Semantic web technologies for the integration of learning tools and context-aware educational services

Abstract

One of the main software engineers' competencies, solving software problems, is most effectively acquired through an active examination of learning resources and work on real-world examples in small development teams. This obviously indicates a need for an integration of several existing learning tools and systems in a common collaborative learning environment, as well as advanced educational services that provide students with right in time advice about learning resources and possible collaboration partners. In this paper, we present how we developed and applied a common ontological foundation for the integration of different existing learning tools and systems in a common learning environment called DEPTHS (Design Patterns Teaching Help System). In addition, we present a set of educational services that leverages semantic rich representation of learning resources and students' interaction data to recommend resource relevant for students' current learning context. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.