A design for standards-based knowledge components

Abstract

THIS PAPER describes ongoing work in designing and developing modular software components that are based on open standards and conform to a specific instructional design theory. The authors identified three problems exhibited by modern authoring tool software. The identified problems are proprietary architectures, instructional design theory neutrality, and monolithic structures. To begin solving these problems, software components were written in the Java programming language as Java Beans. The Java Beans conformed to the Java Bean component architecture specification. Instructional content was then captured and tagged utilizing eXtensible Markup Language (XML), which has recently been adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as an open Internet standard. Finally, to promote adherence to a particular instructional theory, the prototype components were based upon the knowledge representation scheme and instructional strategy prescriptions of Merrill’s instructional transaction theory. The focus of this paper is on applied technological solutions to overcome the limitations of current authoring environments. Technological solutions have been employed to meet larger goals of improved computer-based instruction. The implications for instruction resulting from this approach are that the original goals of instructional transaction theory can be met. These goals are to enable the development of a) more effective instruction, b) more efficient instruction, c) better instructional learning environments, and d) more adaptive instruction.