““Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Learning Framework for Learning Framework for

Improving Learning Process in Improving Learning Process in Engineering Education”Engineering Education”

Sabu M. Sabu M. ThampiThampi

LBSITW, LBSITW, PoojappuraPoojappura

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• Today, in several parts of India, Today, in several parts of India, – students, and (teachers) often struggle students, and (teachers) often struggle

with the pace of the fast developing with the pace of the fast developing technology. technology. • Though talented, they lack resources and Though talented, they lack resources and

exposure, and their skills are inadequate. exposure, and their skills are inadequate. • They are capable of producing excellent work They are capable of producing excellent work

but lack competent guidance. but lack competent guidance.

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Schematic of Inputs and Outputs for Engineering Education

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“Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember.

Involve me and I understandInvolve me and I understand.”

-Chinese proverb

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Objectives of the Objectives of the ProjectProject

• The project aims to develop and The project aims to develop and deploy a Peer-to-Peer Network (P2P) deploy a Peer-to-Peer Network (P2P) to link Engineering Colleges in Kerala to link Engineering Colleges in Kerala – To improve To improve collaborative learningcollaborative learning. .

• To provide adequate resourcesTo provide adequate resources• To provide communication facilities To provide communication facilities • To provide effective guidance etc…To provide effective guidance etc…

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Present scenario -Rote learning

• Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge.Learning involves the acquisition of knowledge.• The teaching methods being followed in majority The teaching methods being followed in majority

of educational institutions in India are very old of educational institutions in India are very old and emphasis is laid on and emphasis is laid on passing examinations passing examinations with high percentage. with high percentage.

• The Education System is generally The Education System is generally marks-basedmarks-based. . • The teacher provides the knowledge and shares The teacher provides the knowledge and shares

it with the students. it with the students. • Rote learning is a learning technique which Rote learning is a learning technique which

avoids understanding of a subject and instead avoids understanding of a subject and instead focuses on memorizationfocuses on memorization. .

• The major practice involved in rote learning is The major practice involved in rote learning is learning by repetitionlearning by repetition. The idea is that one will . The idea is that one will be able to quickly recall the meaning of the be able to quickly recall the meaning of the material the more one repeats it.material the more one repeats it.

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• Rote learning Rote learning – hinders the student’s creativity hinders the student’s creativity – hampers the overall development of their hampers the overall development of their

personality. personality.

• the qualities of graduates coming out from the qualities of graduates coming out from the institutions are not up to the mark. the institutions are not up to the mark.

• According to a report, only 25% of them According to a report, only 25% of them are employable. are employable.

• Serious research and development is Serious research and development is concentrated in a few institutions. concentrated in a few institutions.

• This demands a great change in the This demands a great change in the teaching - learning process. teaching - learning process.

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Collaborative Learning?Collaborative Learning?• The term “collaborative Learning” refers to an The term “collaborative Learning” refers to an

instruction method in which students at various instruction method in which students at various performance levels performance levels work togetherwork together in small groups in small groups toward a common goal. toward a common goal.

• Students are responsible for one another’s Students are responsible for one another’s learning as well as their own. Thus, the learning as well as their own. Thus, the success of success of one student helps other students to be successful.one student helps other students to be successful.

• Collaborative learning activities can include Collaborative learning activities can include collaborative writing, collaborative writing, group projectsgroup projects, and other , and other activities. activities.

• Collaborative learning helps to understand Collaborative learning helps to understand complex concepts, increase problem-solving skills, complex concepts, increase problem-solving skills, enhance creativity, and help to develop positive enhance creativity, and help to develop positive attitude towards learning.attitude towards learning.

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Comparing Traditional Teaching and  Collaborative Learning Comparing Traditional Teaching and  Collaborative Learning

Traditional Teaching Collaborative Learning

A teacher centered environmentA teacher centered environment A student centered environmentA student centered environment

The teacher is in control.The teacher is in control. Students are in control of their own learning.Students are in control of their own learning.

Power and responsibility are primarily teacher centered.Power and responsibility are primarily teacher centered. Power and responsibility are primarily student centered.Power and responsibility are primarily student centered.

The teacher is the instructor and decision maker.The teacher is the instructor and decision maker. The teacher is a facilitator and guide. The students are the decision makers.The teacher is a facilitator and guide. The students are the decision makers.

