Learning Objects and Learning Services in the Semantic Web

Abstract

With the development of the web and the intense research for a semantic web, the need arises for standardized and rigorous semantic specification both of Services on the semantic web and of the objects and processes that these Services offer to a potential client. In this report, our focus is with Learning Services, i.e. Web Services whose purpose is to offer educational services to clients. Such services are the owners of Learning Objects, which they deliver for use to their clients. Though the need for standardizing learning objects has become apparent, there is no substantial contribution towards a reference architecture for Learning Objects. We introduce here the CROP architecture, based on the notions of Concept, Resource, Order and Product.

Implementing the CROP reference architecture

“…In short, a CROP learning object [3] is atomic (Resource), or composite (Product) that recursively contains other objects. Each learning object has one educational target Concept, and some prerequisite Concepts, Concepts that are required in order to use this resource.…”

“…They are both based on the ConceptResource -Order -Product (CROP) reference architecture for learning objects that has been developed by the second author [3].…”

Creating Digital Learning Resources as WEB services

“…In summary, there is difficulty in semantically normalizing the contents of SCORM and other educational standards on the Internet due to their domain connection with specific platforms [Hartonas & Gana 2008].…”