Learning PLC's with GE3D: The students' feedbacks
Florence Lecroq, Jean Grieu, Hadhoum Boukachour, Patrick Person, Thierry Galinho · 2011
E-learning combines the use of new multimedia technologies and the Internet in order to improve the quality of learning by facilitating access to resources and sources, exchanges and remote collaboration. Today LMS (Learning Management Systems) are quite ubiquitous and choosing one is difficult. These LMS often share the same features: lacking in ergonomics or being only used as documents repositories. As a consequence, learners and teachers underuse those tools, much worse, students might give up. Following a socio-constructivist approach of learning and the expectations of the students and teachers, we realized a 3D virtual campus (GE3D). The latter allows lectures, e-assessments and exercises, with synchronous connections for users. The instant reactivity of this 3D site allows immediate appropriation by the students and teachers, and so, builds a users' community. The connected people can support the other ones and share their knowledge. The ITS (Intelligent Tutoring System), built with artificial intelligence principles, will supply additional help to learners and teachers. The client-server architecture of GE3D is standard, cost-effective and adapted to the needs and equipment of developing countries. This article describes the use of GE3D in a common scenario for a course on PLC's (Programmable Logical Controllers). Then, we analyze feedbacks given by the students after using the virtual campus GE3D.