E-LEARNING – LONG-DISTANCE AND LIFELONG PERSPECTIVES Edited by Elvis Pontes, Anderson Silva, Adilson Guelfi and Sérgio Takeo Kofuji E-Learning – Long-Distance and Lifelong Perspectives Edited by Elvis Pontes, Anderson Silva, Adilson Guelfi and Sérgio Takeo Kofuji Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2012 InTech All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. As for readers, this license allows users to download, copy and build upon published chapters even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. Notice Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published chapters. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book. Publishing Process Manager Ivona Lovric Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer InTech Design Team First published March, 2012 Printed in Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from orders@intechweb.org E-Learning – Long-Distance and Lifelong Perspectives, Edited by Elvis Pontes, Anderson Silva, Adilson Guelfi and Sérgio Takeo Kofuji p. cm. ISBN 978-953-51-0250-2 Contents Preface IX Part 1 Long-Distance Courses and Long-Life Learning 1 Chapter 1 Adaptive Model for E-Learning in Secondary School 3 Todorka Glushkova Chapter 2 Electronic- and Mobile-Learning in Electronics Courses Focused on FPGA 23 Giovanni Vito Persiano and Sergio Rapuano Chapter 3 Promoting E-Learning in Distance Education Programs in an African Country 51 Kenneth Addah, Desmond Kpebu and Olivia A. T. Frimpong Kwapong Chapter 4 Creating Life-Long Learning Scenarios in Virtual Worlds 63 Ayse Kok Chapter 5 E-Learning Practices Revised: A Compiling Analysis on 38 Countries 77 Carlos Machado and Ugur Demiray Chapter 6 E-Learning in Higher and Adult Education 97 Nicoleta Gudanescu Part 2 E-Learning for People with Special Needs 123 Chapter 7 Designing E-Learning Collaborative Tools for Blind People 125 Maria Claudia Buzzi, Marina Buzzi, Barbara Leporiniand Giulio Mori VI Contents Part 3 Case Study 145 Chapter 8 How Can We Explain the Relationship Between Quality Interaction and Quality Learning in E-Learning? A Maximum Variability Study in Four-Cases 147 Ana Elena Schalk Quintanar Preface E-learning is a model of apprenticeship which concerns courses for any branches of science (natural or social) with classes supported by electronic means and, lastly, addressing long-distance and in-classroom courses. For decades, long-distance courses were offered only by TV or correspondence. But with the advent of computer systems, early E-learning models have been presented mostly as computer-based learning, automating old education and teaching styles, whereby the role model was for transmitting information and knowledge. Although they were electronically supported, those models lack interactivity for students and educators, as interaction is superficially or not approached at all. Intending to cover this gap, models based on computer-supported collaborative learning were proposed, encouraging the shared development of knowledge and, therefore, lifelong learning. In this sense, real-time tools have become an important demand for E-learning and, consequently, nowadays long-distance courses feature mainly in online environments. Information and communication systems features (as multimedia and mostly the Internet) are employed for making available lessons and lectures, improving experiences of exchange and interactivity among educators and students. This way, with multimedia and online tools available in the Internet, it was possible to combine multiple approaches to learning, mixing the use of virtual and physical resources for what is generally defined as Blended learning (B-learning). The mobility characteristics are subsequently introduced for the learning environments as well, merging another important feature for online long-distance and traditional face-to-face education. With all the characteristics previously mentioned, E-learning enables students to pace their studies according to their needs, making learning accessible to (1) people who do not have enough free time for studying – they can program their lessons according to their available schedule; (2) those far from a school (geographical issues), or the ones unable to attend classes due to some physical or medical restriction. Therefore, cultural, geographical and physical obstructions can be removed, making it possible for students to select their path and time for the learning course. Students are then allowed to choose the main objectives they are suitable to fulfill. X Preface This book regards E-learning challenges, opening a way to understand and discuss questions related to long-distance and lifelong learning, E-learning for people with special needs and, lastly, presenting case study about the relationship between the quality of interaction and the quality of learning achieved in experiences of e-learning formation. The book is divided in three sections. In the first section, the reader will find chapters which discuss long-distance and lifelong learning, focusing on adaptive models, mobile learning and e-learning in developing/developed countries. E-learning for people with special needs, specifically blindness, is approached in section two. In the final section, case study is introduced on the subject of quality interaction and quality learning. Professor Elvis Pontes, Professor Anderson Silva, Professor Adilson Guelfi and Professor Sérgio Takeo Kofuji Department of Electrical Engineering Polytechnic School University of São Paulo (USP) Brazil . E-LEARNING – LONG-DISTANCE AND LIFELONG PERSPECTIVES Edited by Elvis Pontes, Anderson Silva, Adilson Guelfi and Sérgio Takeo Kofuji E-Learning – Long-Distance and Lifelong. be obtained from orders@intechweb.org E-Learning – Long-Distance and Lifelong Perspectives, Edited by Elvis Pontes, Anderson Silva, Adilson Guelfi and Sérgio Takeo Kofuji p. cm. ISBN 978-953-51-0250-2. book regards E-learning challenges, opening a way to understand and discuss questions related to long-distance and lifelong learning, E-learning for people with special needs and, lastly, presenting