LEARNING WITHIN AN INTEGRATED E-LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

The paper focuses on the impact and advantages that an integrated learning environment brings in learning. We analyze the learning advantages of applying systematic e-learning tools additional to face-to-face classes. In this respect, we use our university's e-learning portal - UBBOnline, which was presented at INTED 2011. The case study is performed on an MA course in IT management and a class of around 40 students. We reveal the advantages of using a modular template for presenting the learning content, with specific goals, theoretical, practical and feed-back contents for each module. Additionally, we use advanced mechanisms for task scheduling and management and discussion lists, which can be configured on the most important course topics. On-line evaluation facilities are also available (yet not included in the present case study). Student-to-student and student-to-teacher communication can be performed by using the integrated e-mail and chat facilities. The global learning environment integrates capabilities to access educational and fee information within the AcademicInfo system. Data is automatically provisioned from this system into the learning portal, therefore students access the educational content of the courses they have chosen in their current study contract. Sites are automatically created for the courses provided from AcademicInfo system and teachers have design permissions to the sites of the courses they deliver. We present and analyze the student feed-back consequent to administering a dedicated survey for evaluating the e-learning facilities provided within the course. The survey was created by using built-in portal facilities. Students express a positive perception and emphasize the advantages of having the educational resources available at any time and of using advanced guidance and communication tools. Teachers can evaluate learning efficiency by analyzing grades and access statistics on various sections of the site; these reports are important tools both for improving the quality of the educational content and for monitoring student activity The e-learning tools that are addressed within the paper, used in an integrated manner, bring important advantages in learning. The research is going to continue by monitoring student grades on a longer term; we expect these results to confirm previous findings and experiences, i.e. students who use e-learning tools become more autonomous in learning and working based on specific guidelines, and may averagely score better (smaller grade dispersion) in on-line evaluations than face-to-face groups.