Authoring and Delivering Adaptive Web-Based Textbooks Using WEAR

Maria Moundridou & Maria Virvou Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus{mariam, mvirvou}@unipi.gr

OutlineIntroductionWEARModels of WEAR

– Domain model– Learner model– Instructor model

Adaptive navigation supportAuthoring of adaptive navigation

support

Introduction

Adaptive Educational Hypermedia SystemsTwo main adaptive hypermedia

technologies:– Adaptive presentation– Adaptive navigation support

Authoring tools for Web-based courses

WEAR

WEb-based authoring tool for Algebra-Related domains

allows the authoring of adaptive electronic textbooks by instructors and delivers them over the WWW to learners

Models of WEAR

To achieve its aims, WEAR is based on three models:– Domain model– Learner model– Instructor model

Domain model

Knowledge about the subject matter, structured as a network of hierarchically organised topics

Links between nodes of the network represent relationships between topics:– is_prerequisite_of– is_related_to

Each topic has an associated difficulty level

Learner model

For each topic of the domain model the learner model stores two attribute-value pairs:– read– knowledge weight

Combination of a stereotype and an overlay student model– Stereotype for initial classification of

students

Instructor model

Mainly holds information obtained explicitly by the instructor:– long-term preferences (e.g. difficulty

of the course)– how the students’ knowledge level

should be calculated

Adaptive navigation supportAdaptive link annotationUsing the information stored in each

learner’s model and the domain knowledge WEAR generates a TOC consisting of links to every topic. The links are annotated in order to inform students about the appropriateness of the topic behind them

Five topic states:• Visited but Not Known • Visited and Known• Not Ready • Ready and Highly Recommended• Ready and Recommended

Authoring for adaptive navigation (Authoring procedure)

The author prepares HTML files for the topics of the electronic textbook

Then, s/he uploads these files to WEAR server using the system’s facilities

For each uploaded file the author specifies a title, a difficulty level and its position in the topics hierarchy

Finally, the author edits the relationships between topics

The author may also create multiple choice tests or problems and associate them with the appropriate topics

Authoring for adaptive navigation (Authoring support)Authors are provided with tools that

verify the course’s consistency and report possible problems or errors

The instructor and learner models are used to provide instructors (authors) with more intelligent and individualised help:– instructors are offered the choice to see what

other instructors have done– students’ performance consistent with

instructor’s long-term goals?

SummaryWEAR is an authoring tool for adaptive Web-based

coursesBased on a domain model authored by the

instructional designer and on individual learner models, WEAR provides to students adaptive navigation support

WEAR also deals with modelling the other class of its users: the instructors.

By combining the information of all of the above-mentioned models, WEAR besides providing adaptive navigation to students, it supports instructors in authoring consistent and efficient courses.

Comments & Questions

Maria Moundridou: mariam@unipi.gr

Maria Virvou: mvirvou@unipi.gr