Ontology Based Feedback Generation in Design-Orientated e-Learning Systems

One of the essential elements needed for effective learning is feedback. Feedback can be given to learners during learning but also to authors during course development. In the current generation of eLearning systems automatically produced feedback is sparse, mostly hard coded, not very valuable and almost only used in question-answer situation. Valuable feedback, for example produced by a human tutor via e-mail, is often possible but this introduces delays and is time consuming. We want to develop mechanisms, based on ontologies, to create a rich supply of feedback, not only in question-answer situations but also in the context of design oriented education. With ontologies we specify (1) the knowledge to be learned (domain and task knowledge) and (2) how the knowledge should be learned (education). We will develop algorithms with which we automatically create valuable feedback to learners during learning, and to authors during course development. Furthermore, we will develop a formalism with which course developers can specify domain and task specific feedback to learners. In this paper we present our research plan.

[1]  Rob Martens.  The Use and Effects of Embedded Support Devices in Independent Learning. , 1998 .

[2]  Peter Norvig,et al.  Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach , 1995 .

[3]  Lora Aroyo,et al.  A Layered Approach towards Domain Authoring support , 2002, IC-AI.

[4]  Michael Uschold,et al.  Ontologies: principles, methods and applications , 1996, The Knowledge Engineering Review.

[5]  Frank van Harmelen,et al.  A semantic web primer , 2004 .

[6]  David H. Jonassen,et al.  Handbook of Research for educational Communications and Technology , 1997 .

[7]  Remco M. Dijkman,et al.  Calculating with Concepts: a Technique for the Development of Business Process Support , 2001, pUML.

[8]  Lora Aroyo,et al.  Courseware authoring tasks ontology , 2002, International Conference on Computers in Education, 2002. Proceedings..

[9]  David H. Jonassen,et al.  Constructivism: Implications for the Design and Delivery of Instruction , 1996 .

[10]  Tom Murray,et al.  Authoring tools for advanced technology learning environments : toward cost-effective adaptive, interactive and intelligent educational software , 2003 .

[11]  Allen R. Stubberud,et al.  Schaum's outline of theory and problems of feedback and control systems , 1967 .

[12]  E. Mory.  Feedback research revisited. , 2004 .

[13]  W. N. Borst,et al.  Construction of Engineering Ontologies for Knowledge Sharing and Reuse , 1997 .

[14]  Rob Nadolski,et al.  Cueing for Schema Construction: Designing Problem-Solving Multimedia Practicals , 2002 .

[15]  Tom Murray,et al.  Authoring Tools for Advanced Technology Learning Environments , 2003 .

[16]  Gerhard Fischer,et al.  Embedding critics in design environments , 1993, The Knowledge Engineering Review.