Delivering Instructional Video Anywhere: An Intelligent Wireless Streaming Video Delivery Mechanism for Mobile Asynchronous Distance Learning

During the last two years, Purdue University’s Computer Graphics Technology department has been developing an open-architecture distance learning system capable of both synchronous and asynchronous instructional delivery. The system strives to provide the ability to deliver any instructional content, to any learner, under any condition through the integration of intelligent modules that dynamically determine the most appropriate mode of presentation for any particular learner. This paper details the development of a module for Purdue’s Unified Multimedia Delivery System capable of intelligently identifying and delivering asynchronous video content to users on traditional PC’s or PDA’s over a wireless environment. This provides the system with the capability to deliver traditional videobased instructional and supportive documentation such as schematics, illustration, and animation to students outside of the confines of their traditional classroom or laboratory. While many commercial solutions address the delivery of training materials using Internet technology, a commercial turnkey solution for delivering streaming video content over a wireless IP network does not currently exist in the distance learning market. Technologically, the system is built around Microsoft’s Active Server Pages and Windows Media Services. ASP s used to implement the logic and WMS provides the video streaming capabilities. The system also addresses on-site video delivery through the integration of a intelligent mechanism capable of identifying users accessing the module from wireless PDA’s and delivering alternate content through IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN. Additionally, the system utilizes pathfinding methodology and artificial intelligence algorithms to intelligently select the delivered instructional, user-specific content. Introduction There is a tremendous benefit in delivering customized instructional content to the learner that not only takes into account the learner’s attributes, but also the mode of access of the learner. The Unified Multimedia Delivery System (UMDS) being developed at Purdue University attempts to provide a mechanism for intelligently delivering instructional content to learners in a wide variety of situations. By analyzing the learner attributes, such as past performance and media preference, as well as, the device used by the learner to access the materials, the system is able to select the appropriate media to meet the desired learning outcomes. Development of the host UMDS System To gain a better grasp of how the wireless PDA module integrates into the UMDS, it would be beneficial to examine the construction and the capabilities of the UMDS as a whole. The authors’ goal was to provide many of the same media delivery capabilities available in a traditional classroom, but in a distance environment. To accomplish this objective, the authors examined the activities that occur within a traditional classroom and developed a set of criteria that dictated the technological construction of the distance learning system. By organizing the UMDS into the areas familiar to students and instructors the system would be easier to adopt. The authors identified four areas: lecture, homework, tests, and instructor/student conferences. The lecture would contain any activity in which the instructor delivers visual and auditory materials to a group of learners. The homework component would contain any activity in which the learner is expected to retrieve the instructional materials himself/herself, complete an assignment, and turn-in his or her work. The test area encompasses activities that asked the student to demonstrate his or her mastery of the instructional objectives. Finally, the conference P ge 730.1