The learning experience is often competitive in nature. The The learning experience is often competitive in nature. The competition is usually between students. competition is usually between students.

Learning may be co-operative, collaborative or independent. Learning may be co-operative, collaborative or independent. Students work together to reach a common goal. Students work together to reach a common goal. Students willingly help each other sharing/exchanging skills and ideas.  Students willingly help each other sharing/exchanging skills and ideas. 

Series of smaller teacher defined tasks organized within Series of smaller teacher defined tasks organized within separate subject disciplines.separate subject disciplines.

Authentic, interdisciplinary projects and problems.Authentic, interdisciplinary projects and problems.

Learning takes place in the classroom.Learning takes place in the classroom. Learning extends beyond the classroom.Learning extends beyond the classroom.

The content is most important.The content is most important. The way information is processed and used is most important. The way information is processed and used is most important. 

Content is not necessarily learned in context.  Content is not necessarily learned in context.   Content is learned in a relevant context. Content is learned in a relevant context. 

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Key PointsKey Points - - Collaborative learningCollaborative learning

• Longer retention than traditional learningLonger retention than traditional learning

• Students conduct their research Students conduct their research independently and use group meetings to independently and use group meetings to share informationshare information

• By working together we increase our By working together we increase our knowledge and understanding of the worldknowledge and understanding of the world

• We develop skills by watching others, We develop skills by watching others, practicing and getting feedback on our practicing and getting feedback on our efforts.efforts.

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E-learningE-learning• Institutions use their websites for updating Institutions use their websites for updating

information related to various courses, for information related to various courses, for giving assignments, and for conducting tests. giving assignments, and for conducting tests.

• No in-person interaction takes placeNo in-person interaction takes place – no – no group work.group work.

• E-Learning lessons are generally designed to E-Learning lessons are generally designed to guide students through information or to guide students through information or to help students perform in specific tasks. help students perform in specific tasks.

• The present e-learning techniques are The present e-learning techniques are almost website based and almost website based and eliminates peer-to-eliminates peer-to-peer learningpeer learning. .

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• To add a variety of learning strategyTo add a variety of learning strategy• To practice independent learningTo practice independent learning• More challenging, more interactive – More challenging, more interactive –

communication facilitiescommunication facilities• Plenty of learning material Plenty of learning material • Exchanging ideas and experiencesExchanging ideas and experiences• Quality improvementQuality improvement• Strengthen the Group workStrengthen the Group work

Why ICT-based collaborative learning?

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EkalavyaEkalavya

• EkalavyaEkalavya Project IIT , Bombay Project IIT , Bombay– to provide e-guidance and mentorship to needy to provide e-guidance and mentorship to needy

students of students of B.E., M.C.A. and M.Sc. (CS/ IT/ Electronics) programmes, in carrying out their  programmes, in carrying out their final year projectsfinal year projects

• eOUTREACHeOUTREACH programme creates a  programme creates a bank of high quality Open Source bank of high quality Open Source contents. contents. – made available for distribution made available for distribution at costat cost

through the Web and digital media. through the Web and digital media. • eCONTENTeCONTENT  

– to create Open Source digital contents to create Open Source digital contents in Indian languages through translation in Indian languages through translation and new writingsand new writings

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EkalavyaEkalavya• Client-server model, relies on a central system – Client-server model, relies on a central system –

single point of failuresingle point of failure• Communication facility is limited, frequently Communication facility is limited, frequently

broken.broken.• A few number of Resource materialsA few number of Resource materials• The resources available in the user systems are not The resources available in the user systems are not

utilized properly. Other sources are to be used for utilized properly. Other sources are to be used for getting resources.getting resources.

• Continuing research after the project completion is Continuing research after the project completion is difficult, no support is provided.difficult, no support is provided.

• learning environment is not completely learning environment is not completely collaborativecollaborative

• Guidance is only limited to students’ projects. Guidance is only limited to students’ projects. ………. ……….

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P2P Computing P2P Computing

• P2PP2P• TypesTypes• ApplicationsApplications

– File sharingFile sharing– Collaboration Collaboration – High Performance ComputingHigh Performance Computing

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Why P2P for Collaborative Why P2P for Collaborative Learning?Learning?

