Showing papers in "International Journal of Knowledge and Learning in 2008"

Semantic Web applications : a framework for industry and business exploitation -What is needed for the adoption of the Semantic Web from the market and industry

Abstract: In recent years, Semantic Web (SW) research has resulted in significant outcomes. Various industries have adopted SW technologies, while the 'deep web' is still pursuing the critical transformation point, in which the majority of data found on the deep web will be exploited through SW value layers. In this article we analyse the SW applications from a 'market' perspective. We are setting the key requirements for real-world information systems that are SW-enabled and we discuss the major difficulties for the SW uptake that has been delayed. This article contributes to the literature of SW and knowledge management providing a context for discourse towards best practices on SW-based information systems.

Assessing the enterprise's knowledge management maturity level

Abstract: Knowledge is not manageable, as if it were data or information. Consequently, Knowledge Management (KM) must address activities that utilise and create knowledge, instead of addressing knowledge by itself. With regard to this issue, we elaborated on a sociotechnical approach of KM within the enterprise, and we synthesised it into an empirical model called the Model for General Knowledge Management within the Enterprise (MGKME). One purpose of this model is to serve as a template to enable assessing the enterprise's KM maturity level.

Exploiting semantic web and ontologies for personalised learning services: towards semantic web-enabled learning portals for real learning experiences

Abstract: This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the semantic web contribution towards personalisation in e-learning content exploitation. The aim of this research work is to develop a framework for analysing the semantic web and ontological issues related with the design and implementation of high performance e-learning systems enabled by advanced semantic web and ontological engineering. Within this context the concept of personalisation is linked to the state of the art of semantic web and ontologies research. The main emphasis is paid to the management of personal profiles and identities. Real learning experiences are promoted through the definition of value-adding layers within semantic e-learning portals.

The role of knowledge management and e-learning in professional development

Abstract: The rapidly growing use of technology in education is changing the way in which knowledge is produced, stored and distributed. Online education has already been accepted as the way of the future; knowledge may be distributed across both time and space. Knowledge Management (KM) techniques can be used to capture, organise and deliver this knowledge and management systems can be used to quickly identify the most relevant information and distribute it to meet specific needs. In this paper, light is shed on the basic concepts of KM and e-learning. A discussion on how KM and e-learning can be integrated and leveraged for effective online education and training is presented.

Social Global Repository : using semantics and social web in software projects

Abstract: Software has become crucial for everyday matters. In this context, the effective management of the software development process has become an essential issue for business survival in an ever more competitive industry. In order to gain business strengths from the development process, organisations need to carry out software development in the most efficient manner possible, avoiding redundancy and time losses. This paper presents an architecture which combines the strengths of two technologies, web 2.0 and the semantic web, as a solution to reuse and extrapolate knowledge and software products across projects and organisations. The Social Global Repository (SGR) is a tool which incorporates the established methodological recommendations of Software Engineering (SE) in an environment which provides support, flexibility and up-to-date solutions to software development teams.

KM criteria for different types of organisations

Abstract: Criteria for Knowledge Management (KM) help determine results. Our research indicated that widely accepted criteria and performance measures have not been developed for KM. This study was undertaken to establish a set of criteria to assess the effectiveness of KM for different types of organisations. Subsequently, we will discuss how to expand these criteria to develop measures. Our methodology/approach is based on a literature review to determine a list of KM outcomes followed by the Delphi Technique and survey questionnaire methods. The findings of the Delphi Technique were used to supplement literature review findings. We used both these results to develop the survey questionnaire, which was aimed at establishing criteria for assessing KM success. Future research should focus on translating the soft measures of KM into detailed metrics.

Enterprise 2.0: what models are emerging? The results from a 70 case-based research

Abstract: 'Enterprise 2.0' or E2.0 refers to a set of organisational and technological approaches steered to enable new organisation models based on open involvement, emergent collaboration, knowledge sharing, internal/external social network development and exploitation. It aims to respond to the new features and needs of people and boosts flexibility, adaptability and innovation. Based on evidence from 70 case studies and a co-laboratory approach, the article analyses what E2.0 models are emerging in companies. The challenge for management theory is to provide empirically grounded and actionable knowledge for companies to design and implement new Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-enabled (virtual) working environments able to extend the boundaries of their knowledge creation to their mobile workers, customers and suppliers.

