International Journal of Computer Science Research and Application 2012, Vol. 02, Issue. 01 (special issue), pp. 01-04 ISSN 2012-9564 (Print) ISSN 2012-9572 (Online) © Author Names. Authors retain all rights. IJCSRA has been granted the right to publish and share, Creative Commons 3.0

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH AND APPLICATION www.ijcsra.org

Editorial: Computer Science for Future Education and ICVL Project objectives Marin Vlada1 (Editor - Special Issue) 1

University of Bucharest, Romania, E-mail: vlada[at]fmi.unibuc.ro Author Correspondence: University of Bucharest, 14 Academiei Street, RO-010014, Romania

Dear Readers, Welcome to the 2012 special issue “ICVL 2011 selected papers” of the International Journal of Computer Science Research and Application. As you can see, this issue includes papers from the 6th International Conference on Virtual Learning (NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH: ICVL Project – www.c3.icvl.eu) devoted to using ICT and social web technologies in e-learning and education. With the overall popularity of social web technologies and the increased interest of teachers and educational researchers in this area, more and more papers on this topic have been submitted to the International Journal of Computer Science Research and Application. We realized that we had a large selection of high quality papers on social web accepted for publication. Collecting these papers in one issue provides a better value for our readers, since together these papers present a good state-of-the-art picture of the current research on social web and e-learning. The set of papers included in this special section is exactly as diverse as we would like an introduction to this research direction to be. Most important is the fact that the most popular social technologies currently explored in the area of e-learning, such as blogs, wikis, and social tagging, are addressed by one or more papers in this special section. The set of papers 1. Case Study: Using Drupal Platform for eContent Management In this paper, the authors Marin Vlada and Adrian Adăscăliţei, present a case study on using the Drupal content management sites CNIV and ICVL projects. Drupal is a CMS (Content Management System) or a content manager and dynamic web sites developed in PHP and requires connection to a MySQL database. Drupal meets the needs of different types of web sites from community to news portals, from corporate sites to educational institutions, from media sites to international sites. Drupal's content management features make it easy to create creative content, organize and find, administer, collaborate, build, design and display. 2. Exploring Direct Communication and Manipulation on Interactive Surfaces to Foster Novelty in a Creative Learning Environment In this paper, the authors Alejandro Catala, Fernando Garcia-Sanjuan, Jose Azorin, Javier Jaen and Jose A. Mocholi, proposes the use of interactive surfaces as a promising technology to develop future creative learning environments. An exploratory experiment with 22 teenagers has been conducted. The experiment consisted of reflection, discussion and creation processes in which participants created entities with basic building blocks. The environment based on the interactive surface was compared to a completely tangible approach based on a tabletop with wooden blocks. A creativity model is used in the evaluation in terms of novelty, flexibility, fluency of thinking and motivation. The results showed that creations’ novelty is significantly higher in the digital environment and also higher collaboration degree was observed so that this technology should be considered in the development of future learning environments to support creativity. 3. An Overview of the Most Important Aspects Related to Quality Assurance in Computer Supported Collaborative E-Learning