• Unstructured, overlay networkUnstructured, overlay network• Supports thousands of nodes – random topologySupports thousands of nodes – random topology• Costly additional hardware or software systems Costly additional hardware or software systems

are not required for implementing P2P are not required for implementing P2P frameworkframework

• P2P Network does not relies on central systemsP2P Network does not relies on central systems• Allows utilization of resources from all the user Allows utilization of resources from all the user

systems.systems.• Dynamic nature of nodesDynamic nature of nodes• Provides effective utilization of ICTProvides effective utilization of ICT• Students learn best when they are actively Students learn best when they are actively

involved in the process. involved in the process.

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Search Scenario in an Unstructured Search Scenario in an Unstructured P2P NetworkP2P Network

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Existing P2P Based Collaborative Existing P2P Based Collaborative SystemsSystems

Some specialized applications are Some specialized applications are COMTELLA, and COMTELLA, and EDUTELLA.EDUTELLA.

• The COMTELLA system was developed at the University The COMTELLA system was developed at the University of Saskatchewan to support graduate students in the of Saskatchewan to support graduate students in the laboratory to share research papers found on-line. laboratory to share research papers found on-line.

• COMTELLA uses an extension of the Gnutella protocol, COMTELLA uses an extension of the Gnutella protocol, and is fully distributed. and is fully distributed. – Each user needs to download a client application called Each user needs to download a client application called serventservent, ,

which allows sharing new papers with the community and which allows sharing new papers with the community and searching for papers shared by oneself and by the other users. searching for papers shared by oneself and by the other users.

• EDUTELLA is a peer to peer network for searching EDUTELLA is a peer to peer network for searching semantic web metadata. semantic web metadata. – files, are not actually shared in the network rather than the files, are not actually shared in the network rather than the

information that describes what the data is about, i.e. the information that describes what the data is about, i.e. the metadata. metadata.

– The EDUTELLA Query Language (QEL) is primarily designed for The EDUTELLA Query Language (QEL) is primarily designed for exchange of queries. exchange of queries.

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Proposed P2P Based Collaborative Learning System

• Browser based system, Java, windows and LinuxBrowser based system, Java, windows and Linux• Unstructured P2P Unstructured P2P • e-mail-cc to teachers, (chatting – copy to teachers)e-mail-cc to teachers, (chatting – copy to teachers)• file sharing file sharing • Authentication, trust management, monitoring Authentication, trust management, monitoring • data collection and analysis data collection and analysis • classification of users classification of users • Exchanging learning materials / uploading and downloading Exchanging learning materials / uploading and downloading

materials materials • searching, replication searching, replication • Online test, Quiz, Online assignments, problem selection Online test, Quiz, Online assignments, problem selection • project guidance and monitoring….project guidance and monitoring….• Separate systems for hosting reports, publications, course Separate systems for hosting reports, publications, course

notes etc, classification of resources, ranking of publications, notes etc, classification of resources, ranking of publications, copyrightcopyright

• Registration – captcha, verificationRegistration – captcha, verification• All the operations through an exclusive software installed in All the operations through an exclusive software installed in

the participating peers (students, faculty, staff etc.)the participating peers (students, faculty, staff etc.)

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ArchitectureArchitecture

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BenefitsBenefits• Learning process is more enjoyable Learning process is more enjoyable • Learners: more independent and more responsible Learners: more independent and more responsible • Collaborative research Collaborative research • Increased degree of interaction, communication Increased degree of interaction, communication • Improvement in thinking and problem-solving skills Improvement in thinking and problem-solving skills • Ability to actively identify, formulate, and solve Ability to actively identify, formulate, and solve

problems essential for a successful career problems essential for a successful career • Students are not competing with each other; more Students are not competing with each other; more

likely to actively help each other learn likely to actively help each other learn • Collection of resource materialsCollection of resource materials• Proper authentication and reputation managementProper authentication and reputation management• Improvement of academic qualityImprovement of academic quality• PublicationsPublications

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Details of equipment requiredDetails of equipment required

