Enhanced Virtual E-Learning Environments Using Cloud Computing Architectures

This paper presents the essential information about the most complex software systems and platforms managing enhanced educational virtual spaces that can integrate adaptive hypermedia units, video-conference support, mobile devices, etc.. In the description of these modern e-learning technologies, their most important features are revealed, like communications across disciplines, collaboration and team capabilities based on Web infrastructure. These enhanced education services use shared cloud computing approaches or methods and provide an optimized e-learning management to generate creative and intelligent decision. The basic architectural concepts and principles are imported from grid computing and cloud computing systems (e.g. Microsoft Azure, IBM Smart Cloud, IBM Tivoli- Live Monitoring Infrastructure Services, IBM Computing on Demand (CoD) ”). World-class social networking services and online collaboration tools, including file sharing, Web conferencing, and instant messaging are described subsequently (e.g. IBM LotusLive )”. Also, the basic concepts and principles of virtual e-learning environments for e-universities are presented, following the taxonomy: e-learning management systems (Claroline, Desire2Learn, eFront-Open-Source web-based Learning Management System, LAMS - Learning Activity Management System, SharePointLMS, JoomlaLMS-Joomla platform-based LMS); open source course management systems (Moodle, Dokeos, ILIAS, Sakai); virtual e-learning environments (Sloodle-Second Life and Moodle merge, Blackboard, WebCT, FirstClass, CyberExtension); cloud computing architectures for enhanced education services (IBM Cloud Academy program).