Analysis of E-Learning Platforms for IoT-Platforms - Essay Sample

Introduction

Electronic learning or e-learning refers to the delivery of training and learning via digital resources. Even though it is a formalized learning, it is delivered through electronic devices like tablets, computers and cellular phones with a connection to the internet. This makes the users learn easily anywhere, anytime and with few restrictions. Even if you are a starter or experienced in e-learning, there is no opposition to the popularity of this learning over the decade. It offers time efficient and affordable ways for the employers to train their employees and in return employees gain useful knowledge and skills that the training provides. E-learning is also used by firms to educate their customers and partners to increase retention, adoption, and revenue. The demand for e-learning is here to stay and shows no fading signs. Some of the methods used to deliver e-learning include LMS, SCORM, and xAP. The different types of e-learning training exist such as employee training; This is the most common type and uses LMS. The use of LMS makes it efficient and formalizes practice in terms of delivery. Compliance training is another type used by organizations to inform their employees about the regulations and laws applicable to the industry. Examples of compliance training include HR Law, Anti-Harassment training and Diversity training. The other type is customer training which uses training programs designed for customers by software providers. It promotes the customer experience and also benefiting the organization since the customers run to them. Lastly, partner training is another type also called reseller training. This type of training entails sales training, marketing guidance, support training and information training for a product.

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Some years back, researchers have tried to find ways of delivering learning and education at a distance. Recently, many researchers are focusing on using technologies to make smarter classrooms, wireless learning which gives feedback in real time to instructors on the necessary information. This is where IoT comes in. Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept generally used for the description of objects networking, objects which are in turn connected via wireless technologies to the net. The rise of IoT makes things capable to communicate, turn them to tools which can be adapted and adopted in many new exciting ways. The glossary of e-learning and IoT ensures accessibility, active learning, analysis design development implementation, advanced distributed learning, flexible learning, application programming interface, assessment, assimilation, authoring tool, asynchronous learning, etc.

Amazon Web Services

Earlier in 2006, AWS started offering IT infrastructure services as web services to businesses. Up to now, they provide scalable, highly reliable and cost-effective infrastructure platform in the cloud. It powers hundreds of thousands of companies of about 190 nations in the globe. The AWS IoT platform is needed for the programs like IoT Badge and also for questions, assessment and project under the section of the examination. The platform has a surface appearance that is not high or low but medium with a Badge style type of design. The platform has information about general understanding. They offer computer, content delivery, database storage and functionalities to aid businesses to scale higher and grow. They teach IoT Badge consisting of career paths and Badges. The Badge learning pathway also encounters introduction to cutting edge cloud services, IoT activities and knowledge. The method used to teach these includes free text task and videos with multiple choices. AWS prefer to use AWS software as the primary tool without a link to AWS button. The platform is easy to access since there is no restrictions or payments needed; they are open-minded and instead use academy for recruitments. A module requires just 15 hours of study; this is cumulative of the whole study hours for the module, and the price is only 0 Euros. AWS target everybody, not just the employees (Mathew, 2014).

IBM Watson

IBM Cloud offers many ways to modernize, migrate, build and connect easily to innovative cloud applications. They have an IoT platform which offers examination in terms of questions, assessments and forum posts. The platform is also needed for programs like IoT Badge. The platform interface has a Badge style with high design, unlike the AWS. They have a wide range Watson IoT catalogs among them being; Overview of IoT Platform, connecting devices, real-time insights using the Platform, manage devices using the platform and demonstration from device connect to data analytics. Their only method of teaching is by using videos which is only available to the partners and employees and not everybody. One must log in to the academy to enroll in the course. The tools, software, and hardware recommended are entirely skillful demanding, for example, Java, Python, C#, C++, Node-Red and blue mix for the software, for the hardware they use Raspberry Pi. The platform is very open, but one has to buy a premium account for IoT platform for a full experience. The time needed for a module in terms of hours is only 8 hours which is also 0 Euros holding the price of the premium IoT account as a constant.

For the voluntary program of courses, the style is just for information with a general understanding. The design is medium, so text, mall exercise, and video are used as methods of teaching for only 5 hours for each module. It is free of charge, and there are no exams.

PTC ThingWorx Learning Connector

The platform offers two types of programs, the courses and offline. For the courses, the platform is needed for tips, articles and various courses which is the style used. The platform, however, is of a medium design. They are high level with no courses for IoT relevant content. The structure of material taught is built and run applications on the IoT platform; the content is taught using videos and text. The basic recommended tools are not defined but are based on 'own' solutions. A unique trait of this platform is that it is not accessible to everyone; one has to have a license of ThingWorx to the introduction. Time need for the course is 8 hours accompanied by a subscription fee.

