The 8th edition of the e-Learning International Conference (part of the IADIS Multi Conference on Computer Science and Information Systems) was hosted in Prague, Czech Republic, during 23 to 26 July, 2013.

Once again the e-Learning conference aimed to address the key issues of concern within the context of e-Learning. This conference tried to cover both the technical as well as the non-technical aspects of e-Learning. The main tracks for submissions were: Organisational Strategy and Management Issues; Technological Issues; e-Learning Curriculum Development Issues; Instructional Design Issues; e-Learning Delivery Issues; e-Learning Research Methods and Approaches; e-Skills and Information Literacy for Learning..

The e-Learning 2013 conference received 231 submissions from more than 36 countries. Each submission had been anonymously reviewed by an average of four independent reviewers, to guarantee that accepted submissions were of the highest standard. As a result, only 36 full papers were approved which meant an acceptance rate of 16 %. A few more papers were accepted as short papers, reflection papers and posters. The conference best papers were selected for publishing as extended versions in the Interactive Technology and Smart Education (ITSE) journal (ISSN:1741-5659) and also in the IADIS International Journal on WWW/Internet (ISSN: 1645-7641).

Further to the presentation of full papers, short papers and posters, the conference also offered two keynote presentations by Thomas C. Reeves, Professor Emeritus of Learning, Design, and Technology, College of Education, The University of Georgia, USA and Doc. Ing Jan Lojda, President of the Czech Association of Distance Teaching Universities, Czech Republic and also a conference tutorial presented by Dr. Peter L. Stanchev, Kettering University, USA and Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

Keynote presentation

"SOCIAL NETWORKS AS THE SUPPORT OF THE E-LEARNING"

by Doc. Ing Jan Lojda,
President of the Czech Association of Distance Teaching Universities, Czech Republic

Abstract
The paper deals with the new and actual approaches in E-learning. It seems, that the period of sophisticated Learning Management System (LMS) is over and the potential customers = e- students prefer new environment for their learning activities. Interactivity and communication tools are considered as the crucial point how to make the individual e-study more open and users friendly. Sharing learning experience, external study materials and study problems facilitates the study processes and is helping to manage the stress in the learning of lonely student. 

"THOUGHTS ON THE QUALITY OF LEARNING IN MOOCs"

by Dr. Thomas C. Reeves,

Professor Emeritus of Learning, Design, and Technology, College of Education,
The University of Georgia, USA

Abstract

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other forms of open education are viewed as positive disruptive innovations by some and as threats to traditional education by others. The discord over MOOCs is especially vociferous in the higher education sector. This paper examines the evidence for and against MOOCs, especially with respect to the quality of the learning accomplished by participants. The paper also discusses inconsistencies in assessment in MOOCs, and suggests appropriate assessment strategies based on more authentic approaches. At the conclusion of this paper, recommendations are made for advancing the efficacy and impact of MOOCs through educational design research.

"CONVERTING A REGULAR LEARNING COURSE INTO DISTANCE COURSE"

by Peter L. Stanchev,
Kettering University, USA and Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

Abstract
The beginnings of distance education date back over one hundred years ago to the age of correspondence education when Frederick Turner ran the correspondence history program at the University of Wisconsin. Resent research clearly shows that students who learn at a distance do not learn any better or any worse than the traditional students.

Web 2.0 and social software tools have tremendous potential to remove the barriers of distance education. The social dimension of Web 2.0 tools has already begun to change the traditional paradigm of distance education. The challenges that social software addresses (meeting, building community, providing mentoring and personal learning assistance, working collaboratively on projects or problems, reducing communication errors, and supporting complex group functions) have application to educational use.

In the tutorial, we identify the milestones of techniques that were developed to meet the needs of a new type of learning that beneficially exploits the domain of distance-learning courses. A methodology for converting a regular course into a distance course is presented. For the conversion process we use the ADDIE technology. The ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implement, and Evaluate) model is the generic process traditionally used by instructional designers and training developers. The five phases represent a dynamic and flexible guideline for building effective training and performance support tools. Topics such as: develop instructional strategy, develop and select instructional materials; design and conduct formative evaluation, revise instruction; design and conduct summative evaluations are also presented. Some of the education theories such as: theories of independence and autonomy, theories of industrialization of teaching, theories of interaction and communication are discussed. The conversion process, the technique issues, requirements and conversion steps are outlined. Different distance learning technologies are given.

