Philippos Pouyioutas

GOQL, a graphical query language for object-oriented database systems

In this paper, we present GOQL (Graphical Object Query Language). GOQL provides a user-friendly graphical interface to support ad-hoc queries for object-oriented database applications. Such queries are translated into standard OQL queries. In this paper, we illustrate the use and expressiveness of GOQL using an example, and briefly survey similar work and developments in the market and in the literature.

Designing a learning objects repository -the views of higher education faculty

This paper presents the initial stages of the design of a National Learning Objects Repository for Cyprus (NLORC). It examines the views of the faculty members of Intrecollege, a College of Higher Education in Cyprus, with regards to the need of such a repository. These views were collected through a questionnaire. The NLORC will provide a web-based application allowing indexing, uploading and downloading of e-learning resources in Cyprus and the creation, modification and querying of Learning Objects (LOs). This paper presents a simple model that will underpin the development of the NLORC. After careful consideration and studying of the existing Learning Objects Metadata Standards, it has been decided that the NLORC application should be developed using a database system supporting object-orientation and temporal database features. As a result of this, the model presented herein suggests an object-oriented database structure to form a basis for the application and to cater for the storage of the LOs, keeping a record of the relations between them and allowing their retrieval and manipulation.

Hybrid learning curriculum development using the ReProTool - lessons from ancient philosophy

This paper presents the ReProTool, a tool which provides the means and ensures that academic curriculum design/re-engineering takes place considering various student-centered learning pedagogical methods. Whether delivery of education is carried out through face-to-face or distance learning or combination of conventional and non conventional methods, pedagogical approaches utilizing interactivity, problem-based learning, simulation exercises and any other form of student initiated learning are crucial in the success of the learning process. It is well known that usually e-learning and hybrid learning environments tend to ignore such important methods and are developed without taking into consideration pedagogy theory. The use of ReProTool provides the opportunity to rethink the delivery and assessment methods employed in academic programmes of studies and learning environments. The tool focuses on the Bologna Process and Learning Outcomes (LOs) which provide the basis for setting up a student-centered learning environment. The paper also argues that pedagogical methods have their roots in ancient philosophy (both in the western and Asian civilization) and suggests that studies of philosophers such as Confucius and Socrates and their teaching/learning methods can greatly help educators, especially those engaging in hybrid learning.

A formal definition of the Users View (UV) of the Graphical Object Query Language (GOQL)

We provide a brief formal definition of the Users View (UV) of the Graphical Object Query Language (GOQL). The UV provides a graphical representation for object-oriented database schemas and hides from end-users most of the perplexing details of the object-oriented database model, such as methods, hierarchies and relationships. In particular, the UV does not distinguish between methods, attributes and relationships, encapsulates the is-a hierarchy and utilises a number of desktop metaphors to present a graphical schema that is easy to be understood by end-users. Thus, the UV provides the environment, through which end-users, can pose ad-hoc queries through GOQL. We first give a brief formal definition of an object-oriented database schema in the GOQL model. This is given, by providing a formal definition of the basic element of such a schema, namely the class. The UV is then briefly formally defined as a mapping from a GOQL object-oriented database schema. Using this mapping, any object-oriented database schema can be translated into a graphical representation in the UV. The running example of the paper is used to demonstrate the mapping from the textual schema to the graphical schema of the UV. The formal definition of the UV will allow us, in the future, to formally define the graphical constructs of GOQL.

The GOQL Graphical Query Language

Abstract The authors present a graphical query language, GOQL (Graphical Object Query Language), for object-oriented data base systems, in general, and the object model of ODMG 2.0, in particular. A detailed literature survey of related work is given, and an analysis methodology that allows the evaluation of such languages is proposed. Moreover, the users view of GOQL is presented. The users view provides a graphical schema that does not contain any of the perplexing details of an object-oriented database schema; it also provides a graphical interface that supports ad hoc queries for object-oriented database applications. Because there is a direct correspondence between the features of GOQL and OQL (GOQL supports all the features of OQL), the language can be used as an alternative graphical interface to OQL. Thus, GOQL allows users to express queries graphically ranging from simplistic to complicated ones. Among the features provided/supported by the language are: a 2D colour interface, methods, predicates, Boolean and set operators, arithmetic expressions, existential/universal quantifiers, aggregate functions, group by and sort operators, functions, and subqueries. In this article, we illustrate through examples both the users view and the query mechanism of GOQL. This work represents the completion of work that was partially presented in earlier articles.

