Title: A distance learning curriculum on pervasive computing

Authors: Christos Goumopoulos; Petros Nicopolitidis; Damianos Gavalas; Achilles Kameas

Addresses: Information and Communication Systems Engineering Department, University of the Aegean, Samos, Greece ' Department of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Cultural Technology and Communication, University of the Aegean, Mytilene, Greece ' School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece

Abstract: Engineering of pervasive computing (PerComp) systems is a new scientific field and from an educational perspective needs to draw from a large number of knowledge domains. The appearance of related courses in computer science curricula has a decade history, but the growth of interest has led in recent years to the design of more advanced PerComp educational programmes. In this paper, we present our experiences in organising, managing and teaching a PerComp curriculum at a postgraduate level since 2010 using distance learning methodologies in the Hellenic Open University. We discuss the distinct characteristics and related challenges of distance education and how these characteristics affected programme organisation, educational material structuring, laboratory courses delivering and student assessment. We report our main findings and conclusions extracted by an online survey filled by students enrolled in the programme, discuss the lessons learned and also provide a number of suggestions for further development.

Keywords: computer science curricula; curriculum design; distance learning; educational material structuring; evaluation; Greece; life-long learning; pervasive computing; postgraduate studies; programme organisation; science and technology; student assessment; survey; ubiquitous computing; virtual laboratories; dcomputer science education; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2017.080996

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2017 Vol.27 No.1/2, pp.122 - 146

Received: 16 Jan 2015
Accepted: 24 Apr 2016
Published online: 14 Dec 2016 *

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