An overview of the interactive learning management system of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

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An overview of the interactive learning management system of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

Khalid Hussain K. Moukali

Muhammad Noman Saeed

Abstract. The effective utilisation of technology provides a more collaborative environment to improve the traditional distance learning. Moreover, it has invigorated a new era of discussion from a range of participants including online learners, learning sources, and eLearning managers. The Learning Management System (LMS) is defined as a hub for handling the overall learning framework in Distance/eLearning education. The system is not only capable of covering the Learning process to the Learners but also acts as a bridge between Learners, Instructors, and learning resources. This study describes the key characteristics and functions of the newly deployed LMS at Jazan University called JUMP (Jazan University Multi-Platforms) with an overview of the previous system, JUSUR, which is an Arabic word, meaning Bridges. The emphasis of deploying JUMP as a new LMS by supplanting the former system is to establish a unified eLearning platform for Jazan.

Keywords: Electronic Learning; Learning Management System; JUMP; JUSUR; Jazan University; Distance Learning.

learning management electronic remote

Халід Хуссейн К. Мукалі

Мухаммад Номан Саїд

Ефективне використання технологій сприяє створенню колабративного середовища, що вдосконалює традиційне дистанційне навчання. Попри це, їх використання викликає нову хвилю дискусій, до яких залучені різні учасники процесу, включаючи онлайн учнів, джерела навчання, а також менеджерів з електронного навчання. Система управління навчанням (СУН) визначається як концентратор (хаб) для обробки загальних рамок навчання в галузі дистанційної / електронної освіти. Система не тільки здатна охопити процес навчання для учнів, а й виступає як міст між учнями, викладачами і навчальними ресурсами. У цьому дослідженні описані основні характеристики і функції новітньої системи СУН, яка застосовується в університеті Джазан під назвою JUMP (Jazan University Multi-Platforms - мульти-платформи університету Джазан) з оглядом попередньої системи, JUSUR (JUSUR - арабське слово, що означає мости). Акцент на розгортанні JUMP, як нової системи управління навчанням, що витісняє попередню систему, зроблений з метою створення єдиної платформи електронного навчання для університету Джазан.

Ключові слова: електронне навчання; системи управління навчанням; JUMP; JUSUR; університет Джазан; дистанційне навчання.

ОБЗОР СИСТЕМЫ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ИНТЕРАКТИВНОГО ОБУЧЕНИЯ УНИВЕРСИТЕТА ДЖАЗАН, САУДОВСКАЯ АРАВИЯ

Халид Хуссейн К. Мукали

Мухаммад Номан Саид

Эффективное использование технологий способствует созданию колабративной среды, что совершенствует традиционное дистанционное обучение. Кроме того, их использование вызывает новую волну дискуссий, в которые вовлечены различные участники процесса, включая онлайн учеников, источники обучения, а также менеджеров по электронному обучению. Система управления обучением (СУН) определяется как концентратор (хаб) для обработки общих рамок обучения в области дистанционного / электронного образования. Система не только способна охватить процесс обучения для учащихся, но и выступает в качестве моста между учениками, преподавателями и учебными ресурсами. В данном исследовании описаны основные характеристики и функции новейшей системы СУН, которая применяется в университете Джазан под названием JUMP (Jazan University Multi-Platforms - мульти-платформы университета Джазан) с обзором предыдущей системы, JUSUR (JUSUR --арабское слово, означающее мосты). Акцент на развертывании JUMP, как новой системы управления обучением, вытесняя предыдущую систему, сделан с целью создания единой платформы электронного обучения для университета Джазан.

Ключевые слова: электронное обучение; системы управления обучением; JUMP; JUSUR; университет Джазан; дистанционное обучение.

