TheCommonKADS library in perspective

Abstract

TheCommonKADS Expertise Modeling Library is the result of work that started as a further development of the KADS Library of interpretation models (Breukeret al., 1987). It incorporates new views and experiences of the knowledge acquisition community on the reuse of problem-solving components, in particular problem-solving methods and their assumptions on domain knowledge. Its design allows to store and index an extensible set of modeling components of different levels of granularity, as well as generic (partial) models of expertise and even reusable modeling steps. Further, its contents were significantly expanded, in what is probably the largest library of problem solving methods presently. In this article, we explain the rationale of the design of theCommonKADS library, the mechanisms defined to index the elements it stores, and the Library contents. An example of the use of a part of the Library concerned with problem-solving methods for assessment tasks is presented. The Library is not a finished product: not only because still many contents may need further verification and validation, but also because the Library is intended to accumulate and share practical experiences and advice on the process of modeling for actual applications. These and other shortcomings and lessons are discussed.