E-learning Readiness Analysis (ERA): an e-health case study of e-learning readiness

Abstract: Electronic learning (e-learning) is seen as a good solution for organisations that deal with fast-changing knowledge and for reducing the cost of training. E-learning is a good opportunity for companies but it needs to be well prepared because it often takes high investment costs. That is why it is important for a company to know if it is e-ready. E-readiness is already well covered in the literature and several models are suggested. We used these models to develop an e-learning readiness measurement instrument and questionnaire. We used our instrument to check whether the Flemish hospitals were e-ready for e-learning.

A framework towards IT appropriation in voluntary organisations

Abstract: There have been different research efforts to analyse the potential, impact and benefits of introducing Information Technology (IT) in voluntary organisations. But recent literature has highlighted that many voluntary organisations are still in an early stage of IT adoption in their organisational settings. The lack of funding, unstable organisational structures and diversity in operations are the key facts which make IT support in voluntary organisations an interesting emergent field of research. In this paper, we analyse the types and organisational structures of voluntary organisations to find out the factors which differentiate IT support in these organisations as compared to other organisations. The paper advocates the need for more ethnographic works to closely analyse the work practices of voluntary organisations. The paper provides a summary of related work carried out in participatory development with voluntary organisations and discusses the important issues which are worth investigating for the improvement of IT support in voluntary organisations.

Peer-to-peer technology in collaborative learning networks: applications and research issues

Abstract: As organisations struggle with how to develop and use individual expertise, the importance of Collaborative Learning (CL) has grown in both academic and practitioner communities. Although organisations have a large amount of individual expertise, their ability to aggregate and share it has largely eluded them. A review of educational literature points out that academic organisations' learning strategies are shifting towards a more active and group-oriented learning, referred to as cooperative or collaborative learning. Educational and business organisations are currently searching for best practices and technologies for implementing CL. This paper explores how Peer-to-Peer (P2P) computing fits in the collaborative learning paradigm. P2P has great appeal for CL because it allows people to work and learn in a more natural fashion. The paper explores the existing collaborative P2P applications, identifying those most relevant to CL. The paper also compares P2P tools with client/server tools for CL within various organisational learning networks. The paper identifies key research issues concerning the use of P2P applications for CL.

Activity- and taxonomy-based knowledge representation framework

Abstract: Elaborations of Competence-based Knowledge Space Theory (CbKST) incorporate skills that refer to the conceptual information of the domain as well as to the activities learners are expected to perform in this context. Thus, they are suggested as a formal knowledge representation framework that is able to take into account current activity-oriented pedagogical trends in designing effective Units of Learning (UoL). The broad array of required behaviour to be achieved by learners demands a search for instruments like taxonomies that allow for conceptualising activities, and consequently, skills and learning objectives. It is shown that the availability of such a taxonomy-based framework may be utilised in order to enhance the access and interface functionalities of learning systems. In particular, the selection of proper learning units and the delivery of effective feedback mechanisms on the teaching and learning progress are facilitated.

The role of ontology in enhancing-semantic searches : the EvOQS framework and its initial validation

Abstract: Web search performance and efficiency are critical for many people and organisations in the emerging knowledge society Nowadays, ontologies are being applied in a number of ontology-based information retrieval systems in order to improve the performance of these systems, wherein the quality of the ontology plays an important role An important body of work exists in the areas of both information retrieval evaluation and ontology quality assessment However, there is a lack of task- and scenario-based quality assessment methods In this paper we discuss a framework to assess the fitness of the ontology for use in an ontology-based search We define metrics for the ontology fitness to particular search tasks and metrics for the ontology capability to enhance recall and precision Further, we discuss the preliminary results of an experiment showing the applicability of the proposed framework and the value of the ontology quality in ontology-driven web searches

(Semantic web) services for e-learning

Abstract: Service-Oriented Architectures are becoming a popular system paradigm in e-learning, and there are several efforts to create community driven service frameworks. In this paper, we argue that these efforts could benefit if they also drew on Semantic Web technologies to create (Semantic Web) Services – services that use resources described on the semantic web. We present a demonstrator which uses three such services to search over question bank data. We show how the use of semantic web technologies not only promotes high-quality and interoperable metadata, but that it also enables reasoning rules to be declared that make developing new services easier.