Learning is a process of acquiring new knowledge or strengthening the present one through improved learning pedagogies, and the latest technical tools and learning management systems. The entire process of knowledge acquisition in a learner's behaviour produces changes based on the learning steps and, therefore, should be relatively permanent (Schacter D.L., Gilbert D.T., and Wegner D.M., 2011). Moreover, the terms E-Learning, eLearning, and e-Learning are commonly interchangeable for acquiring on-demand learning techniques through the computer, handheld devices having Internet-enabled features, etc.

Due to the immense progression in Information technology and the implementation of IT in learning and education, many systems have evolved which provide eLearning and Distance education. Therefore, using technology, the traditional Distance education has transitioned from e-learning to mobile learning due to the ubiquitous influence of the Internet, as well as accelerated progress in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and recent developments in learning technology (Arshad Muhammad, Muhammad Noman Saeed, 2014). These systems are designed not only to virtualise the classroom-based environment but also develop in a way to present the effective use of Information Technology. Using these systems, a learner can get a collaborative experience for utilising augmented learning through online teaching using digital contents and various devices.

The effective learning phase using an eLearning tool is dependent on the effective usability and utilisation of the Learning Management System which is used for managing the content, tracking learning activities, assessment, etc. Consequently, the LMS has always played a crucial role in the eLearning environment. In addition, it is also required to integrate the LMS with other systems of an academic environment to fully virtualise and present the interactive system to the Learner and Instructor. Ideally, the LMS is responsible not only to provide the eLearning courses but also manage the overall academic activities of the Learner as well.

There are currently many types of Learning Management Systems available for administrating and managing the Virtual Learning Environment, and are used by academics and other organisations. The LMS can be divided in several ways like Open Source or Commercial products, Educational or Corporate systems, Hosted or Cloud based, Integrated or Stand-alone, etc. The blackboard considers the leading provider of the LMS services with a market share of 41% higher education through e-learning based on a 2013 survey followed by the 23% deployment of the Open Source Moodle LMS (Kenneth C. Green, Cynthia Golden, 2013).

Essentially, all LMS's provide eLearning courses through collaborative or stand-alone learning through numerous content formats and components, including Media Lectures, Online Classes, Forums, Assessment, etc. Therefore, this sort of learning can also be termed as Augmented Learning where an individual adopts the learning steps which are personalised to its natural environment into augmented digital libraries (Doswell, Jayfus T, 2006). Such libraries or content include, but are not limited to texts, images, videos, audios, etc.

The Deanship of eLearning and Distance Learning of Jazan University conducted a study under the approved research project titled “KAP (Knowledge, Awareness, & Practices) Study for Evaluating eLearning and Distance Learning Programmes in Higher Education”. The project was awarded under the 06th Scientific Research Grant through the Ministry of Higher Education, Deanship of Scientific Research, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The aim of the study and, particularly, this paper is to present the newly deployed LMS (JUMP) and compare it with the old LMS (JUSUR) by analysing the features and functionality provided by each LMS for online learning at Jazan University. This article intends to present the Learning Management System being utilised at Jazan University with the comparative analysis of their technical and functional features.

1. LEARNING PLATFORM AT JAZAN UNIVERSITY

Jazan University is leading the development of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia by seeking academic excellence in innovation in community development and service. Currently, Jazan University is offering online learning programmes to its students through the Deanship of eLearning and Distance Learning in various disciplines. These Online programmes are divided in two (02) main streams, i.e., eLearning and Distance Learning. Those students who are off-campus lie in the distance learning category, and the e-learning category is for the on- campus students who are using the learning platform as a Blended learning method for their course of study during their stay at the university or from outside the campus. Initially, all programmes, including distance learning or eLearning, were offered using the JUSUR learning management system which is centrally deployed and is administrated by the National Centre for eLearning and Distance learning (NCeL). However, keeping view of a number of students and associated administrative factors, a campus-based LMS (JUMP) was proposed and deployed which is solely managed by the university management staff. A brief difference between the JUSUR and JUMP systems is presented in Table-1 as below.

Features Comparison of JUSUR and JUMP System

Table 1