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The Iuliana Dobre’s paper is presenting the most important aspects related to quality assurance in Computer Supported Collaborative E-Learning environments, as well as is presenting an overview of the quality importance in such learning environments, the quality role, the main quality elements, and some of the trends and perspectives at European level as resulted from available studies. 4. Enhanced Virtual E-Learning Environments Using Cloud Computing Architectures by Eugen Zaharescu 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. 5. Interactive Conceptual Maps – a Step Towards Performance In this paper, the authors Liliana Violeta Constantin and Emil Ştefan Barna, present how to make and to use interactive conceptual maps in the classroom. The interactive conceptual maps can be used at any time during the lesson; they can be modified and adapted to the students' requirements, desires and possibilities. It also highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using graphical organizers in physics lessons. 6. A Software Application for Modeling the Pipeline Transportation Process The Daniela Tudorica’s paper is presenting deals with the modelling of the fluid flow in pipelines and presents the results obtained from the model. 7. Verification of the Web Applications Using Sink Web Pages The Doru Anastasiu Popescu and Catrinel Maria Dănăuţă introduce a new algorithm used to determine the sink web pages in a web application. 8. Learner Clustering & Association Rule Mining for Content Recommendation in Self-Regulated Learning - by Ahmad A. Kardan, Nahid Ghassabzadeh Saryazdi and Hamed Mirashk In this paper, an innovative architecture for a recommender system (AELTRec) dedicated to the e-learning environments is introduced. This architecture simultaneously takes advantages of K-Means clustering technique and association rule mining. Also this architecture considers the learner self-monitoring ability in his/her, constantly evaluates learning activities, the results of the activities, and provides warning messages from the system to the learner. 9. Context based Expert Finding in Online Communities using Social Network Analysis by the authors, Ahmad A. Kardan, Amin Omidvar and Mojtaba Behzadi. In this research a novel method based on social network analysis is proposed to find the experts in different contexts. For evaluation process of the proposed method, Metafilter Forum was chosen and the data has been processed in several steps. First, data were gathered by our crawling program and then extracted, transformed and loaded to data base by ETL operations. Experts on specified context were found by applying the proposed method on the processed data. Finally, accuracy of the method was calculated and benchmarked. 10. Remote Experiments in Moisil e-Lab The authors, Mihaela Garabet, Cristina Miron and Ion Neacsu , describe developed some remote experiments in the Physics lab of the Grigore Moisil National College from Bucharest like: the distance dependence of the light intensity of a source, the distance dependence of the sound level of a sound source, the I-V characteristics of a photovoltaic cell, the time dependence of the coordinate of a car etc. Remote experimentation laboratories are systems based on real equipment, allowing students to perform practical work through a computer connected to the internet. 11. The Stimulation of Students’ Creativity by Using Multimedia Platforms The authors, Maria Dinica, Luminita Dinescu and Cristina Miron, describe the use of multimedia platforms in the educational process in order to stimulate the students’ interest in studying a subject and in applying the acquired knowledge to practical situations. The way in which glogs may be integrated in some projects regarding Physics are described. The influence of multimedia posters on students’ school success and on their creative potential, are described too. 12. Student's Attitudes Towards Learning in Educational Environment The authors, Svetlana Čičević, Andreja Samčović and Marjana Čubranić-Dobrodolac, explore the student motivation and approval of the educational environment. The Learning Orientation Questionnaire (LOQ) as an assessment instrument to reveal the dominant power of emotions and intentions in guiding and managing cognitive processes and identifying conative processes specific to learning settings, was used. The results show that students don’t seem to be ready to assume a leading role in their learning and motivation. Students generally perceive the ideal learning environment to imply a less hierarchical relation and more interaction between teachers and students.

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13. Assuring the Motivational Climate in the Process of Learning Physics by Using Blogs The authors, Maria Dinica, Luminita Dinescu and Cristina Miron, of this paper presents the way in which the use of blogs as a non-formal educational and studying Physics environment contributes both to students’ cognitive motivation, and to the restructuring of the relationships within school groups, the emphasis moving from the class of students to the team who collaborate in order to achieve a common goal. 14. Complex IT Projects in Education: The Challenge – by Stefan Morcov In this paper the author strategically present the challenges we experience with today’s complex IT projects in Education with theoretical and practical examples, while letting the educationalists to think on their policies. Promotion of modern technologies in Education and Research Learning is a cognitive process of acquiring knowledge and skills. It’s a journey that continues throughout one’s life till death, learning results in change of behaviour and attitude. These changes may be easily observable or elusive. It’s not necessary that a person be actually aware that he or she is learning something right at that time. Learning may occur even without people being aware of it. Learning solutions focus on developing or enhancing the competencies and behaviours needed by individuals and teams in order to accomplish meaningful goals and create a positive work climate that encourages and values clarity, interaction, openness, diversity, community and results. Thus, after 2000, when expanded and developed Web 2.0 and Learning 2.0 programs and projects were discussed in relation to: strategy development and training; project management; working in teams; implementation methodology. Also, the initiators had to promote and integrate new technologies in education and training, so that Romanian educational system could adapt to new requirements and challenges of building the knowledge society in accordance with the European Strategy "training in the knowledge society". The general trend of the Romanian society towards an intensive use of new technologies, generated by the need to keep up with the evolving European economy, is encouraged, supported and pushed ahead by governmental programmes and complemented by several European initiatives or by projects developed by private companies. ICVL Project In Romania, this year, there were 2 main scientific events: ICVL (The 6th International Conference on Virtual Learning) and CNIV (The 9th National Conference on Virtual Learning). The ICVL (http://www.icvl.eu) and CNIV (http://www.cniv.ro) projects promote innovative technologies and methodologies in education, research and continuous improvement, both in media education (i.e. University) and in business. Structured and organized according to european principles and standards, the two projects encourage and promote work on projects, collaborative activities, methods and scientific experimentation, creative thinking and intuition, argument and demonstration. Conference theme refers to the use of modern technologies in education and research with the objective of building the knowledge society. The Conference is organized in four sections (New Technologies in Education and Research: Virtual Environments for Education and Training, Software and Management for Education): Models & Methodologies (M&M); Technologies (TECH); Software Solutions (SOFT); "Intel® Education" - Innovation in Education and Research (IntelEdu). The International Conference on Virtual Learning contributes to the development of both theory and practice in the field of Virtual Learning. The ICVL was structured to provide a vision of European e-Learning and eTraining policies, to take notice of the situation existing today in the international community and to work towards developing a forward looking approach in Virtual Learning from the viewpoint of modelling methods and methodological aspects, information technologies and software solutions. Participation is welcomed from researches, teachers, trainers, educational authorities, learners, practitioners, employers, trade unions, and private sector actors and the IT industry. Romanian IT Based Educational System (SEI, 2001-2012)1 In Romania, the emergence of a knowledge-based economy and the need to assure conditions of social inclusion to all for the 21st Century have brought into light the necessity to enhance the continuous development of the human capital according to a lifelong learning perspective. In these regards, innovative education strategies aiming to integrate ICT are effective and viable when supported by several stakeholders: companies, European institutions, NGOs, schools, teachers, education managers, parents and students 1 Gold Winner: E-Learning Awards, 2010 London - Best e-learning project securing widespread adoption, www.elearningage.co.uk

