Title: A design environment to articulate design intention of learning contents

Authors: Yusuke Hayashi, Mitsuru Ikeda, Riichiro Mizoguchi

Addresses: School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1, Asahidai, Tatunokuchi, Nomi, Ishikawa, 9231292, Japan. ' School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1, Asahidai, Tatunokuchi, Nomi, Ishikawa, 9231292, Japan. ' The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 5670047, Japan

Abstract: Design of learning contents is more difficult to support than design of a physical substance because its object is abstract and it is difficult to establish a framework to express it appropriately. To address this issue, we converted an abstract concept about learning content design to an ontology. Then, on the basis of that ontology, we developed iDesigner, a design support environment. iDesigner realises the following two points: the designers are compelled to make the implicit results of their work explicit in order to deepen thinking about the design of an abstract matter; and the designers are provided with basic information to verify content validity by simulating the change of understanding of a learner in the learning contents model at a conceptual level, which is the intermediate result of design.

Keywords: learning contents; design intention; design environment; ontology awareness; design support.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2004.004974

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2004 Vol.14 No.3, pp.276 - 296

Published online: 04 Aug 2004 *

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