International Journal of Computer Processing of Languages

In this article, we focus on the use of Web-based learning environments for university students. We draw on an evaluation of an online environment that was developed to supplement face-to-face components of an undergraduate education unit in an Australian university. We explore learners' affective responses to this environment, finding that students' responses were often related to their familiarity with the learning environment, their skills and confidence with computer technology, and their preferred learning styles. It is not surprising to us that different students experienced the environment differently as this is the foundation of constructivist and socio-cultural understandings of learning. Yet, the models that currently predominate in the provision of online learning environments in universities offer very little in terms of responding and adapting to students' individual needs and preferences. Instead, online Web-based learning environments are most often designed to anticipate an average, or sometimes ideal, learner. We argue that designing for an imagined average or ideal learner does not adequately respond to the challenge of accommodating learner difference. If hopes for student-centred education are to be realised, future technological and pedagogical developments in online course provision need to be sophisticated enough to respond and adapt to individual students' needs and preferences across a wide range of variables.

This paper proposes a new architecture for web-based virtual laboratory with CORBA technology. In the architecture, the Java Applet acts as the client tool and CORBA acts as the communication bridge between different objects. The integration of JavaBean, Matlab and COM/ DCOM is implemented as computing tools on the server side. By using the architecture, the efficiency of developing virtual laboratories can be improved remarkably. This paper also introduces the implementation of virtual laboratory for communication principle based on the architecture. In the virtual laboratory, the instruments are developed as components which improves the development efficiency and reuse of the components. Matlab is also used for computing in the server, which enhances the simulation capability.

The emergence of cross-cultural classrooms has been steadily increasing in Australian tertiary institutions, due to the growing population of international students enrolling to complete their degrees. This increase in international students has signified a change in the student demographics, thus recognizing the differences in students' learning styles, and indicating that a more flexible approach is needed for learner content delivery. Research has suggested that students from different cultures have varying compatibility with different learning environments. With tertiary institutions now expanding towards the online forum for delivery of units, these compatibilities of students are even more evident. Hence, in order to ensure that all students are able to participate in this domain, preparations are needed to accommodate all cultural types. Therefore with the emphasis on creating flexible learning environments for all students the blended learning approach has been suggested as a solution.

As Internet computing becomes a norm in everyday life, web-based learning is acceptable to many people. However, it is a challenge to learn data modeling on the Internet. Not only is it difficult to guide the users through the operations of e-Learning, but also it is hard to measure its effectiveness. This paper presents a methodology of using interactivity of guiding the user through a case study to learn the discipline of stepwise procedure of data modeling. With well documented data modeling theories on the web pages, the user has to answer the question correctly by selecting the right choice step by step to complete a case study. As a result, the user learns the correct way of data modeling through interactive learning on the web. It is very user friendly and effective. In this respect, this paper focuses on the design principles and implementation of the Human-Computer Interface (HCI). We lay down the guidelines for HCI design concept and principles, and evaluate the HCI design of an interactive e-Learning application.