The conversion of the regular course "Web technology" into distance course is presented. "Web technology" is a regular course that was converted into a distances course, which we designed and implement in the frame of the "Master of Science in Information Technology program" in the Kettering University. The course is based on video, textbooks, "Blackboard" system based information and e-mail communications. The course is accompanied by a list of books, which are required to be used by the learner to prepare for each session as well as a list of recommended books and papers, which discuss various issues and elaborate on the topics.

As is the case in writing a textbook, the development of a good distance education course is a long-term process of trials and errors.

REFERENCES
[1] Stanchev P.: Converting a Regular Learning Course into Distance Course, e-Learning conference, 25-26 august, Bucharest, Romania (2011)
[2] Moore M., Kearsley G., Distance Education: A Systems View of Online Learning,3rd Edition, 2012

The e-Learning Conference 2013 proceedings was published in Book (ISBN: 978-972-8939-88-5).

Program Committee Members:
Adamantios Koumpis, ALTEC Software S. A., Greece
Adel Elsayed, Retired, University Of Bolton, United Kingdom
Alexandra Cristea, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom
Alexei Tretiakov, Massey University, New Zealand
Alla Manako, Irtc, Ukraine
Amali Weerasinghe, University Of Canterbury, New Zealand
Amjad Mahmood, University Of Bahrain, Bahrain
Ana Isabel Vazquez Martínez , University Of Sevilla, Spain
Andreas Bollin, Klagenfurt University, Austria
Andreas Papasalouros, University Of The Aegean, Greece
Andrew Lian, Western Illinois University, USA
Angélica De Antonio, Universidad Politecnica De Madrid, Spain
Ania Lian, Australian Catholic University, Australia
Annabell Preussler, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
Annette Payne, Brunel University, United Kingdom
Anouk Gelan, University Hasselt, Belgium
Antoanela Naaji, Vasile Goldis West University Of Arad, Romania
Antonio Hervás-Jorge, Universidad Politécnica De Valencia, Spain
Antonio Navarro, Universidad Complutense De Madrid, Spain
Antonio Panaggio, Italian Ministry Of Education, Italy
Apostolos Gkamas, University Ecclesiastical Academy of Vella of Ioan, Greece
Avgoustos Tsinakos, Department Of Industrial Informatics, Greece
Barbara N. Brecko, European Commission, Spain
Ben Du Boulay, University Of Sussex, United Kingdom
Benno Volk, ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technolog, Switzerland
Bettina Pedemonte, Institute For Educational Technology Itd-cnr, Italy
Branislav Smitek , University Of Maribor , Slovenia
Carmen Holotescu, University Politehnica Timisoara, Romania
Cengiz Hakan Aydin, Anadolu University, Turkey
Cerstin Mahlow, University of Basel, Switzerland
Charalampos Karagiannidis, University of Thessaly, Greece
Charoula Angeli, University Of Cyprus, Cyprus
Chen Xiaowu, Beihang University, China
Christine Levy, Kaleidoscope Learning, USA
Christos Bouras, University Of Patras, Greece
Claudia De Witt, Fernuniversität In Hagen, Germany
Cleo Sgouropoulou, Technological Educational Institute (tei) Of Athen, Greece
David Guralnick, Kaleidoscope Learning, United States
Demetrios Sampson, University Of Piraeus, Greece
Diana Pérez Marín, Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain
Dimitra Pappa, National Center For Scientific Research - Demokrit, Greece
Dimitris Fotiadis, University Of Ioannina, Greece
Dirk Ifenthaler, Open Universities Australia, Australia
Egle Butkeviciene, Kaunas University Of Technology, Lithuania
Elena Mosa, Indire, Italy
Eliza Stefanova, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Emma Briend, University Of Limerick, Ireland
