Isabel Azevedo

A semantic approach for learning objects repositories with knowledge reuse

In this paper we discuss how the inclusion of semantic functionalities in a Learning Objects Repository allows a better characterization of the learning materials enclosed and improves their retrieval through the adoption of some query expansion strategies. Thus, we started to regard the use of ontologies to automatically suggest additional concepts when users are filling some metadata fields and add new terms to the ones initially provided when users specify the keywords with interest in a query. Dealing with different domain areas and having considered impractical the development of many different ontologies, we adopted some strategies for reusing ontologies in order to have the knowledge necessary in our institutional repository. In this paper we make a review of the area of knowledge reuse and discuss our approach.

A Model for the Effective Reuse of Learning Objects in Repositories

Learning objects repositories intend to endorse reutilization but this purpose has not been fully achieved yet. In this paper, we describe a project addresses the effective reuse of learning objects in repositories. The initial model presented and discussed introduces new requirements in the way contents are stored and searched and in the contextual definition of learning objects. Considering IMS LD templates, we propose examples of its use for learning objects.

Applying and Reusing Knowledge in a Repository

Using automatic extraction of keywords and semi-automatic creation of domain ontologies it is possible to achieve a richer description of learning resources, with positive effects on subsequent searches. Based on this concept, we developed a repository named TREE - Teaching Resources for Engineering Education, to efficiently store and provide access to learning and scientific resources and as a service to preserve and disseminate intellectual property in the Engineering community. The TREE repository is based on open source tools and free Web services. In this paper we describe the TREE repository and how it uses Semantic Web technologies to improve search and retrieval of learning objects.

Effective characterisation of learning objects

In this paper we describe a project that will develop and evaluate a model for learning object repositories, relating it to other projects. The model includes the semantic characterisation of learning objects and a description of how to use them in learning and teaching practices. This way we believe it will be possible to enhance reusability. The IMS Learning Design specification has been used in this work to pragmatically characterise Learning Objects (LOs). For each LO, practical examples are provided to demonstrate how it may be reused.

Instructional Videos and Others on Youtube - Similarities and Differences in Comments.

YouTube is a video sharing platform and its resources have been used for formal and informal learning. Users can add comments, as well as sign that they like a given video. The work described in this paper is mainly devoted to the comments provided by users and how they differ (or not) depending on the type of videos: those that are used to support learning versus those that does not. An application was developed to collect data available on the YouTube platform. The analysis of comments extracted from YouTube was performed using natural language processing techniques and differences in writing were also analyzed. Two major groups of videos were considered: technical, or instructional videos, and non-technical videos. The former usually have an educational nature and are watched by people that aim to improve their knowledge and skills, while the others are more devoted to entertainment. The similarities and differences found between these different types of videos are discussed.

Trending topics in Twitter: A case study

Twitter is an application used in several countries. There is a growing interest in what is discussed on this platform and in particular in their trending topics, expressions used much more frequently than others. In order to study these trends and the differences and similarities in various locations data were extracted from various sources, including from Twitter, but also DBpedia and daily newspapers. Later the collected data were analyzed by checking the variations over time in different places and also by crossing data from various sources. The trends were analyzed according to various aspects, such their global use, their cover in news and their periodicity, among others.

A Framework to Scaffold the Reuse of Learning Objects

To be possible to reuse a learning object it is necessary to know its context of use and what learning outcomes can be achieved with it. Otherwise, its reuse will be limited to the learning object developers, the ones that know how to successfully apply it.In this paper we present a framework that describes the learning object in relation to one or more learning scenarios that incorporate it. Teachers can choose then the most suitable scenario for a particular learning situation.

Work in progress - the use of templates to support Learning Design

This paper discusses the use of IMS learning design based templates to illustrate how to utilize a learning object, providing one or more scenarios that incorporate the learning object, giving a pragmatic characterization of it. The adopted notation for the templates is quite similar to the IMS Learning Design Extensible Markup Language binding, also incorporating abstract elements of the specification, like title, learning objectives and roles, for example. The generation of the pre-defined templates has been following the 8 learning events model.