On the Improvement of course interoperability in E-Learning Models ICEE 2002 CONFERENCE

1 Rima Abdallah. Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse IRIT-Université Paul Sabatier UPS –Toulouse, France In collaboration with American University of Beirut, Co-Tutelle UPS(Université Paul Sabatier)-UL(Université Libanaise) Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 2 Ale el Hajj, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of engineering and architecture, American University Of Beirut P.O.Box:11-0236 Beirut Lebanon Email:[email protected] 3 Abdel Malek Benzekri. Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse IRIT, Université Paul Sabatier UPS, Toulouse, FRANCE. Email: [email protected] 4 Ibrahim Moukarzel, Facult 130 de GenieDepartement Informatique Université Libanaise, Email:[email protected] Abstract  Nowadays, a wide variety of e-learning systems integrate proprietary developed courses. These courses cannot be easily reused and interchanged between various Learning Management Systems (LMS) over the Internet In this paper, an improved WBT Model based on the Learning Technology Systems Architecture (LTSA) standard will be presented. This model includes all “WBT Enhance Model” concepts and facilitates courseware interchange between LMS. It also considers the LTSA development process of portable courses as an interoperable component. This LTSA process will be based on a portable course structure, interoperable hierarchical course content, portable runtime environment, and interoperable metadata For illustration, a scenario based on the LTSA content developer stakeholder perspective will be presented. In this scenario WebCT will be used as the E-learning platform. Realnetworks will be used for the development, hosting, streaming, and playing of multimedia courses that are integrated in WebCT. Moreover, Microsoft Netmeeting will be integrated in WebCT to provide audio/video/sharing of application between the coach and learner and among learners.