Esma Aimeur, University Of Montréal, Canada
Esteban Vázquez Cano, Spanish National University Of Distance Education, Spain
Eugenia Kovatcheva, University Of Sofia, Bulgaria
Eva Heinrich, Massey University, New Zealand
Eva Jereb, University Of Maribor, Slovenia
Fawzi Albalooshi, National Authority of Qualifications and Quality A, Bahrain
Francesca Pozzi, Instituto Tecnologie Didattiche – CNR, Italy
Fridolin Wild, The Open University, United Kingdom
Frina Albertyn, Eastern Institute Of Technology, New Zealand
Fuhua Lin, Athabasca University, Canada
Gabriela Grosseck, West University Of Timisoara, Romania
Gabriella Dodero, Free University Of Bolzano Bozen, Italy
Gary Wills, University Of Southampton, United Kingdom
Geoffrey Lautenbach, University Of Johannesburg, South Africa
George Palaigeorgiou, CSD, AUTH, Greece
George Papadourakis, School Of Applied Technology, Greece
George Tsihrintzis, University Of Piraeus, Greece
Gianni Vercelli, DIBRIS - University of Genoa, Italy
Giovanni Bonaiuti, University Of Cagliari, Italy
Giuliana Dettori, ITD-CNR, Italy
Giuliano Vivanet, University Of Cagliari, Italy
Giusy Cannella, Indire, Italy
Gloria Yi-ming Kao, National Taiwan University Of Science And Technolo, Taiwan
Guglielmo Trentin, Cnr - Istituto Tecnologie Didattiche, Italy
Hamid Harroud, Al-Akhawayn University In Ifrane, Morocco
Helena Bukvova, WU, University of Economics and Business Vienna, Austria
Imed Hammouda, Tampere University Of Technology, Finland
Ingo Dahn, University Of Koblenz-landau, Germany
Ioannis Vardiambasis, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Crete, Greece
Ivan Ganchev, University of Limerick, Ireland
Ivana Simonova, University Of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Jaime Ramirez, Universidad Politécnica De Madrid, Spain
Jan Pawlowski, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Jane Sinclair, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom
Jarkko Suhonen, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
Jekaterina Bule, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Jerzy Dabkowski, Cracow University Of Technology, Poland
Jesualdo Breis, University Of Murcia, Spain
Jesús Boticario, Universidad Nacional De Educación A Distancia (une, Spain
Jesús Sánchez Allende, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Spain
Jirarat Sitthiworachart, Walailak University, Thailand
Johannes Magenheim, Universitaet Paderborn, Germany
Jonatan Castano Munoz, European Commission, Spain
Jozef Hvorecky, City University Of Seattle, Slovakia
Jozef Simuth , City University Of Seattle, Slovakia
Juan M. Alducin-ochoa, Universirty Of Sevilla, Spain
Juan M. Santos, University of Vigo, Spain
Katerina Kabassi, TEI of Ionian Islands, Greece
Kateryna Synytsya, Ukraine International Research And Training Center, Ukraine
Katherine Maillet, Institut Telecom & Management Sudparis, France
Kazunori Nozawa, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Kostas Vassilakis, Technological Educational Institution Of Crete, Greece
Larisa Zaiceva, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Leonardo Garrido, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
Liodakis George, Technological Educational Institution Of Crete, Greece
Lorraine Cleeton, Walden University, USA
Luis Álvarez-González, Universidad Austral De Chile, Chile
Luis Anido-Rifón, University Of Vigo, Spain
Lynde Tan, National Institute Of Education , Singapore
Maiga Chang, Athabasca University, Canada
Mairtin ODroma, University Of Limerick, Ireland
Malinka Ivanova, Technical University Of Sofia, Bulgaria
Mandy Rohs, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
Manolis Tsiknakis, Forth, Greece
Manos Varvarigos, University Of Patras, Greece
Manuela Repetto, Instituto Per Le Tecnologie Didattiche – Cnr, Italy
