An ontology-driven approach for developing learning object repository for construction using semantic web

Raju, P

Abstract

The arrival of new technologies makes learning content out of date and thus often leads to
reinventing the wheel. The concept of learning objects is the basis of a new instructional
design paradigm for e-learning that puts the emphasis on reuse as a key characteristic of
learning activities. In the last decade, several efforts towards the standardisation of
learning technology have resulted in the emergence of specific terminologies that are used
to name and classify learning elements. Most of these efforts underline the importance of
providing metadata information for content in a standardised format as a crucial step to
reusability. Most of the current learning object repositories provide room for metadata,
but lack a semantic model that clearly establishes what a learning object is and what their
associated metadata such as pedagogy should be. The lack of semantics in learning
objects also affects the interoperability, sharability and reusability. Semantic Web based
solution facilitates the easy integration and identification of meaningful interrelationships,
represents and uniquely identifies the digital resources, and improves the search
precision. However, Semantic Web has not fully applied to e-learning and particularly for
developing and delivering reusable learning objects. Therefore this research brings
novelty by developing an ontology for construction domain in order to share and reuse
construction learning objects. Furthermore, it develops an ontology-driven Semantic Web
based learning object repository for construction by integrating pedagogical concepts
within the construction education ontology. The thesis presents the design and
implementation issues of the core functions of the repository. Results from the evaluation
indicated that acceptance rate of the repository is low in the academic setting. Therefore
strategies for the acceptance of innovation by the potential users and communities have to
be developed in order to improve the acceptability of the learning object repository

Citation

Raju, P. An ontology-driven approach for developing learning object repository for construction using semantic web. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Located in the Secure Room
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2009