Architecture of a Computer Based Instructional System

Abstract

The paper describes the architecture of a tutorial system that can be used at various engineering graduate and postgraduate courses. The tutorial is using Internet-style WWW services to provide access to the teaching information and the evaluation exercises maintained with a RDMS. The tutorial will consist of server-side applications that process and present teaching material and assessing exercises to the student using the well-known Web interface. All information in the system will be stored in a relational database. By closely sticking to the ANSI SQL specifications, the system can take advantage of a free database managing system running on Linux, the mini-SQL. The tutorial can be used to on-line deliver any courses, creating new, continuing education opportunities. Taking advantage of the modern deployment techniques, the instructional/assessing tutorial offer high degrees of accessibility.