Implementación de una plataforma en la nube para los Cursos Masivos Abiertos en Línea (MOOC) utilizando Google Course Builder e infraestructuras de escritorio virtual.

Abstract

The goal of the present research was to implement a cloud platform for open massive online courses (MOOC) using Google Course Builder and Virtual Desktop Infrastructures. Through this infrastructure was published an online course about Operating Systems subject. It was applied in Engineering in Systems School of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electronics at Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. It was developed a technological solution, using cloud computing models and services, which managed to create one of the important challenges of e-learning solutions, such as computer labs. The solution design is composed of an open-type toolkit, which uses the three cloud services, such as: infrastructure as a service (laaS) to provide virtual desktops (VDI) using Open UDS, platform as a service (PaaS) for publish online courses with Google Course Builder (GCB) and software as a service (SaaS) to provide a set of applications available on the network. This process of development and deployment was guided by the SCRUM methodology, which allowed to meet the requirements established by the user, times and deliverables generated in each iteration. The implementation of these services got a 90% of acceptance. Thus, it obtained similar benefits to those achieved by the physical laboratories of educational institutions. The integrations of cloud services are conducive to the recreation of e-learning scenarios with virtual computer labs that support the practical development of a class. The use of this solution is suggested to educational units, since students have access to an infinite number of applications, contents and computing capabilities, which can be used no matter where people are, using computer or smart device.