work indicates acceptable transmission speeds for uploading and testing of content and providing a framework for eLearning course development. CourseLab also can be incorporated into Moodle.

The CourseLab featureset includes:

Facility Implementation
Pictures Files can be used in multiple formats: GIF, animated GIF, JPG, PNG, and BMP.
Video Files can be inserted and synchronized: AVI, WMV: Windows Media Video, MPEG, MOV - QuickTime Movie, RM : Real Media, and FLV - Adobe Flash Video.
Audio Files can be inserted and synchronized: AIFF, WMA: Windows Media Audio, MP3, WAV, and SWF - Adobe Flash.
Rich media Files can be inserted and synchronized: Adobe Flash, Adobe Shockwave, and Java-applets.
Assessment questions Creation of standardized questions: single choice, multiple select, ordered items, numerical fill-in-blank, text fill-in-blank, and matching pairs.
Interactive exercises Tools for creating performance objective-based scaled testing.
I/O-based interactivity Interactivity can be implemented as: 1- An object by active click or a mouseOver/mouseOut area. 2- Part of text can be active click or a mouseOver/mouseOut. 3- Hotspot areas defined on pictures. 4- The values of form elements used in actions - Text Input Fields, CheckBoxes, and Radiobuttons. 5-Action with description language.
Event-action mechanism Applications and documents can be related to user action and launched in a new window: PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and PDFs.
Software simulations There is a wizard-based screen for recording window size and managing the partial capture mode. Automatic recording of cursor movements can be edited in CourseLab for adding comments and interactions.
Scoring and evaluation There is an objective-based scoring mechanism. Conditions can be used to create success and completion status which define rules applied to objectives. Cascading rules with an objective's status also can be used in conditions.


Open Source - eXe and Xerte

There is additional functionality which can be added to the suite of authoring tools for generating Moodle content.

A Moodle export capability can be developed and incorporated into the tools for authoring rich web content for import into a Moodle course. Links to discussion forums can be embedded in web content which launches a Moodle discussion.There is a more extensive export than available with standard SCORM content packaging.

The featureset of the eXe Project includes:

Facility Implementation
Interactive multimedia There is a visual development facility for the assembly and addition of icons and property configuration. The results can then be previewed.
Media support There is support for the insertion of files: .jpg, .gif, .png, .swf, .fla, and .mp3. The .swf format can be used to include animation nd custom components.
Interface and controls The default interface can be used to provide a consistent, accessible interface. The interface can be customized specific to the delivery of content.
Unified deployment The fileset is created in a single invocation of a command. No server-side components are required; the fileset is copied to a web server.
Scripting Actionscript is used for scripting. Icons provide a properties, methods, and events for creating sophisticated interactions.
Accessibility features The accessibility features are provided through a runtime engine: interface and media controllers, accessible color schemes, text-to-speech capability, screen reader support, and tabbed keyboard control.
Code model architecture The code model architecture is reusable and can be shared and used in different projects. Interactions can be re-used in different contexts.
SCORM API The SCORM API is integrated in the runtime engine and facilities the utilization of SCORM data. SCORM-compliant content packages can be created for a SCORM-compliant LMS.
Logic and data - separation Data driven components are based upon a foundation in which the logic and data are separated. This facilitates the creation of dynamic adaptable data-driven content.
Editing tool Tools can be added to the editor through an extensible interface. Custom editors can be used in an open .rlo file format; .swf based components can be developed for including additional functionality.

Commercial Service Providers

WebEx and Citrix

The CETi web-based training service and courseware can be integrated with a commercial LMS: learning management system and content delivery: self-service registration, automated reminder e-mails, pre and post course evaluation, recorded sessions, and video hosting. A commercial service will provide a high-definition video and shared resources - whiteboard, multimedia, and application. Support is provided with threaded question and answer, chat and polling. Reuse and repurposing is done through recording of live sessions as a on-demand training library.

CETi will align content delivery to-client specific information technology workshop objectives with live video feeds in the main session, reporting monitoring metrics, and validation assessment: multiple choice, true-or-false, fill-in the-blank, and case study/essay.


Adobe eLearning Suite

CETi is evaluating Adobe tools for creating e-learning content delivery, courseware authoring, and media editing.

  • Authoring interactive e-learning and HTML5-based content.

  • Publishing to a LMS: Learning Management System.

  • Delivering courses over a network and through the Internet or intranet to desktops and mobile devices.

  • Transforming MS PowerPoint presentations into videos and e-learning content.

  • Embedding Adobe Captivate movies in PDF documents and PDF portfolios with Adobe Acrobat X Pro and facilitating accessibility with Adobe Reader software.

  • Combining modular CETi course search engine titles and topics content into a single course.