Enhancing the management of unstructured data in e-learning systems using MongoDB. Issue 1 (2nd February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stevic, Milorad Pantelija; Milosavljevic, Branko; Perisic, Branko Rade
• Is Part Of: Program. Volume 49:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2015-02-02
• Subjects: Libraries, University and college -- Great Britain -- Automation -- Periodicals; 025.30285
• DOI: 10.1108/PROG-11-2013-0063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-0337

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – Current e-learning platforms are based on relational database management systems (RDBMS) and are well suited for handling structured data. However, it is expected from e-learning solutions to efficiently handle unstructured data as well. The purpose of this paper is to show an alternative to current solutions for unstructured data management. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – Current repository-based solution for file management was compared to MongoDB architecture according to their functionalities and characteristics. This included several categories: data integrity, hardware acquisition, processing files, availability, handling concurrent users, partition tolerance, disaster recovery, backup policies and scalability. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – This paper shows that it is possible to improve e-learning platform capabilities by implementing a hybrid database architecture that incorporates RDBMS for handling structured data and MongoDB database system for handling unstructured data. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – The study shows an acceptable adoption of MongoDB inside a service-oriented architecture (SOA) for enhancing e-learning solutions. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title> <p> – This research enables an efficient file handling not only for e-learning systems, but also for any system where file handling is needed. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – It is expected that future single/joint e-learning initiatives will need to manage huge amount of files and they will require effective file handling solution. The new architecture solution for file handling is offered in this paper: it is different from current solutions because it is less expensive, more efficient, more flexible and requires less administrative and development effort for building and maintaining.</p> </sec> </abstract>