Grid Learning: A New Paradigm for

Distributed e-Learning
A. Kardan, A. Nassiry

Abstract — In recent years and according to development of communications and web-based technologies, e-Learning has
became very important for everyone and is seen as one of the most dynamic teaching methods. Grid computing is a pattern
for increasing the computing power and storage capacity of a system and is based on hardware and software resources in a
network with common purpose. In this article we study grid architecture and describe its different layers. In this way, we will
analyze grid layered architecture. Then we will introduce a new suitable architecture for e-Learning which is based on grid
network, and for this reason we call it Grid Learning Architecture. Various sections and layers of suggested architecture will
be analyzed; especially grid middleware layer which has key role. This layer is the heart of grid learning architecture and, in
fact, regardless of this layer, e-Learning based on grid architecture will not be feasible.

Index Terms — Distributed learning, Grid learning, Grid network, Mobile learning, SCORM standard

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1 INTRODUCTION scalability, shareabilty [3], accessibility

[4], availability, distributed computing
earning based on web, attempts to ease

L
and storage.
the process of teaching and learning; So In this paper we introduce a new suitable
all of electronic tools and equipments architecture for e-Learning which is based on
are used to relate learner with environment. grid computing and we call it Grid Learning
This model has benefits that we can rarely Architecture.
find in classic learning environments; such as Grid computing opens a new horizon to e-
interaction between learner and resources, Learning. In other terms, e-Learning shall:
independency from time and place, 1. Use power of distributed computers in
supervisory capability and continuous grid network to create virtual labs.
validation [1]. 2. Use distributed contents to create a
At the other hand, according to increasing completely customised class for
band-width and usage of multimedia, e- learners.
Learning is used widely in on-line classes [2]. 3. Make possible collaboration between
Although there are many benefits for e- education resources, contents and
Learning, but we can name some of its services within grid network [5].
disadvantages as below:
1. Difference between LMS (Learning
Management System) and LCMS 2 E-LERNING SYSTEMS
(Learning Content Management
System). Most e-Learning systems consist of 4 parts as
2. Difference between standards and below:
formats of creating electronic contents. 1. Role management.
3. Difference between learner's and 2. Authoring system.
teacher's skill. 3. Learning Management System (LMS).
4. More attention to content and less 4. Run-Time Environment.
attention to interaction and co- We can show such a system in Figure 1. In
operation. this figure, we can see relations in addition to
5. Considering that most of current e- system parts.
Learning systems are based on client-
server or peer-to-peer model, they
3 GRID COMPUTING
have some limitations; such as
Grid computing is a pattern for increasing the
———————————————— computing power and storage capacity of a
 A. Kardan is with the Faculty of IT & Computer system and according to hardware and
Engineering, Amirkabir university of technology, Tehran,
Iran. E-mail: [email protected].
software resources in a network.
 A. Nassiry is with the Department of Computer
Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Shahryar Branch,
Iran. E-mail: [email protected].

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KARDAN & NASSIRY: GRID LEARNING: A NEW PARADIGM FOR DISTRIBUTED E-LEARNING

4. Collective Layer: Any Collaborative

operations in the shareable resources
are placed in this layer.
5. Application Layer: Last layer which is
responsible for any user's application.

5 SUGGESTED ARCHITECTURE FOR E-LEARNING

GRID

According to grid network architecture, our

suggested layered structure is shown in
Figure 3. This architecture has 5 layers as
Fig. 1. The convention model for e-Learning architecture.
below:
1. Infrastructure Layer: This layer
The name Grid is based on electric power
distribution grids. In those networks,
consumer does not know that his/her power is
supplied from which specific power plant. The
connection itself is more important [6], [7].

4 GRID ARCHITECTURE

Grid architecture has a 5-layer basis. We can

see this architecture in Figure 2.

Fig. 3. Suggested Architecture for e-Learning Grid.

constructs network communication

infrastructure and consists of computer
equipments and network protocols.
2. Basic service oriented architecture: This
layer contains all services related to
Fig. 2. Grid protocol architecture. protocols such as WSDL, SOAP, UDDI
and XML; so flexible and reliable
1. Fabric Layer: The lowest layer in grid interaction with upper layers will occur.
architecture. All shareable resources 3. Grid middleware layer: This layer is
are placed in this layer; such as heart of suggested architecture. E-
processors, memories, sensors and Learning based on grid architecture will
actuators. It is clear that in grid network, be feasible with this layer.
grid protocols are responsible for 4. Content layer: This layer consists of all
resource control. educational resources, which are placed
2. Connectivity Layer: In this layer those in separated systems.
protocols are placed which are related 5. E-Learning grid protocol: This layer is
to communication and authentication. an interface between learners and grid
3. Resource Layer: All common actions network.
related to network parts are guided in We will describe middleware and content
this layer; like negotiation, initiation, layers more precisely.
monitoring, control, accounting and
payment.

