1、中文 4882 字 DEVELOPMENT OF A RELATIONAL DATABASE FOR LEARNINGMANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ABSTRACT In todays world, Web-Based Distance Education Systems have a great importance. Web-based Distance Education Systems are usually known as Learning Management Systems (LMS). In this article, a database design, which
2、 was developed to create an educational institution as a Learning Management System, is described. In this sense, developed Learning Management System consists of basis of Virtual Education Institutions. In this study, a fully relational database design has been realized in compliance with SCORM sta
3、ndards and got ready to be used as Virtual Education Institutions. This system can be used for any required education institute and it can be run within the same interface. In LMS that will be generated, a faculty or institute can be defined and acade mic and all administrative processes of the defi
4、ned institute can be managed with the designed system. Proposed database design has been used in a LMS of AfyonKocatepe University. In this system, many processes like indexing, uploading, downloading, production and editing of web based learning materials can also be performed easily and safely. Ke
5、ywords: Distance Education, E-learning, Web-Based Distance Learning Systems, SCORM, Relational Database Design. INTRODUCTION In todays modern age, changes are observed peoples life style. Development of mobile communication systems and mobility of the people play the most important role about this i
6、ssue. Peoples daily activity programs are divided into many different type activities. The main concern in education is that how classical education institutions will establish education environment of increasing active population. The purpose of mobile education is to move todays stable education e
7、nvironment to a virtual, flexible education environment of the future (Yuen and Wang, 2004). Today, there is a growing interest in online learning all over the world (Elango, 2008). Electronic learning plays important role not only in academic institutions but also in small and medium-sized enterpri
8、ses, which have the will to renew knowledge and experience of their staff. E-learning provides practical solutions to the students, who did not participate in the past education processes (Roy and Raymund, 2008). At this point, scientists have emphasized on customization, interaction and control (Pi
9、ccoli, 2001). An e-learning program should be especially prepared for all students with the integration of different objects, past experiences and also these students should increase their own activities (Collins, 2005； Collins, 2006； Hodges, 2004). E-learning trusts in current information and commu
10、nication technologies for distribution of learning contents. Learning process or its ambiance is organized according to either synchronous or asynchronous method. E-learning, which has been developed as a learning solution, represents the distance education with the flexibility of educational softwa
11、re and process covering synthesis of different technologies (Yapicioglu, 2001). Increasing internet using rate and developments in the infrastructure of todays internet have caused many improvements in web-based software and services. As a result of these improvements, education activities have begu
12、n to be performed by using the internet and network technology. Many technological tools like electronic books, electronic mails and conference environments have also taken active parts in these kinds of education activities. Due to increasing rate in using these tools and related education methods,
13、 a special education system has appeared. The whole education system is called as “Web-based Distance Education System” (WBDES). Today, distance education systems are established in many universities and education-teaching activities are performed via these systems. One of the big reasons in increas
14、ing using rate of Web-based Distance Education is requirements to these kinds of systems in parallel with developments in the information technology. One of the most important advantages of WBDES is being able to provide asynchronous education within a virtual education environment. In a WBDES, stud
15、ents can easily access to the educational contents, which was transferred by educators to the system and take advantage of these sources by using different educational tools. Because of its advantages on costs, WBDES is also preferred to be used rather than other models or systems (Carswell and Venk
16、atesh, 2002). Today, the most important reason in increasing the number of WBDES and to be accepted by students is their independent working mechanism from time and location (Bullen, 2006). It has TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology October 2011, volume 10 Issue 4 Copyright T
17、he Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology 108been an important preference reason for the people who suffer shortage of time and can not take active part in the location where education activities are performed. Generally, Web-based Distance Education Systems are called as Learning Manageme
18、nt Systems (LMS). Factors and methods, which are considered in de signing LMS, have been examined in the literature from various perspectives (French, 1999； Harris, 1999； Joliffe, 2001). When they are evaluated in terms of cost, it is seen that the cost of WBDES is approximately half of a typical tr
19、aditional and formal education cost. On the other hand, interactive education feature of WBDES and up-to-date content presenting function should also be considered (Balbieris and Reklaitis, 2003). In this study, a database model, which was designed and developed to be used fo r Learning Management S
20、ystems, is described. The database model was developed in a relational structure and designed to be suitable for LMS, which are in compliance with SCORM standards. Additionally, the developed model has a portable, easily accessible and easy-to-manage structure and can be used in long-term studies. W
21、ith this database model, a virtual education institute can be established and published via required interface structures. In the related Learning Management System, a faculty or institute can be defined and all academic and administrative processes of these institutes can be managed with the help o
22、f developed database model. SCORM Standards SCORM is a Content Management System Standard and can be defined as “Shareable Content Object Reference Model”. SCORM includes a framework for running lesson contents. SCORM standards are interested in publishing rather than teachable features of the lesso
23、n content (Su, 2006； Him, 2005). While explaining the content management aspects of distance ed ucation systems, SCORM standards must also be examined in every respect. While applying SCORM standards, some factors, which belong to SCOM standards, must be stated. These factors are； 1. Interoperability: Merging contents from different sources for interaction and to be able to run in different systems and communicate with other systems. 2. Re-usability: The situation that defines re-usability for information and objects, which