Marek Stanuszek, Cracow University Of Technology, Poland
Maria Moundridou, School of Pedagogical and Technological Education , Greece
Maria Virvou, University Of Piraeus, Greece
Marina Ribaudo, University Of Genova, Italy
Mario Vacca, "La Sapienza" University of Rome , Italy
Martin Ebner, Graz University of Technology, Austria
Martin Wessner, Fraunhofer IESE, Germany
Martin Wolpers, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
Martín Llamas-Nistal, University Of Vigo, Spain
Martine Verjans, Universiteit Hasselt, Belgium
Michael Paraskevas, Computer Technology Institute & Press, Greece
Michael Piotrowski, Leibniz Institute of European History, Germany
Michail Kalogiannakis, University of Crete, Greece
Michalis Xenos, Hellenic Open University, Greece
Michel Ebouyea, University of La Rochelle, France
Miguel Zapata Ros, University Of Alcala de Henares, Spain
Mihaela Dinsoreanu, Technical University Of
Cluj-napoca, Romania
Mihai Jalobeanu, Universitatea de Vest , Romania
Mike Joy, University Of Warwick, United Kingdom
Mirjana Ivanovic, University Of Novi Sad, Serbia
Mizue Kayama, Shinshu University, Japan
Mohamed Amine Chatti, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
Murat Ataizi, Anadolu University, Turkey
Natalija Prokofjeva, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Nicola Capuano, Diem - University Of Salerno, Italy
Niki Lambropoulos, University Of Patras, Greece
Nora Lizenberg, Universidad Tecnologica Nacional, Argentina
Oliver Bohl, University of Kassel, Germany
Panagiotes Anastasiades, University Of Crete, Greece
Panagiotis Kampylis, European Commission - Dg Jrc , Spain
Paolo Gentilini, University Degli Studi Di Genova, Italy
Patrick Blumschein, University of Freiburg, Germany
Pavel RUSAkov, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Peter Mikulecky, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Petra Poulova, University Of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
Pilar Moreno Díaz, Alfonso X El Sabio University, Spain
Rafael Morales, University of Guadalajara, Mexico
Rafael Valencia, Universidad De Murcia, Spain
Raul Antonio Aguilar Vera, Universidad Autonoma De Yucatan, Mexico
Rolf Granow, Fachhochschule Luebeck, Germany
Rosabel Roig-Vila, Universidad de Alicante, Spain
Rose Liang, National Institute Of Education , Singapore
Roza Dumbraveanu, The State Pedagogical University I.creanga, Moldova, Republic Of
Rubén Edel Navarro, Universidad Veracruzana, México
Rune Pettersson, Institute for Infology, Sweden, Sweden
Sandra Schoen, Salzburg Research Forschungsgesellschaft, Austria
Santiago Mengual Andrés , University Of Valencia, Spain
Sobah A. Petersen, Sintef, Norway
Spiros Sirmakesis, Technological Educational Institutional of Messolo, Greece
Stamatina Anastopoulou, University Of the Aegean, Greece
SUSAnne Draheim, University Of Hamburg, Germany
Telmo Zarronandia, Carlos III University, Spain
Thomas Lehmann, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany
Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos, University Of Patras, Greece
Tomas Pitner, Masaryk University, Czech Republic
Tomayess Issa, Curtin University, Australia
Tomaz Amon, Center For Scientific Visualization, Slovenia
Tuomo Kakkonen, University Of Joensuu, Finland
Ulrike Hanke, Universitaet Freiburg, Germany
Vaiva Zuzeviciute, Magnus University, LITHUANIA
Vassilis Triantafillou, Τechnological Educational Institution Of Mess, Greece
Veijo Meisalo, University of Helsinki, Finland
Veronika Makarova, University Of Saskatchewan, Canada
Werner Beuschel, IBAW Brandenburg, Germany
Xiaokun Zhang, Athabasca University, Canada
Yannis Psaromiligkos, Technological Education Institute Of Piraeus, Greece
Zinayida Petrushyna, Rwth Aachen, Germany