2008 International Conference on Computer Science and Software Engineering
An Extensible Development Platform for
SOA-Based E-Learning System
Zhifen Cheng
School of Computer & Control, School of Computer & Control,
Guilin University of Electronic Guilin University of Electronic
Technology
Guilin, P.R.China Guilin, P.R.China
melody1225@126.com tlhuang@ guet.edu.cn
Abstract — In this paper, we propose an extensible development
SOA-based platform that facilitates implementation of e-
Learning systems. The platform has applied a service-oriented
framework and model-driven architecture into the analysis,
design, implementation and integration of e-Learning
application, and makes e-Learning systems to be flexible and
scalable enough to meet changing, complex and dynamic business
requirements. It also supports the distance learning system in the
complex processes and the integration of various learning
resources services, which uses web services technology and .NET
Framework 3.0.
Keywords- Service Oriented Architecture (SOA); Model Driven
Architecture( MDA); E-Learning
I. INTRODUCTION
E-Learning has been a topic of increasing interest in recent
years. E-Learning is a general term used to refer to a form of
learning in which the instructor and student are separated by
space or time where the gap between the two is bridged
through the use of online technologies [1]. With web-based
learning, it is possible for the students to learn from anywhere,
anytime, at their pace. Web-based learning brings
unprecedented level of accessibility to courses in remote area,
courses prohibited by budget constraints, courses updated to
recently discovered knowledge, qualified instructors,
instruction at any time, etc [2]. Learning systems are built
using web services. The strength of this approach is reusability
and interoperability. Developing the learning platform will
involve assembling the required web services. The learning
platform can be developed and run on different hardware and
software platform as a middleware [3].
The remainder of the article is structured as follows:
Section 2 gives a general overview of the technology and
concept in which the research is framed. Section 3 presents
SOA-based extensible development platform for e-Learning.
Section 4 presents the design and realization of platform. After
analyzing some related work, in Section 5, Section 6 presents
the main conclusions and future works of our research.
II. TECHNOLOGY AND CONCEPT REVIEW
There are some technologies and concepts related with the
topic of this article.
This paper is supported by the Guangxi Science foundation under grant
No.0640169.
978-0-7695-3336-0/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/CSSE.2008.377
Tinglei Huang Jia Nong
School of Computer & Control,
Guilin University of Electronic
Technology Technology
Guilin, P.R.China
jerry7981@163.com
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a computer
system's architectural style for creating and using business
processes, packaged as services, throughout their lifecycle.
SOA also defines and provisions the IT infrastructure to allow
different applications to exchange data and participate in
business processes [4]. SOA is a design principle, whereas
web services are an implementation technology. [5].
Web services technology is based on the XML
specifications WSDL (Web Service Description Language),
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), and UDDI (Universal
Description, Discovery and Integration) and can be enhanced
by several additional XML specifications. Web services come
with technical descriptions that are published by their
providers (by means of WSDL), and that can be found (by
means of UDDI) and used by potential users or subscribers to
invoke the services (by means of SOAP). Subscribers can
compose Web services in order to build comprehensive
applications with specific and customized functionality [6].
The research work presented in this article is a
methodological framework for the development of e-Learning
systems based on SOA and MDA.
MDA is an approach to system development, which
increases the power of models in that work. It is model-driven
because it provides a means for using models to direct the
course of understanding, design, construction, deployment,
operation, maintenance and modification[7].The three
abstraction levels of the original MDA are proposed: CIM
(Computation Independent Models), PIM (Platform
Independent Models) and PSM (Platform Specific Models).
A platform independent model is a view of a system from
the platform independent viewpoint. A PIM exhibits a
specified degree of platform independence so as to be suitable
for use with a number of different platforms of similar type. A
computation independent model is a view of a system from the
computation independent viewpoint. A CIM does not show
details of the structure of systems. A platform specific model
is a view of a system from the platform specific viewpoint. A
PSM combines the specifications in the PIM with the details
that specify how that system uses a particular type of platform
[7].
901
 III. SOA-BASED EXTENSIBLE DEVELOPMENT
PLATFORM FOR E-LEARNING
After reviewing the current service oriented technologies
and model driven methodology, we can take advantages of
SOA and MDA methodology to construct an extensible
development platform for SOA-Based e-Learning systems as
illustrated in Figure 1. In the processing, we refer to the
service-oriented architecture model.
According to the MDA, the model driven development life
cycle consists of a sequence of iteratively performed
development phases as shown in Figure 1. Three main models:
Business model (CIM), Analysis and Design Model (PIM),
implementation model (PSM).
