Modeling e‐learning content

Abstract

PurposeThis paper seeks to present a modeling approach for e‐learning content, describing how to structure e‐learning content and also represent it in OWL DL.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents three different layers of information that should be considered in e‐learning and conceptual models to guide the representation of e‐learning content. This proposal is based on existing standards and experience gained in previous works. It is also shown how to structure and represent the content embedded in learning objects (LOs).FindingsBesides providing a better structuring of the e‐learning content, content reuse and exploratory navigations over content through the semantic relationships between information (mainly information objects (IOs) and conceptual units) are promoted.Research limitations/implicationsA visual tool to allow a better exploration of the e‐learning content is already being developed. However, it is essential to develop optimized storing and retrieving mechanisms that would make this approach more interesting.Practical implicationsWhen compared with other approaches such as those based on semantic models and deductive models, the decrease in complexity makes acceptance and adoption of this approach by teachers and instructional designers easier.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified three‐level information need for e‐learning content and presents a new modeling approach. Besides structuring the e‐learning content, the model is also represented in OWL DL. It allows an easier/richer implementation of e‐learning content.