Personalised correction, feedback and guidance in an automated tutoring system for skills training

Abstract: In addition to knowledge, in various domains skills are equally important. Active learning and training are effective forms of education. We present an automated skills training system for a database programming environment that promotes procedural knowledge acquisition and skills training. The system provides support features such as correction of solutions, feedback and personalised guidance, similar to interactions with a human tutor. Specifically, we address synchronous feedback and guidance based on personalised assessment. Each of these features is automated and includes a level of personalisation and adaptation. At the core of the system is a pattern-based error classification and correction component that analyses student input.

Increasing the self-study effort of higher education engineering students with an online learning platform

Abstract: This article presents a study on motivating engineering students towards more active independent work and higher course effort using an online learning platform, weekly groupwork and weekly progress reporting. In the past five years, the average final grades of the students in a traditionally implemented computer networks and information security lecture course have been decreasing. An experiment on increasing student effort was made in a new information security course, relying on reducing the amount of lectures and moving a corresponding amount of course work into a computer-based learning environment to be performed independently and in a group. The results of the experiment were extremely promising, showing higher student effort and better grades. The experiment was repeated in another new course and the preliminary results also indicate a similar increase in student effort. The conclusion is that similar strategies should also be employed in existing courses and future new courses.

Students’ interaction with web-based literature : towards dissolution of language boundaries

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate how new knowledge can be developed in computer-mediated social practice. Its focus is on how language frames university students' interaction and action while studying web-based literature in small task-based groups. The empirical data were collected from a case study where 57 Rwandan student teachers were completing an examination task mediated by computer at the end of an academic course. The study draws on naturally occurring talk, observations and in-depth interviews. The data were analysed from a sociocultural perspective. The findings reveal that students coping with web-based literature face a twofold reality of classroom discourse rooted in their sociocultural and educational contexts: the one conveyed through foreign languages of instruction, the other whose vehicle is their native language. The study suggests an alternative way of constructing a substantial learning discourse based on dissolution of language boundaries.

Innovation management through the use of diversity networks

Abstract: A methodology for innovation and analysis in a context of complex problem spaces is presented, introducing the idea of a diversity network. The methodology draws upon a framework which puts 'complexification' into systemic practice. Such an application helps individual participants to outline their narratives, create and agree upon categories, and use these to classify their narratives. Clusters of narratives, reflecting innovation through diversity networks of opinion and competences, are encouraged to emerge in analytical practice. This approach can be applied to promote creativity and sharing in a knowledge management context.

ELeGI as enabling architecture for e-learning 2.0

Abstract: Web 2.0 is supposed to be the second generation of internet-based services – such as social networking sites, wikis, communication tools and folksonomies – that let people collaborate and share information online in a previously unavailable way. Currently, many leading enterprises have a strong interest in Web 2.0 and on the impact that it can have on traditional web-based applications such as e-learning, namely, e-learning 2.0. This paper analyses what the European Learning Grid Infrastructure (ELeGI) project could provide to e-learning 2.0, in terms of its vision of learning, processes, methodologies and technologies. Our preliminary investigations have raised up which results obtained in the ELeGI project can give support to e-learning 2.0 and improve some of its typical aspects and processes.

A blended mobile learning experience: the Nomadis case

Abstract: This paper focuses on a blended mobile learning experience produced by the Nomadis Laboratory of the University of Milan-Bicocca. This experience has included two face-to-face meetings and a didactic unit that is accessible through PocketPC. This experience has included three steps: Step 1 face-to-face meeting with the participants, where the PocketPC was introduced and distributed to them after the presentation of a prequestionnaire Step 2 the supply of the didactic unit Step 3 a face-to-face meeting with the participants for them to share their comments and the distribution of a questionnaire to assess the experience that was made.

