Constructing collaborative distributed objects sharing on the semantic web

Abstract

In the web-based learning environment, learning depends less on the amount of information one has than on the number of connections one can form and reform to link information. It is the navigation of these linkages that can facilitate the learning and ultimately accomplish a set of learning objectives. Built on prior efforts in the computer-mediated learning field toward standardization of metadata elements for the collaborative learning, this study constructed a mechanism of distributed e-leammg objects sharing based on the semantic web. The purpose was to use ontology construction mechanism to describe learning materials precisely and to disclose the relationships between distributed learning materials. The paper proposes a methodology for integrating and managing domain ontologies for distributed learning object sharing. The paper illustrates a prototypical agent-based intelligent learning management system (ILMS) and demonstrates the use of the system in support the web-based learning of "Material Requirements Planning (MRP)" as an example. The common structure of teaching materials is constructed as a part of the ILMS system. Given the designated goals, the agents could initiate a negotiation process to set up a desired learning situation for a learner, then identify members of a group to start an effective collaborative learning session by setting up a personalized sequence for the learner. Moreover, using the MRP case exercise, the system illustrates several learning benefits gained through the collaborative learning sessions from the configuration of the learning group and the process.