A Database Architecture for Web-Based Distance Education

The goal of the Carnegie Mellon Online project is to build an infrastructure for delivery of courses via the World Wide Web. The project aims to deliver educational content and to assess student competency in support of courses across the Carnegie Mellon University (Pennsylvania) curriculum and beyond, thereby providing an asynchronous, student-centered approach to education. The system centers on a formal data model, supported by commercial database technology. This paper provides a technical overview of the system and its features, including system architecture, course and content model, pedagogical elements, database, interface, and technology base. The use of Carnegie Mellon Online in a large introductory computing competency course is discussed, as well as plans to use the system for other courses. Two figures present the Carnegie Mellon Online System Structure and the course model. (AEF) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement DUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. A Database Architecture for Web-Based Distance Education Daniel R. Rehak Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair, University Multimedia Courseware Committee Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA 15213, USA Email: rehak@cmu.edu "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY G.H. Marks TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Abstract The goal of the Carnegie Mellon Online project is to build an infrastructure for delivery of courses via the World Wide Web. The project aims to deliver educational content and to assess student competency in support of courses across the Carnegie Mellon curriculum and beyond, thereby providing an asynchronous, student-centered approach to education. The system centers on a formal data model, supported by commercial database technology. This presentation provides a technical overview of the system and its features and discusses our initial use of it in our large introductory courses.