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themselves. One of the most effective governmental actions is the SEI Programme (Sistem Educaţional Informatizat, in Romanian – IT-Based Education System), started in 2001, aiming to equip schools with computer labs, to train teachers in the use of ICT, and to provide educational software to support the teaching and learning. The IT Based Educational System (SEI) is a complex project initiated by the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation, aiming to offer ICT support for the Romanian education system. The SEI program promotes ICT in education through specific projects designed both for administrative and educational purposes. The SEI Program offers new tools for use in schools, thus increasing the quality of the education process. It offers a substitute for expensive or dangerous instruments and experiments by means of virtual counterparts. Within SEI Program (www.portal.edu.ro), the local, regional and country administration is provided with managerial and administrative support. The main components of the solution are: Hardware (IT laboratories); Learning, Content Management Solution (the AEL software system); Educational software and electronic educational content; Teacher training; Internet connectivity. AeL is an integrated Learning and Content Management System developed by Siveco aiming to support professors/tutors, students, content editors, administrative staff and other stakeholders in the learning process. The Initiative eduVision 2020: Shaping the vision of education The Initiative eduVision 2020 (http://eduvision.ro/) is an international conference aimed to present the newest trends in education and eLearning, best practices on using IT&C in education and a vision for the future of education. The Initiative promotes active participation in international working groups, initiatives and processes aimed at promoting the Information Society, as well as contributions on the educational dimension in relevant international debate forums (working groups of the WSIS, UNESCO, ITU, European Commission). Given the major impact that this transition process begins to have on modern civilization and recognizing the significant pressure on education systems worldwide, the eduVision 2020 Conference launches the Initiative eduVision 2020. The Initiative welcomes all public, private and non-governmental actors that have relevant activity in the integration of IT&C in school education. The conference focused an audience of about 200 people per day; key people representing: European Comission; UNESCO Romania; Education Ministries from more than 25 countries from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

References Osburg T., &Istrate O., 2008, Intel Education initiative. Focus: Roamania. [print and online], In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Virtual Learning. Constatza, Romania: Bucharest, University of Bucharest Publishing House, ICVL 2008. Pink D., 2006, “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future”, Reed Business Information, [online] figure: http://elearningtech.pbwiki.com/f/daniel-pink-conceptual-age.png Vlada M., Ţugui Al., 2006, "Information Society Technologies – The four waves of information technologies", [print and online], In Proceedings of The 1st International Conference on Virtual Learning, ICVL 2006, Bucharest University Press, pp 69-82. Vlada M., Jugureanu R., Istrate O., 2009, "E-Learning and Educational Software. Educational Projects and Experience of Implementation in Romania", [print and online], In Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Virtual Learning, Bucharest University Press, pp 25-39. Vlada M., Nica A. S., 2009, Languages and Knowledge versus Modelling and Processing. ECKM 2009, 3-4 Sept. 2009, University of Padua, Italy, In Proceedings of 10th European Conference on Knowledge Management, http://academicconferences.org/ Vlada M., 2010, New Technologies in Education and Research. Models and Methodologies, Technologies and Software Solutions, LAMBERT Academic Publishing, ISBN 978-3-8433-6391- 4 Dr. Marin Vlada - Marin Vlada is Professor in Computer Science at the University of Bucharest, concerned with education and research in Computer Science, in particular, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Graphics & Virtual Reality, Web Programming and Educational Technology (New technologies for e-Learning, e-Training, e-Skills). He is a founder and the General Chair of the International Conference on Virtual Learning (ICVL - c3.icvl.eu) and an INTUITION member ("A Network of Excellence focused on Virtual reality and Virtual environments applications for future workspaces" European Commission). He is a founder and the General Chair of the National Conference on Virtual Learning (CNIV c3.cniv.ro). He is the author of the book "New Technologies in Education and Research. Models and Methodologies, Technologies and Software Solutions", Lambert Academic Publishing" (2010). Biography included in "Who’s Who in the World 2001-2005", "2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st century, first ed.", Cambridge, England, and in "Encyclopaedia of the Romanian people", 2008. Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By the appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use with the required attribution. Users must contact the corresponding authors for any potential use of the article or its content that affects the authors’ copyright.