• Desktops – 03 nos Desktops – 03 nos • Laptop - 01 no.Laptop - 01 no.• Laser Printer – 01 no.Laser Printer – 01 no.• Scanner – 01 no.Scanner – 01 no.• SoftwareSoftware• 1 KVA UPS -01 no.1 KVA UPS -01 no.• Furniture Furniture

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The TeamThe Team

• Project AdvisorDr. Chandra Sekaran KProfessor , Dept. of Computer EngineeringNational Institute of Technology KarnatakaSurathkal, KarnatakaE-mail: kch@nitk.ac.in

• Principal CoordinatorPrincipal Coordinator Sabu M. Thampi, Asst. Professor, CSED, LBSITWSabu M. Thampi, Asst. Professor, CSED, LBSITW

• Co-investigatorsCo-investigators Smt. Anitha Kumari. S, Asst. Professor, CSED, LBSITWSmt. Anitha Kumari. S, Asst. Professor, CSED, LBSITWShri. Abdul Rahman M, Senior Lecturer, CSED, LBSITWShri. Abdul Rahman M, Senior Lecturer, CSED, LBSITW

• InstitutionInstitution L.B.S Institute of Technology for WomenL.B.S Institute of Technology for WomenPoojappura, Trivandrum -12Poojappura, Trivandrum -12Ph: 0471-2349232Ph: 0471-2349232Fax: 0471-2343395 Fax: 0471-2343395

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Budget detailsBudget detailsItem 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year Total (Rs.)

1.Manpoweri. Project fellow @Rs. 10,000/- PM ii. Technical assistant @ Rs 3000/- P.M

1,20,000.00 36,000.00

1,20,000.00 36,000.00

1,20,000.00 36,000.00

360000.00108000.00

2. Consumables 20,000.00 15,000.00 25,000.00 60000.00

3. Equipment 3,25000.00 5,000.00 6,000.00 336000.00

4. Travel 10000.00 10000.00 10000.00 30000.00

5. Contingencies 10000.00 10000.00 10000.00 30000.00

6. Institutional over head (10%) 52100.00 19600.00 20700.00 92400.00

5,73,100.00 2,15,600.00 2,27,700.00 10,16,400.00

Total: Rupees Ten Lakhs Sixteen Thousand and Four Hundred OnlyTotal: Rupees Ten Lakhs Sixteen Thousand and Four Hundred Only

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Tentative Project ScheduleTentative Project Schedule Project Task Duration Start Date End Date

Project Proposal Preparation and Submission 01 month June, 2008

Project Approval from KSCSTE 02 months July, 2008 Dec, 2008

Procurement of equipments & recruitment of staff

03 months Jan, 2009 Mar. 2009

Study of existing collaborative learning techniques applied in educational and industrial fields and Study Report

03 months April, 2009 June, 2009

Development of suitable Search Technique 03 months July 2009 Sept. 2009

Development of Replication Technique 03 months Oct. 2009 Dec. 2009

Design of P2P Simulation environment for testing the efficacy of two algorithms

03 months Jan, 2010 March, 2010

Trust Management Technique 03 months April, 2010 June, 2010

Incorporating Trust Management with Simulation Software

01 months July, 2010 July, 2010

Communication facilities (e-mail, audio/video chat, instant messaging etc.)

04 months August, 2010 Nov. 2010

Utilities for Monitoring 03 months Dec, 2010 Feb, 2011

Archiving tool 02 months March, 2011 April, 2011

Data Collection and Analysis Tool 03 months May, 2011 July, 2011

Development and Integration of all modules 03 months Aug, 2011 Oct. 2011

Testing and Review 02 months Nov, 2011 Dec, 2011

Implementation

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ConclusionConclusion

• An unstructured P2P network connecting all the An unstructured P2P network connecting all the engineering colleges in the State of Kerala for engineering colleges in the State of Kerala for enhancing Collaborative Learning is proposedenhancing Collaborative Learning is proposed

• The main outcome will be the increase in The main outcome will be the increase in academic quality and thus increase in academic quality and thus increase in employability. employability.

• The system will also enhance the research The system will also enhance the research culture in Campuses. culture in Campuses.

• Employs soft computing techniques, OOT, Employs soft computing techniques, OOT, Internet technology, Cryptographic techniques Internet technology, Cryptographic techniques etc..etc..

• Industry collaborationIndustry collaboration

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Thank YouThank You