Figure1. Framework for the e-Learning platform based SOA and
MDA
1） Business model is developed which plays the role of
computational independent model. It contains detailed
information about Business Use Case, Business Structure and
Business Processes. It abstracts from the technical details of the
structure of the whole e-Learning implementation system.
2) Analysis and Design Model is created by refining the
business model. It is a conceptual description of an information
system which consists of System Process Analysis, System
Organization Analysis and System Activity Analysis. Analysis
and Design model is a visual PIM which specifies services in a
technology independent manner.
3) Implementation model is also a visual model which
makes the platform a good communication platform for
business engineer, technical engineer and user .Implementation
902
model can be used to generate main parts of the code. The
Implementation model consists of System Structure
Implementation, Interface Implementation, and Operation
Implementation. The Analysis and Design Model can transfer
into different implementation models by different platforms
and specifications.
The service bus which provides the necessary
communication infrastructure is mainly the function of the
intermediary. In a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the
communication layer which is standards-based enables services
to be used across multiple communication protocols. It can
shield the heterogeneous enterprise applications. Service bus
also provides centralized management for services, and its
purpose is mainly service-oriented integration, and it supports
the trouble-free operation for all parts.
Service Basic Platform enables composite services
integrated from component services. Service Basic Platform
includes integration engine, publication engine, security
engine, discovery engine, service management.
The e-Learning platform based on SOA and model-driven
framework is business process-oriented development platform.
For varying with changing in demand, the second-round
development is based on the business process basic
development platform. So we can omit basic, repetitive work,
and reduce the workload. According to the demand of learner,
we can quickly integrate the knowledge service system, tackle
Information Island, and achieve the cooperation and integration
between learning system, so that the overall operational
efficiency is enhanced, so as to serve learner better.
Figure2. Mode of operation on the e-Learning platform
Figure 2 above illustrates the mode of operation on the e-
Learning platform.
Business modeling is a process, which uses modeling tools
and business process-based development platform to design
and construct information management system. Its artifact is
called business resources. As for the e-Learning platform, we
publish learning resources onto the basic operating platforms.
Then we can get the appropriate management systems.
Learning Resources is the most frequent part for user’s demand.
Through the separation of the business and technology, we
can’t re-configure or upgrade operating environment, even
doesn’t affect the realization of the underlying technology. In
one word, it is truly on-demand change. The independence of
the running platform guarantees that the application can
achieve cross-technology. And it can run on different systems
with the advantage of no lost of relocation to a new realization
of technology. This advantage is fully consistent with the
model-driven architecture (Model Driven Architecture,
MDA)’s core idea. Both are model-based design.
IV. THE DESIGN AND REALIZATION OF PLATFORM
In order to realize the whole platform, we choose in the
development environment of VS.NET. New managed code
programming model ---.NET Framework 3.0 embody a wide
range of technologies, such as Windows Workflow
Foundation. Windows Workflow Foundation is a part of the
.NET Framework 3.0 (and 3.5) that enables developers to
create workflow enabled applications. It consists of the
following parts [8]: Activity Model, Workflow Designer, and
Rules Engine.
Activity Model: Activities are the building blocks of
workflow, think of them as a unit of work that needs to be
executed.
Workflow Designer: This is the design surface that you see
within Visual Studio, and it allows for the graphical
composition of workflows, by placing activities within the
workflow model.
Workflow Runtime: Our runtime is a light-weight and
extensible engine that executes the activities which make up a
workflow.
Rules Engine: Windows Workflow Foundation has a rules
engine which enables declarative, rule-based development for
workflows and any.NET application to use.
As the following figure 3 depicts, it is the architecture
design of the e-Learning platform.
Figure3. Architecture design of the e-Learning platform
903
Resources system is the existing applications of learning
systems, including file server and data server resources. For
these legacy systems, data migration platform is designed for
the system of learning resources for rapid and precise
movement. The first step is to realize that Web Service
packages for the learning system in Microsoft Visual
Studio.NET platform. Then they are integrated into
applications.
Learning Resources Service is the package of
components, so a different function can form atom services and
composite services. This process analyses target services of
various resources and defines unit services. Its purpose is to
define system functions and reasonably organize them into
services. Further analyzing the target services, we has firstly
access to target demand from different business systems, next
we identify services. This step is to understand and compare
the demand for services in order to find the desired services.
Finally, it is the analysis of business process and target services
make business processes as a series of activities to implement.