Perceptions of trust and experience: potential barriers to web 2.0-based learning

Abstract: The growing popularity of web 2.0, particularly social networking tools, among young people makes it attractive for pedagogical use. This article presents the findings of a broader research into the use of web 2.0 by the digital-generation young people at the age of entering higher education and by current students. The successful realisation of web 2.0-based learning requires thorough understanding of the potential barriers influencing acceptance of web 2.0 e-learning by current and future students. Some interesting conclusions from the survey of 650 learners are drawn about the life-learning context of the digital generation and their web 2.0 usage patterns. Analysis of quantitative and open-ended data uncovered interesting associations between social networking activity, perceptions of trust and concerns regarding information sharing. In conclusion, the article argues for the urgent need to educate current and future web 2.0 users about the relevant issues of privacy and information security, and suggests a practical educational agenda.

Evaluating innovation in higher education teaching and learning to improve quality: an experience of blended learning at the Università Roma Tre

Abstract: Why are the effects of the innovative practices in higher education teaching and learning activities worth evaluating? As it seems higher education is no longer able to carry out ambitious objectives, if it uses only traditional tools The present contribution regards the analysis of the impact of a particular innovative way of teaching, a blended learning experience that is performed at the Universita Roma Tre (Italia) The study, carried out by a research unit at the Department of Educational Sciences, is part of a national project that was funded by the government (a Project of National Relevant Interest or PRIN), which aimed to define the role of e-learning within higher education environments In the framework, the Universita Roma Tre has developed its own inquiry, carrying out an experiment in the Experimental Pedagogy and Measurement module of the Faculty of Primary Education

The effect of organisational learning tools on business results

Abstract: The importance of tools that facilitate organisational learning has traditionally been outlined in the literature. Information Technologies (ITs) are considered as common facilitating tools for all learning agents by researchers and practitioners. Our study focuses on the question of what ITs are essential for organisational learning and how they actively contribute to the business results (operative and financial). The results exhibit that the use of databases generates larger sales volumes and better operative results. Companies with low profits tend to use the internet more often and this use improves operative results. In addition, the use of electronic mail increases the sales volume.

Significant learning communities as environments for actualising human potentials

Abstract: This paper aims to integrate the potentials that are inherent in person-centred encounters with those of collaborative learning supported by interactive web environments. The resulting sociotechnical systems are referred to as Significant Learning Communities (SILCs), since learning is based on interpersonal relationships and – by design – combines knowledge construction with personal growth. Self-organised co-actualisation processes can unfold in a way that flexibly adjusts to personal (as well as environmental) requirements, resulting in effective, fluent processes. The paper characterises SILCs, identifies their challenges and unique benefits and discusses the functions of web-based tools.

Interfirm knowledge management through a web-based benchlearning system

Abstract: The survival of firms in an increasingly competitive and global market depends on adequate management of human resources. Adequate management necessitates evaluation of human resources, and in order to obtain organisational learning and gain from knowledge spillovers, implementing a benchlearning tool containing both measurement and valuation is suggested. Such benchlearning tool, however, must facilitate both the process of measuring and of evaluating, and it must communicate the value added from human resources practices. A knowledge-creating and knowledge-sharing web-based IT-benchlearning tool is presented. The system supports organisational learning through interorganisational knowledge sharing. The portal is an interactive IT architecture that supports firms in exchanging knowledge. The architecture is novel in its approach of facilitating benchlearning across industry boundaries and within a soft area (i.e., human resource practices and processes). Besides supporting interfirm knowledge creation and sharing, the tool assists managers in more efficient and qualitative decision-making.

