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An Interactive Web-based Application as Educational Tool for SCM Course by Using FOSS
Wahyudi Sutopo
Department of Industrial Engineering Sebelas Maret University
Jalan Ir. Sutami No. 36A, Kentingan, Surakarta 57126
sutopouns.ac.id Bayu Putra
Programmer of Belugerin Studios Depok, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
bayuputra_mailyahoo.com Didiek Sri Wiyono
Department of Informatics Engineering Sebelas Maret University
Jalan Ir. Sutami No. 36A, Kentingan, Surakarta 57126
didiekswuns.ac.id ABSTRACT
This paper presents the application of freeopen source software FOSS for teaching and learning one specific topic in Supply
Chain Management SCM course. In the last few years, there is abundant FOSS for educational tools. However, educator still
faces problems to implement such an education FOSS for improving the quality of education i.e. customizing of software
function, developing of a specific educational media, and illustrating of a course content.
The purpose of this research is to design an educational tool for increasing efficiency in conveying
subject matter especially distribution problem. It has a module of
real distribution problem in commodity paddy was captured. We crated an interactive Web-based application by using WSDL,
PHP and My SQL, and SOAP. The result of the research will be able to improve the pedagogic approach for learning of SCM
course.
Keywords:
Educational tool, FOSS, interactive media, SCM course.
1. INTRODUCTION
FreeOpen Source Software FOSS is application that is made available along with source code as a distinctive feature [1]. There
are some reasons why FOSS implemented in a majority of the higher education as follow. With limited budgets, FOSS
applications can be used for making ICTs as educational tools [1],[2]. Based on survey conducted by [2]
, FOSS is gaining
mindshare from four directions: spill over from commercial initiatives such as Linux, Apache, Open Office, grant-funded
open source initiatives course management, portal, financial systems, student portfolios, market-driven initiatives in specific
application areas course management, and open source compatible higher education specific applications course
management, portal. The higher educational institutions can use FOSS in front-line curriculum for the reason of possibility of
localization [3].
Learning tool or educational tool is a tool to deliver the message of learning [4]. Recent advances in internet technologies have
transformed the World-Wide-Web from delivering static text to providing an easily accessible multimedia channel for dynamic
and interactive communication [5], [16], [17]. Furthermore, the development of Information and Communication Technology
ICTs devices, such as Personal Digital Assistant PDAs, Server, Modems, Laptops and Tablet PCs, reform the development of an
interactive learning media become easier, faster, and cheaper. Web-based media offers an effective alternative to deliver the
message of a course and involves a fusion of sounds, images, and texts that enable students to interact with complex system. A good
educational tool can activate learner in analytical, computational, and experimental practices of a course.
In the last few years, there is plentiful of web-based application as educational tool which made by FOSS. Some applications are
described below. A LearNet www.learnet.de
is learning and experimenting on real technical plants can be used in
manufacturing education [6]. The EDICS created by [7] is FOSS
application for learning the course of engineering design instructional computer program. An open source educational
software for basic photogram metric tasks is dedicated by [8]. Also, there are many free e-Learning tools, for instant: 3D
modeling
software tool
Google Sketch
Up, http:sketchup.google.com
; an advanced online assessment management
system TOIA,
http:www.toia.ac.uk; an
alternative browser
for young
children KidRocket,
http:www.kidrocket.org ;
the open
source portfolio
http:www.osportfolio.org and flash quiz creator HotPotatoes,
http:hotpot.uvic.ca. The development of ICTs encourages Supply Chain SC entities
from supplier’s supplier to customer’s customer changes to improve the competitiveness of the company; from efforts of
internal efficiency towards inter-entities collaboration for leveraging benefits to achieve [9]. Therefore, for the learning
process of SC course needs innovative teaching and learning methods to improve the ability of our students to solve complex
problems. We still have not the application of FOSS for teaching and learning one specific topic in SCM course in the Department
of Industrial EngineeringDepartment of Informatics Engineering, Sebelas Maret University. In conclude, we still have some
problems to implement such an education FOSS for improving the quality of education i.e. customizing of software function,
developing of a specific educational media, and illustrating of a course content. This study aimed to design an interactive web-
based application as educational tool for SCM course, so that teaching objectives can be explained effectively to the students.
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This paper is organized as follows. In Section 1, we propose the background of our research. Then, we resume several special
cases of the web-based educational tools. In Section 2, we provide the methodology for solving the problem. In Section 3, we design
the web-based application for blending face-to-face and distance learning model. We introduce the guidance for learning in Section
4. Section 5 is summarizes and future research.
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
