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Digital environment for e-learning – A concept for excellence in knowledge transfer. Herget, Josef, Prof. Dr., Dean, Information Science, University of Applied Sciences Chur, Switzerland, josef.herget@fh-htwchur.ch. Concepts of quality for learning and e-learning
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Digital environment for e-learning – A concept for excellence in knowledge transfer Herget, Josef, Prof. Dr., Dean, Information Science, University of Applied Sciences Chur, Switzerland, josef.herget@fh-htwchur.ch
Concepts of quality for learning and e-learning What kind of digital information resources for e-learning? Why do topic maps seem to be suitable for e-learning? Case study: The course “Introduction to Information Science” at the University of Applied Sciences Chur Preliminary conclusions Contents
Good practice encourage student-faculty-contact Good practice encourage cooperation among students Good practice encourage active learning Good practice gives prompt feedback Good practice emphasizes time on task Good practice communicates high expectations Good practice respects diverse talents and ways of learning(Chickering / Ehrmann 1996) Concepts of quality -1-
Knowledge is constructed Learning is more effective if a student can take responsibility for his own learning Student motivation is a strong determinant of the outcomes and success of learning Higher-order learning requires reflection Learning is unique to the individual Learning is experiential Learning is both social and private Inexorable epistemological presumptions can misdirect higher-order thinking Learning is spiral Learning is “messy” (Alley / Jansak 2001) Concepts of quality -2-
Integration of a variety of different digital resources, formats and modes; Rapid, dynamic change of the contents, without employing significant efforts and resources; Structure of knowledge should be represented (knowledge layer), different optional paths provided, self-motivated and interest-laid explorative learning enabled and curiosity should be inspired; Activity, constructivism and contextualisation should be supported and encouraged. e-learning environment should encompass
Potential of Topics Maps for e-learning • Open navigation through the course material • Personalized presentation • Ontology-based knowledge layer • Exchange of information with related groups or institutions • Collaborative authoring of educational resources and merging • Use of existing digital resources as occurrences
Topic maps provide a new concept and a relatively easy system for using existing digital information resources on the web and thus exploiting the efforts already done by developing the diverse information collections; decentralized development and maintenance of the digital information resources; permanent possible updating of digital information resources which are included as learning objects. However, this can be as well a handicap if the contents (occurrences) are changing rapidly. A monitoring system for all external information resources then may be needed; integrating new contents and new topic maps; providing an external meta structure (knowledge-navigation-layer or ontology) in form of a dynamic, semantically based hypertext. Preliminary conclusions -1-
The benefits for teachers are: the whole content is structured and presented as a semantic web; distributed development and ongoing further development is possible; support is given for the selection of relevant content by providing a semantic structure when preparing new courses. The benefits for learners are: “browsing” in a subject field (knowledge domain), thus exploratory learning with high motivation and self-direction is becoming possible; easy finding of further relevant content (for example definitions); “help system” (orientation) through the knowledge layer (represented by interrelations or associations between topics and their occurrences); learner-centric learning process according to own interests and needs is enabled, being independent of pre-set course structure. Preliminary conclusions -2-