The user's view level of the GOQL graphical query language

The paper addresses issues related to the design of a graphical query mechanism that can act as an interface to any object-oriented database system (OODBS), in general, and the object model of ODMG 2.0, in particular. In the paper a brief literature survey of related work is given, and an analysis methodology that allows the evaluation of such languages is proposed. Moreover, the users view level of a new graphical query language, namely GOQL (Graphical Object Query Language), for ODMG 2.0 is presented. The users view level provides a graphical schema that does not contain any of the perplexing details of an object-oriented database schema, and it also provides a foundation for a graphical interface that can support ad-hoc queries for object-oriented database applications. We illustrate, using an example, the users view level of GOQL.

ReProTool Version 2.0: Re-Engineering Academic Curriculum Using Learning Outcomes, ECTS and Bologna Process Concepts

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present ReProTool Version 2.0, a software tool that is used for the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the Bologna Process re‐engineering of academic programmes. The tool is the result of an 18 months project (February 2012‐July 2013) project, co‐financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research Promotion Foundation (www.reprotool.com).Design/methodology/approach – The project entails the development and pilot use of ReProTool, a software tool that will support the design and development of university academic programmes using Learning Outcomes and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) of the Bologna Process. The paper briefly describes the various stages of the project: Identification of User and System Requirements; System Analysis and Design; and Software Development. More specifically, it presents the results of on‐line questionnaires distributed to students and academics aiming at extracting the us...

ReProTool Version 3.0 - The Faculty Module for designing and enhancing university programmes to comply with the ECTS Label

This paper presents the Faculty Module of ReProTool Version 3.0 (www.reprotool.com), a software tool that is used for (re)designing and enhancing university programmes using the Bologna Process directives to achieve ECTS Label certification. The tool is the result of an eighteen months project (February 2012 - July 2013), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research Promotion Foundation. The project entails the development and pilot use of ReProTool, a software tool that supports the design and development of university academic programmes using Learning Outcomes and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) of the Bologna Process. The paper presents the results of an online questionnaire that was distributed to faculty members aiming at extracting the user requirements of the system. Based on these results and the results from interviews with experts and literature review, the faculty module of ReProTool Version 2.0 was redesigned. Various screenshots of the system are used in the paper to exemplify the functionality of the specific module.

HERMES: A Tool for Querying Heterogeneous Data Stores

Data are organized/stored in a plethora of different databases, locations and data models. In many cases, companies and organizations utilize data stored in a variety of data models at remote database servers. A challenge would be to construct queries that join data from such disparate sources. In this paper, we report on research work relating to graphical query languages and data modeling. More specifically, we report on a new software tool for the novice user, one that transforms databases of different data models (Relational, Object-Relational, Object-Oriented) into an equivalent XML model, plus on a new graphical XQuery type query language that facilitates the construction of user queries that join data from different data models.

The EUCLIDES Enhancing the Use of Cooperative Learning to Increase DEvelopment of Science Studies Project --- An On-Line Learning Portal Utilizing Problem-Based Learning

This paper presents the EUCLIDES (Enhancing theUse ofCooperativeLearning toIncreaseDEvelopment of Science studies) project (134246-LLP-1-2007-1-IT-1-COMENIUS-CMP), which aims at introducing and pilot testing an innovative teaching and training methodology, based on the Constructivist approach and on Problem-Based Learning (PBL), through the use of ICT instruments. This methodology has been developed for the study of science subjects and, is currently being used in some European schools of secondary education, involving teachers and students. A Moodle platform has been developed to enforce the application and use of the methodology. Through this platform, teachers can monitor the progress of the work of the students and intervene when necessary as facilitators to provide further co-ordination, pose questions and suggest problem-based approaches. The use of the platform secures that the teacher remains distant from the students allowing students to work by themselves and find solutions to the problems posed.