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5.1 Grid Middleware Layer packaging contents and interchanging

information with run-time environment.
You can see details of this layer in Figure 4. According to SCORM standard, a content
This layer consists of 3 service sub layers, package is consisted of 3 parts that we can
called GRAM (Grid Resource Allocation and see in Figure 5.
Management Services), MDS (Monitoring and 1. Manifest: Part of e-Content that gives
Discovery Services) and GRLS (Grid FTP and
Replica Location Protocol). The first matter
that should be considered in implementation
of this layer is using Globus Toolkit 4 or shortly
GT4. This toolkit provides us with all software
tools which are necessary for grid computing
among grid network [8].
1. GRAM: The activities which are

Fig. 5. Packaging e-Content, according to SCORM

standard.

necessary information for that package.

a. Meta data: Identification
information for introduction of e-
Content; such as subject,
Fig. 4. Grid middleware layer in detail. author, multimedia type, etc.
b. Organization: Information that
performed in this sub layer are resource show structure of e-Content.
registry, resource execution, exploration c. Resources: Part of manifest
of required resources and secure that indicates resources in a
access to specific resources. The tree structure.
GRAM tool (Grid Resource Allocation 2. Physical Files: All files which are used in
and Management) is used for this creation of an electronic lesson.
purpose. 3. Content Package Interchange File:
2. MDS: These services cooperate in Prepares a common infrastructure for
process of using educational resources. interchange between packaging content
We will be able to communicate in a full and run-time environment.
heterogeneous environment and have
access to static and dynamic 5.3 e-Learning Grid Portal
information flexibly.
3. GRLS: This part of layer contains all In this architecture, grid portal is an interface
services which help us to manage grid between all learners and resources all over of
computing environment. Grid FTP is a learning grid; so all users after authentication
version of FTP that clarifies necessities (entering their user name and password) can
of grid computing. access to related resource.

5.2 e-Content Layer

6 LEARNING PROCESS DESIGN IN E-LEARNING
This is the last layer in our suggested model
and all learning contents are placed there. As One of the most important problems facing e-
we know, for containing and management of Learning designers is role of pedagogical
e-Contents we need a LCMS or Learning requirements. Therefore, we should consider
Content Management System. learner's activities in process [10].
SCORM reference model [9] indicates An Important achievement in recent years
factors for validating e-Contents. This is a framework called IMS-LD. This framework
standard is concerned to 2 subjects: introduces a language for description of
learning process which is known as learning

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KARDAN & NASSIRY: GRID LEARNING: A NEW PARADIGM FOR DISTRIBUTED E-LEARNING

Scenario. We can define various activities in virtual labs and simulation systems.
learning process as series of rules [11].
In short terms, we have to consider a
suitable scenario for learning in grid. In this 9 DIGITAL LIBRARY
case, 2 factors are notable: IMS-LD and
technologic approaches for implementation of Digital library is a very important resource in
scenario [12]. e-Learning systems. There are many
definitions for Digital Library [15] and different
models have been suggested for its
7 SERVICE ORIENTED DISTRIBUTED E- implementations [16]. We explain here
LEARNING capabilities of e-learning grid for supporting
digital libraries.
Every Learning Management System (LMS) It is obvious that creation of a new digital
or Learning Content Management System library will be very expensive. So, grid network
(LCMS) has different capabilities and tools for has focused on sharing resources. The best
users. Also, it may only use a text chat approach is co-operation between local and
environment, not video conference tool. smaller libraries. Furthermore, content
A Service is an entity in grid which has standards and copyright should be
specific capability to do a job. As we considered.
mentioned before, service oriented Finally, the most important benefit of digital
architecture combines grid network with web library in grid architecture is the integration
services to reach a distributed frame work for between different resources. Therefore, we
learners [13]. are not obligated to change format of existing
So it is very important to consider digital books [17].
standards for resources. These standards
shall cover exploration, dedication, accounting
and co-ordinations related to resources. 10 CONCLUSION
Some of the topics around Service
Oriented Distributed e-Learning for future Grid learning presents a new approach for e-
researches are: Learning services. It is necessary to consider
1. User identification and authentication. new technologies and architectures for grid
2. Learning policy management. networks. Consideration of standards and
3. Learning services discovery. policy is notable too. According to
4. Service level agreement. geographical separation of grid networks, we
5. Service level monitoring. should pay attention to user's behaviour and
6. Virtual education organization creation. pedagogical requirements. Finally, a suitable
7. Membership and inner communication process for learning must be designed.
management of services.
8. Orchestration of services.
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Learning Grid (a newsletter form the Kaleidoscope A. Kardan has B.Sc. degree in the field of Electric
Learning Grid SIG), Issue #11: April 2007 Engineering from Sharif University of Technology,
[12] H. Hummel, J. Manderveld, C. Tattersall and R. Tehran, Iran (1976) and M.Sc. degree in the field of
Koper - Educational modeling language and learning Digital Systems from Brunel University, London, UK
design: new opportunities for instructional reusability (1986) and Ph.D. in the field of Bio-Electric from Imperial
and personalized learning. Int. J. Learning College, London, UK (1990). His current research
Technology, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004. interests are embedded systems engineering, e-learning
[13] Open Grid Service Architecture v1.0, and virtual environments. He was first chief of virtual
https://forge.gridforum.org/projects/ogsawg/docman learning center of Amirkabir University of technology.
[14] David E. Millard, Arouna Woukeu, Feng Tao, Hugh Now, he is with the Faculty of IT & Computer Engineering,
C Davis, “The Potential of Grid for Mobile e- Amirkabir University of technology, Tehran, Iran.
Learning”, School of Electronics and Computer
Science University of Southampton, Southampton, A. Nassiry has B.Sc. degree in the field of Computer
UK {dem, aw1, ft, hcd}@ecs.soton.ac.uk Engineering from Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
[15] Gio Wiederhold, “Digital Libraries, Value, and (2004) and M.Sc. degree in the field of IT Management
Productivity”, Communications of ACM, April from Amirkabir University of technology, Tehran, Iran
1995/Vol. 38, No. 4, p.p. 85-96. (2007). His current research interests are computer
[16] Marcos A. G., Edward A. Fox, Layne T. watson, Neill networks, computer graphics and animation. Now, he is
A. Kipp, “Streams, Structures, Spaces, Scenarios, with the Department of Computer Engineering, Islamic
Societies (5S): A Formal Model for Digital Libraries” Azad University, Shahryar Branch, Iran.

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