The offline program targets the professionals who have to pay a module fee of 2960 Euros covering 40 hours. The service and effort offered are very high with a two days' workshop examination done after an intense introduction during the live programming and offline training. This part of the PTC program is essential for those entry-level courses for developers seeking to create IoT applications using ThingWorx. One would choose between offline and courses for this platform depending on the need of the person.

Microsoft Azure IoT

This IoT platform also offers two types of programs namely, learning path and Microsoft Azure fundamentals. Learning path offers courses for general understanding which are later examined in terms of questions and assessments. The high design and high service are offered with a medium effort to everybody which is their target group. What is taught is similar to Watson IoT catalog, that is, Overview of IoT Platform, connecting devices, real-time insights using IoT platform, manage devices, using IoT platform, Demonstration from device connect to data analytics. The content is covered within 8 hours. Tools used to accomplish the work include hardware like Raspberry Pi and software such as R, Python. At the most own solution is recommended. The vendor is open without any restrictions, but payment is needed for offline courses and certificates. The program is free of charge (Szulim, 2016)

The second program under this IoT is Microsoft Azure Fundamentals which is tested by practical and exam. The aim is to give further education and so involves a lot of effort involving a very high service for a period of 60 to 80 hours. The program is not offered for everybody except for the IT- experts who pay a fee amounting to 99 dollars.

Cisco IoT

They offer Introduction to IoT as the main program which is examined by assessment, questions and projects and certificate provided at the end of it. The objective is to give a general understanding of everybody in the form of high design, service, and effort. The content is designed to be in completion after 20 hours for online only free of charge. They have a comprehensive structure of the content taught. Introduction: Study how unexpected economic opportunity is created by recent transformation, get understanding on how the IoT bridges the gap between information and operational technology systems, discover the transformation of standard business activities and the security issues that should be put into consideration during the implementation of IoT solutions. IF/WHILE/FOR Loops. The method used for teaching is in the form of multiple choice videos and free text task. The platform is not open but only available for introduction to the IoT while the rest are offline course which is meant to support the online course. It uses a Python, Blocky, a visual programming tool created to aid starters understand the programming concepts.

SAP HANA

The platform offers SAP Cloud which follows either the workshop or exam path. For the workshop path, the examination is given for a 3-day workshop offered in the style of live programming combined with offline training with a lot of effort. Duration for the module is the workshop period that is three days (72 hours) availed in not any other method but live. The structure of what they teach entails; Understanding cloud strategy, SAP solutions, Java, SAP Cloud and services, Explore IoT and understanding extensions of SAP cloud solutions. Their target group includes Individual SAP Professionals, SAP Consultants, Customer COE, and IT members, SAP Administrators, SAP Project Team member (Word, 2012). The vendor is not open thus uses offline courses are payable amounting to 1380 Euros. The tool used for this path is Arduino hardware.

The next path which is for exams also involves a lot of effort. The practical test is given accompanied by training and certificate. The period taken to complete the course is however less as compared to the SAP workshop, and only 875 Euros is paid for the 20 hours of training. Multiple choice videos are also used as the method of teaching

Bosch IoT Suite

The IoT platform offers a 2-day workshop offline program provided by a combination of live programming and offline training. The very high effort is to ensure that the introduction is given in an intense way targeting mainly the IT Solution Architects, HW and SW Entwickler, HW, and SW Product Owner, IT Consultants, IoT-Begeistert. For the course period of 48 hours, the service is very high to deliver the content covering pairing, connecting, managing and accessing. The recommended tools are Software: AWS Marketplace integration, Workbench (The Workbench is a software developer kit equipped with XDK-specific packages.)

Hardware: Only specific Bosch Hardware (Cross Domain Development Kit (XDK) 185$. The vendor though open is not easy to find. There is no real e-learning; the program contains more of tutorials for a 30-day evaluation. The program being an online one with very high service and effort requires a price of 1360 Euros to cover the whole period of intense workshop training.

Siemens Mindsphere

The platform gives offline program covering Introduction Training for Mindsphere. The training is offline, but business models are also created to add on the course work. The primary goal is to ensure that intensive introduction is given on the topic, this, therefore, enforces for a high effort and very high service during the training. The platforms mainly target...