WebELS e-learning system: Online and offline viewing of audio and cursor syncronised slides

Abstract

This paper discusses WebELS e-learning platform for post-graduate education which supports a special type of contents i.e. slide with synchronized audio and cursor in addition to traditional multimedia contents and conceptually it is a fusion of synchronous and asynchronous e-learning system. WebELS provides a Web-based, multimedia enabled multi-platform tool, by which traditional instructors can archive their learning materials on the web and students can do their personal learning over the Internet. Uploaded contents can be used either in standalone or group learning in real-time with discussion. WebELS supports wide range of multimedia contents including text, images, audio, video and slides with synchronized audio and cursor. Majority of the presentation video can be simulated with audio and cursor synchronized slides except introduction and conclusion parts where cameraman focuses on the face of the presenter. With audio and cursor synchronized slides, it is possible simulate presentation video which drastically reduces data volume and improves contents visualisation. The system supports both synchronized online presentation as well as asynchronous off-line viewing.