Title: A hybrid user-centred recommendation strategy applied to repositories of learning objects

Authors: Almudena Ruiz-Iniesta; Guillermo Jiménez-Díaz; Mercedes Gómez-Albarrán

Addresses: Facultad de Informática, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, c/ Prof. José García Santesmases s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ' Facultad de Informática, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, c/ Prof. José García Santesmases s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ' Facultad de Informática, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, c/ Prof. José García Santesmases s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This article describes the guidelines followed in the design of a framework for managing learning object repositories that can be applied to different domains. The main features of the framework are the engagement of the virtual learning community in authoring and maintenance tasks, along with the use of recommender system technology in order to provide personalised searching and retrieval features. This article mainly focuses on the recommendation tasks, which help to identify suitable resources for the students in the virtual learning community. The recommendation approach follows a cascade hybrid strategy that refines the decisions of a case-based recommender by using a collaborative one. The former provides resources that fit the current student profile and promote her learning process. The later includes in the retrieval process the opinion about the usefulness of the resources provided by other members of the virtual learning community.

Keywords: learning objects; hybrid recommenders; personalisation; user-centred recommendations; recommendation strategies; repositories; framework design; authoring tasks; maintenance tasks; personalised searching; personalised retrieval; recommendation tasks; resource identification; suitable resources; cascade strategies; hybrid strategies; case-based recommenders; collaborative recommenders; student profiles; learning processes; Spain; universities; higher education; recommender systems; e-communities; electronic communities; internet; world wide web; virtual communities; web based communities; online communities; virtual learning communities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2012.048054

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2012 Vol.8 No.3, pp.302 - 321

Published online: 20 Aug 2014 *

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