Inductive analysis of

learning design patterns

Presentation for Current research on IMS

Learning Design, Unfold/Prolearn

Workshop, 22-23 September 2005Francis Brouns, Open Universiteit Nederland

Why learning design patterns?

Assist authors in developing effective courses. Patterns are proven solutions to recurring

problems.

Can we use IMS LD to express patterns? Can an inductive approach be applied to detect

patterns in existing courses?

IMS Learning Design and patterns

IMS LD to express patterns How do we find them? Deductive approach versus inductive approach IMS LD provides mechanism to automate pattern

detection: machine-readable code How do we apply them? Repository: descriptions, LD files, templates,

instructions

Pedagogical patterns

Patterns are abstractions of proven solutions to recurrent problems.

Pedagogical patterns applied to education Writer’s workshop

Examples

E-LEN Lifelong learning patterns Pedagogical patterns project

Deductive approach

Patterns are described in certain format. Based on author experience and knowledge. Can remain abstract.

Inductive approach

Based on existing courses. Thereby (often) proven to be effective. Automated method Assumes learning designs coded in machine-

interpretable way IMS LD > 34 LD coded courses

How to detect patterns in existing courses?

Automated methods Latent semantic analysis and indexing LSA/LSI

similarity of concepts clustering, classification Infomap

Educational Text Selection

XML techniques find change in XML tree compare XML trees transform XML tree

Patterns in IMS LD

Learning design processes laid down in method Play, act, role-part For small courses the method can be pattern. Smallest re-usable part is act.

What is greatness?

What is greatness – partial; http://hdl.handle.net/1820/313

Based on parts of the “What is greatness?” use-case created by James Dalziel of Macquarie University’s E-learning Centre of Excellence

Play as pattern.

Introduction

Enter initial thoughts

Respond to others

Monitor the initial thoughts

Respond to the initial thoughts

Learner Tutor

1-*

Modulelearning-objectivesauthorsstudyhourscopyright

Competenceinformationlearning-objectivesselection

assessment

Environmentcourse infomodule infocommunicationlearning objectswho is whodossier

Patterns in competence based modules

1-*

learning-activitypractice, study

Pattern in act

Variation on pattern

learning-activity 19 25 54

support-activity 18 12 14

activity-selection 21 8 17

environment 11 47 11

conditions 10 2 8

Steps to identify patterns

Categorise units of learning on the basis of learning objectives – LSA.

Find patterns in method – XML comparison. Resolve references to activities, environments,

roles – XML transformation. Refine

type activities, environments, roles: titles, content – LSA

add conditions – XML; regular expressions

Pattern in method

Activity structure

Type activity

Type by content

Conditions

How to use?

Create templates based on patterns, consisting of IMS LD coded learning design instruction example

Add data on usage, efficiency and effectiveness

IMS Learning Design and patterns

Effective course development. Use proven solutions. Based on learning design rules.

Promote uptake of IMS LD. Help authors map design to IMS LD.