Development of cross platform user interface to support distance learning

Education in the information age involves people with variety of needs and objectives, those who need up to date knowledge and skill, those who are life long learners, and those who may be limited in their ability to access the traditional classroom because of physical restrictions. More over access to the educational media and resources in the learning environment requires state of the art service infrastructure and commodity receiving end means for the users. Integrating the existing and emerging technologies can clearly address the needs of an effective learning environment and extend the traditional classroom setting to foster distance learning. Distance learning comprises of synchronous and asynchronous learning. Synchronous learning consists of one to one or one to many conferencing, using interactive slide show and white board. Asynchronous learning consists of access to the multimedia content of lecture material at a later time. To support such a truthful distance learning environment we have used systems-engineering approach to develop a Java based cross platform user interface to permit client/server on-line electronic file transfer. This file transfer system has been implemented and demonstrated through a sample presentation environment. The successful implementation of such a system in a synchronous and asynchronous learning environment will significantly enhance learning, and enable Tennessee State University students to take classes online.