Introduction
Web-based learning is a popular approach taken in e-learning directions. In that regard, the development of e-learning website, specialized in the preparation of Sat reasoning test, was a good idea to test several features common to web-based learning management systems as well as aligning to usage simplicity as one of the main attributes. The website was developed using ASP.NET, SQL Database, XHTML, CSS and Ajax, and is to be hosted a Windows 2008 Server platform with a SQL Server 2008. This report provides an overview of the system, its main features and the way they were implemented.
Learning Management System
The developed website will represent a learning management system, which is developed in the following manner:
- Homepage written in XHTML with general information, contacts and samples of learning material.
- An authorization system for registered users and administrators. The menus and the forms will be written in C# using ASP.NET as a platform, where users’ information will be stored in SQL database. The security of users’ information will be implemented through encrypting the password and the personal information of the users.
- Content management system – the framework through which the learning material will be delivered to the user, including documents, pictures, and videos. The users will be able to post their own materials and submit their work through the system is developed using ASP.NET(C#) and AJAX for non reloadable content.
- User’s management system – the part connected to the authentication with the development implemented using the same language and attachment to the database.
- Search engine and Flickr integration.
Content Management System
Content management system (CMS) is the main aspect of the e-learning website, through which the content will be provided. The development using ASP.NET(C#) can be explained in choosing object-oriented programming language, in which content management will be developed through separate modules, and reused throughout the website. The modules can be divided based on separate content type, courses, etc. In such manner the system will be more flexible, where content’s elements will be reused for different users. SQL Server will be used as the database for the system. Developing content management system from scratch was selected to tailor the needs of the system, rather than modifying existing systems to eliminate unused features. The specifics of the developed CMS include the following:
- Single template types for all users. No modification
- The management of the content is performed through the website
- The contribution of the users are limited to dash board notes
- The testing system is developed using Ajax, with scores stored in the database
- Separate templates for tutors
The exchange of data and data management is implemented using XML, in which XML will be sent as request to the database, translated into procedures that return the data in XML.
User’s management System
The main tasks in developing the user management system were security and profiles’ management usability. The main security system is provided through authentication, which provides registered users with separate profiles integrated into the content management system. The profiles are divided into groups such as users, tutors, and administrators and subgroups, divided by courses. The data related to each profile will be stored in SQL database. Although the site will not be on a paid basis, the security consideration was shifted from the option of storing passwords in plain text to encryption. The information is stored through creating cookies.
Newsletter System
The benefit of newsletter system can be seen in duplicating the dashboard functions into users’ emails. The system was not typical, in terms of subscription and un-subscription options, as all the news and the announcements will posted in the dashboard integrated in the user management system. The email will be indicated in the process of registration, and thus, the only option available to the user in selecting should the dashboard announcements be forwarded to the email or not. Such option will be implemented through a simple script, which will be triggered once an announcement is posted on the dashboard.
Search Engine
The search engine was implemented using Google’s application programming interface (API), which saved the efforts of integrating search mechanism into the CMS. Additionally, the search functions that can be realized using programming language or SQL operators were rejected in favor of Google’s Ajax API. The only modification made to the code is in the way the results will be formatted in order to suit the style of our website. Additionally, an account was created on Flickr for image storage, with a script integrated into the website for their retrieval. Among the benefits of such step is saving space, on the one hand, and more flexibility in sharing images through the website. The script was written in CSS and JavaScript.
Compliance and Formatting
The compatibility of the website was through the usage of XHTML 1.0, which is compatible with all known browsers. The usage of flash was rejected, where despite the overwhelming shift toward broadband connection; the website should maintain a minimalistic style, favoring speed over design. The main formatting of the document, in both external elements, i.e. Google search and Flickr API, and original html elements, are performed using CSS. The compliance of XHTML and CSS is performed using W3 validator.
Conclusion
The project was a great chance to practice the learned material, and in that regard, I tried, as much as possible to rely on writing systems for scratch, rather than modify existing open source projects. The availability of the latter would have saved time, but nevertheless, developing the systems was a great learning opportunity. The exceptions were made in relation to Google and Flickr, which constituted a small portion of the project.
The technologies used include the following:
- ASP.NET (C#)
- XHTML
- XML
- CSS
- Ajax
- JavaScript
- SQL database
- Windows Server 2008.