Building and using domain ontologies for learning in various domains: a semantic web-based learning perspective

Abstract: The deployment of semantic web in the context of learning requires a multidimensional consideration of critical issues mostly related with the integration of Semantic Web technologies into the learning context. The main purpose of this article is to discuss in depth the concept of domain ontologies and their role for the effectiveness of semantic web-based e-learning applications. The representation of the learning content and the exploitation of domain ontologies are analysed in the context of a semantic-based prototype, which will be the basis for an FP7 STREP Project proposition. The knowledge acquisition process and the continuous enrichment of the learning content base is recognised as key functions towards high learning outcomes. The main contribution of this article relates to the understanding of ontological challenges for the design and implementation of e-learning systems.

Socio-ethical issues for expertise location from electronic mail

Abstract: Knowledge workers frequently lack sufficient expertise to perform work effectively. This paper describes a recently developed expertise locator system based on automated key-phrase identification of experts from electronic mail (e-mail) messages. The paper provides an analysis of the key socio-ethical challenges involved in the implementation and use of the e-mail expertise locator system. Findings include a set of complex socio-ethical challenges, and their managerial and theoretical implications are discussed. The paper highlights possible sensitivities of employees with respect to their potential identification by the system as domain experts. It also highlights the potential for employee misuse of e-mail expertise locator systems, which must be carefully managed to reduce the risks involved.

Building the EnCOrE dictionary collaboratively: strategy and practice

Abstract: We are building an encyclopaedia of organic chemistry (EnCOrE) in English and making it freely available on the internet. We expect the tools to be used by novice as well as advanced researchers from university and industry. They will allow cross-searches based on chemical structures and equations, and on explanatory texts and an elaborated dictionary. EnCOrE will be created under a strong editorial organisation but also collaboratively between chemists. This will ensure that it is kept up to date and will favour a consensual approach. We will disclose our effort to develop, in this way, the EnCOrE dictionary and the protocols to favour collaboration.

The strategic orientation of the managerial ties for new product development

Abstract: The creation of partnerships with external actors is a key success factor for the Extended Enterprise (EE) and in order to manage the knowledge grasped from these partners, it is necessary to structure them into networks and communities of practice. In this paper, we show that strategic communities can emerge from networks of partners. In fact, in the case study, a firm gathers its external partners in a network for the managerial collaboration and assembles the ones that are more strategic for the knowledge creation and sharing in a community. The context of the research is the automotive industry and the partners of the large manufacturing firm provides the after-sales services for the automotive products. Managerial collaboration contributes to the identification of the most strategic partners, thus, the emergence of strategic ties. We identify, through various data collection methods, the mechanisms and dynamics of managerial and strategic ties. The first are known interdependencies, integrated Information Technology (IT) tools, trust and collaborative leadership and the second are specific IT tools to insert technical new knowledge, strategic gatekeepers to filter knowledge and a nonfinancial reward system to enhance knowledge sharing.

Protocols for building an organic chemical ontology

Abstract: We will describe the different stages involved in the collaborative construction of an organic chemical ontology by chemists. We will disclose our experience, as chemists, in learning, how to build a collaborative ontology and how to use the ontology software from that of an artificial intelligence scientist. We will then disclose our work in developing the protocols to work within the community of chemists to build a collaborative ontology. Useful perceptions about the use of the ontology will also be discussed.

Development of an e-learning system for manufacturing technology education

Abstract: Recently, e–learning technology has been applied to every kind of specialised education field. However, these systems are developed based on a browser and HTML environment. The major capabilities of these systems are limited to presenting course contents to students. Because of the framework limitations for developing e–learning systems, students' practical abilities cannot be performed or disciplined through a developed e–learning system. Currently, practical training is still applied on the shop floor to discipline students' practice abilities. How to build up students' practice ability through an e–learning system is an important research issue. This study employs virtual reality techniques to develop an interactive virtual laboratory to discipline students' practice ability using the internet. Four kinds of manufacturing technology are established in this system: turning, milling, spraying and laser marking. This system allows students to select different process parameters to learn entire manufacturing processes in real time. Further, this study applies information theory to develop a semantic interface for students to present their queries in nature language. This study has opened up an opportunity of change to the traditional practical training method. The developed system provides students with a syntactic and semantic way to learn manufacturing technology.