%0 Conference Paper %B Interactive Computer aided Learning-Tools and Applications-ICL 99,Villach, Austria %D 1999 %T Efficient Data Management to support Educational Activities %A Christos Bouras %A Apostolos Gkamas %A Thrasivoulos Tsiatsos %A P Destounis %A J Garofalakis %A G Sakalis %A B Sakopoulos %A J Tsaknakis %X In this paper we present data management issues faced during the design and development of an Open Distance Learning system for the University of Patras, Greece. In order to handle data efficiently, as required in a Web Tele-training Application, for each type of information maintained different strategies must be deployed according to their behaviourand structure. The diversity and complexity of data, the network aspect of the application and web deficiencies impose an architecture design incorporating a plethora of technologies and tools that must be integrated in such a fashion that they efficiently organise these data preserving their relationships. This presents a software engineering challenge requiring coherence of solutions at all levels: structures, consistency, security, models, and protocols. The paper presents the data components of a open and distance learning system that access the information stored in a database and the file system, their underlying technology, their interaction with the network services, and features regarding the ways they address issues faced in a open vendor-independent distance learning environment and outlines the system’s overall architecture. %B Interactive Computer aided Learning-Tools and Applications-ICL 99,Villach, Austria %8 7 - 8 September %G eng