Applications of distributed and high performance computing to enhance online education

Abstract

Modern online education (eLearning) needs are being evolved accordingly with more and more demanding pedagogical and technological requirements. On one hand, advanced learning resources, such as interactive video-lectures, 3D simulations, serious games and virtual laboratories are based on costly computational infrastructures. On the other hand, eLearning needs include supporting the latest learning methodologies and strategies, such as learning analytics, gamification and formative assessment, which require effective real-time processing and analysis of massive data as well as interoperability with external systems. However, these functional eLearning advances are especially frustrating when non-functional requirements are not met appropriately, such as scalability, performance and interoperability, having considerable repercussions on the learning outcomes as their lack impedes the expected learning flow. This paper presents an overview of the efforts tackled so far of using distributed computing for the enhancement of current eLearning by showing the approaches and the results achieved of some real applications of these technologies to real context of eLearning. The novelty of this approach is to combine the provision of complex and advanced software support to meet challenging functional eLearning needs with the benefits of providing powerful distributed and high performance computing to alleviate demanding non-functional requirements also to be met in this context.