For business process management, we design a process
designer as middle layer. Professional can simulate rich
learning management activate; also can display the various
processes of visual learning. The thought about designing the
process designer is inseparable to the core essence of SOA ----
to achieve the complete separation between business and
technology and reuse. Of course, if the business processes of
learning never change, they will be written in a fixed way
conveniently. But in the face of constantly changing market
demand, if there doesn’t have the process designer as the
middle layer, the maintenance of the users and programmers
for the learning system will be very troublesome. As we all
known in the concept of SOA, the business processes play an
important role. The design and implementation of the basic
learning platform use new NET platform technology. That is,
Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF). Throughout the
system design and implementation, business process as the
core of the whole system engine need interact with all modules,
especially interact with the ESB. We combine Workflow with
the Office components technology in Office 2007, and work
second-round development, and then the office documents can
integrate with the extensible development platform of the
learning system. The information of documents in system can
be freely exported with the form of Word 2007 or Excel 2007.
It is easier to manage. Of course, there are Permission
problems here.
Individual application interface combines different kinds of
learners by Internet to learn and exchange. As long as there is
network, we can find our own learning content and learning
styles by this setting. Its use is very easy. The implement of
this part uses Ajax technology. In Visual Studio 2005
integrated development environment and Asp.NET Ajax
framework, we develop more interactive user interface.
ESB which provides an integrated services infrastructure is
mainly the function of the intermediary. ESB provides
centralized management for services, and its purpose is service-
oriented integration.
 Security, performance, quality management and monitoring
are assistant functions of the entire platform. They can be
shielded by means of packages.
V. APPLICATIONS
Through the e-Learning platform, the purpose of e-learning
can be realized, at the same time, with the demands of
application changing, professionals can develop the new
system with some tools provided by the platform. So it is
possible for the learners to study by themselves from anywhere,
anytime, at their thoughts. Learners only need to log into the
learning mode of the platform and select the context they want
to learn. As the following figure 4 shows, it is a learning
platform for application deployment.
Figure4. Application deployment of the e-Learning platform
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
The research work presented in this article is the overall
framework of SOA-based extensible development platform for
e-Learning, a methodological framework for the development
of e-Learning systems based on MDA and SOA.
It can be assembled by a set of web services related to e-
Learning, and we have designed a process designer as
middleware. Professionals can use rich learning management;
can also display the various processes of visual learning.
904
Future work will involve expanding the function of the e-
Learning platform, especially involve in ESB and Security,
performance, quality management. We will develop an E-
learning Service Bus, instead of using IBM SIBus or BEA
AquaLogic Service. One important area is the security in the
platform. This topic is quite large and very significant.
REFERENCES
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_learning
[2]Vuthichai Ampornaramveth,Tao Zhang, Ana Hadiana, Nobuo
Shimamoto, Haruki Ueno , “A web-based e-learning platform for
post-graduate education” Jan. 2006 Proceedings of the 5th IASTED
international conference on Web-based education
[3] Moon Ting Su; Chee Shyang Wong; Chuak Fen Soo; Choon Tsun
Ooi; Shun Ling Sow;”Service-Oriented E-Learning System”,
Information Technologies and Applications in Education, 2007.
ISITAE '07. First IEEE International Symposium on 23-25 Nov.
2007 Page(s):6 - 11
[4]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service-riented_architecture
[5] Debu Panda.“An Introduction to Service-Oriented Architecture
from a Java Developer
Perspective”,http://www.onjava.com/pub/a/onjava/2005/01/26/soa-
intro.html 01/26/2005
[6] Vossen, G.; Westerkamp, P.; “Towards the Next Generation of E-
Learning Standards: SCORM for Service-Oriented Environments”
Advanced Learning Technologies, 2006. Sixth International
Conference on 05-07 July 2006 Page(s):1031 – 1035
[7]Object Management Group (2006): Model Driven Architecture,
MDA Guide Version 1.0.1 (2003), available at:
http://www.omg.org/mda.
[8]http://netfx3.com/content/WFHome.aspx
[9]http://shanghai.kingdee.com/products/filedown-res/eas_blue.pdf
[10]
http://dev.kingdee.com/files/folders/bos_eas_1jswd/entry229317.asp
x
[11]W3C,Service-Oriented Architecture. Available:
http://www.w3.org/TR/ws-arch/
[12]http://www-306.ibm.com/software/cn/solution/soa/
[13] Huang, Shuangxi; Fan, Yushun; “Model Driven and Service
Oriented Enterprise Integration---The Method, Framework and
Platform ” Advanced Language Processing and Web Information
Technology, 2007. ALPIT 2007. Sixth International Conference on
22-24 Aug. 2007 Page(s):504 - 509
[14] Herold, S.; Rausch, A.; Bosl, A.; Ebell, J.; Linsmeier, C.; Peters,
D.; “A Seamless Modeling Approach for Service-Oriented
Information Systems” Information Technology: New Generations,
2008. ITNG- 2008. Fifth International Conference on 7-9 April 2008
Page(s):438 - 446
[15] http://www.justep.com/