finding learning resources through web data

Finding learning resources through Web Data

Mathieu d’AquinKnowledge Media Institute, The Open University

[email protected], @mdaquin

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Web Data?

Linked Data

Linked Data for Learning: The LinkedUp Catalogue

http://data.linkededucation.org/linkedup/catalog/



Example: data.open.ac.uk

What does it look like?

The most basic model

Person Resource

to learn about

interested in

Topic

about

uses

contributes tointeracts/collaborates with

on

relates to

relates to

Also in other forms: Web APIs, Online Data Platforms, etc.

Objective of the workshop:Figure out how to support the discovery of learning resources (in a broad sense: could be courses, degrees, services, …)

i.e.

How to help a (potential) learner in finding the resources to achieve their objective

i.e.

What data we need to collect in order to find the right connection between the learner and the resource

Simplifying the model for the scenario

Person Resourceneeds



What data do we need about this?

Task 1.1 - resources...

Imagine a scenario in which a person needs to learn with the objective to gain access to a particular job. What data do we need about the possible resources to return in order to help answering the question: “What should I use?”



Task 1.1 - AnswersKeywords, topics,

The way it was used before - what other learners have learned from it.

Structure and categories - topics and subtopics, granular and deep classifications.

Relationships between topics and between resources.

Learning objective!

Learning outcomes - skills and knolwdge

Task 1.2 - Can we get this? More?Looking LinkedUp Catalogue, can you find datasets that contain the kind of data you think is needed? What other data is there that could be of use?



Task 1.2: AnswersVery little on student to student interaction - user contribution to the/public curation - no collaboration

Inside information about the use of resources

Connection between resources including similar topics, and co-use

Semantic relations between resources (complement, specific to general, general to specific).

Issues of multilinguality and polysemy

Data about resources - ExamplesOpen Courseware and most DSpace repositories: Basic metadata, keywords and categories, authors, description.

data.open.ac.uk: Similar for open educational resources, with also connection to the courses

data.open.ac.uk: More on courses and qualifications: location, price, related resources/material

Applications such as “Study at the OU” relating topics to both courses and open educational resources.

Task 2.1: The learner Still looking at the same scenario, what data do you think is needed about the learner (the person who needs the resource) to help answer the question “What should I use?”



Task 2.1: AnswersExisting skills, knowledge, course taken before, previous studies

ePortfolio + usage of resources

Competencies (need a proper, shared taxonomy of competencies)

Basic demographic data

- for example religion - some resources are less appropriate for some culture than others

Task 2.2 - How can we get this?Personal data about the learner is unlikely to be available publicly as Open Data. What could we use to obtain this sort of data?



Task 2.2 - Answers

Data about the learner: ExamplesDemographics, eg. Location, origin, age, gender, etc.

Known learning behaviour, past history, things already studied, already acquired skills and knowledge, etc. (example: The OU analyse application)

Existing online behaviour, preferences, habits, etc. (example: the UCIAD/Moluti application)

From: Activity data on virtual campus, browsing history, activities on social media (especially professional social networks such as LinkedIn, social learning platforms, resource sharing platforms such as slideshare)

Task 3.1: The need!Still with the scenario, what kind of information could we use to support the user in expressing the need for a resource, and get the best match/answer?



Task 3.1 - Answers

Task 3.2 - How do we get this?Again, the expression of the need might not be directly available as open data. How could we obtain something that could help?



Task 3.2 - Answers

Data about the need for resource: ExampleRecord previous usage to match the need not to the resource, but to its use in similar situations. For example: SEEK-AT-WD ICT tools for education relating ICT tools (as resources) to the way they were used by educators.

Indirectly through other resources. For example, DiscOU which can search for open educational resources on the basis of a TV programme (which encapsulate the interest of the learner).

Existing learners’ pathways, using common trajectories that relates resources to jobs and outcomes. For example, using LinkedIn, labour market data and degrees results statistics to figure out the most appropriate pathway towards a goal.

Conclusion - i.e. final taskBonus task: How did looking at the learners and needs data change the way you considered the resources?

Conclusion:

In your job your might be in control of some of the data we talked about

- How can you make it easier for others to use these data to support learners in achieving their goals?

- How can you make what you do use other data to better support learners in achieving their goals?

finding learning resources through web data

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